Williams PL

BACKGROUND: Metals may influence reproductive health, but few studies have investigated correlates of metal body burden among reproductive-aged women outside of pregnancy. Furthermore, while there is evidence of racial disparities in exposu…

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Women are ubiquitously exposed to endocrine disruptors, including phthalates. Ovarian follicles undergoing folliculogenesis (indirectly measured by ovarian volume) produce anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol (E…

BACKGROUND: Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that are widely present in consumer products. In the United States, Black women are more highly exposed to phthalates than other racial/ethnic groups, yet information on predictors o…

Exposure to phthalates, endocrine-disrupting chemicals commonly used as plasticizers and in consumer products, has been associated with infertility and premature ovarian failure. Our objective was to investigate whether urinary phthalate me…

PURPOSE: To enhance the understanding of the clinical significance of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in follicular fluid, we aimed to determine the variability of AMH concentrations in follicular fluid within and across IVF cycles and whether…

BACKGROUND: Subfertile women have higher risk of glucose intolerance during pregnancy. Studies suggest associations between several endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and pregnancy glucose levels. However, the association between benzoph…

A mediator is a factor that occurs after the exposure of interest, precedes the outcome of interest (i.e. between the exposure and the outcome) and is associated with both the exposure and the outcome of interest (i.e. is on the pathway bet…

STUDY QUESTION: What is the association of female and male partner marijuana smoking with infertility treatment outcomes with ART? SUMMARY ANSWER: Women who were marijuana smokers at enrollment had a significantly higher adjusted probabili…

BACKGROUND: We have previously investigated whether urinary concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA), parabens, and phthalate metabolites were individually associated with reproductive outcomes among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)…

STUDY QUESTION: Are urinary levels of oxidative stress biomarkers associated with reproductive outcome success following fertility treatments? SUMMARY ANSWER: Levels of oxidative stress in the middle tertile for women are associated with t…

IMPORTANCE: Animal experiments suggest that ingestion of pesticide mixtures at environmentally relevant concentrations decreases the number of live-born offspring. Whether the same is true in humans is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the as…

BACKGROUND: While overt thyroid disease is a well known risk factor for infertility, the potential consequences of mild thyroid dysfunction or thyroid autoimmunity remain unknown. Experimental studies suggest a considerable role for thyroid…

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between demographic, lifestyle, and reproductive factors and the risk of ectopic pregnancy (EP). DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: United States. PATIENT(S): Nurses' Health Study II cohort compr…

BACKGROUND: Some dietary factors have been linked to outcomes of infertility treatment with assisted reproductive technology (ART), but the role of intake of meats and other protein-rich foods remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this ma…

STUDY QUESTION: Are serum polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) concentrations, including omega-3 (ω3-PUFA) and omega-6 (ω6-PUFA), related to ART outcomes? SUMMARY ANSWER: Serum levels of long-chain ω3-PUFA were positively associated with pro…

BACKGROUND: The Environment and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study is an ongoing prospective preconception cohort designed to investigate the impact of environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle factors among both women and men on fertility a…

BACKGROUND: Subfertile women are at increased risk of glucose intolerance in pregnancy. Based on epidemiologic studies, exposure to certain phthalates is associated with diabetes, elevated glucose, and increased insulin resistance. OBJECTI…

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking has been associated with worse infertility treatment outcomes, yet some studies have found null or inconsistent results. METHODS: We followed 225 couples who underwent 354 fresh non-donor assisted reproductive…

STUDY QUESTION: Is pre-treatment alcohol and caffeine intake associated with infertility treatment outcomes among women undergoing ART? SUMMARY ANSWER: Low to moderate alcohol and caffeine intakes in the year prior to infertility treatment…

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between urinary triclosan concentrations and antral follicle count (AFC), a well-accepted marker of ovarian reserve, among women from a fertility center. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING:…

STUDY QUESTION: Is dairy food consumption associated with live birth among women undergoing infertility treatment? SUMMARY ANSWER: There was a positive association between total dairy food consumption and live birth among women ≥35 years o…

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between pretreatment intake of whole grains and outcomes of IVF. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): A total of 273 women who collectively underwent 438 …

STUDY QUESTION: Are urinary phthalate metabolites associated with reduced antral follicle growth among women in an infertility setting? SUMMARY ANSWER: Higher urinary concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites were ass…

BACKGROUND: Preconceptional folate and vitamin B-12 have been linked to beneficial reproductive outcomes in both natural pregnancies and those after assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study wa…

STUDY QUESTION: Are urinary BPA concentrations associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes among women attending an academic fertility center? SUMMARY ANSWER: Urinary BPA concentrations were not associated with adverse reproducti…