Williams PL

BackgroundThe 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 and…

BackgroundSubfertile 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.ObjectivesT…

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

ObjectivesTo explore whether work schedules and physically demanding work were associated with markers of ovarian reserve and response.MethodsThis analysis included women (n=473 and n=313 for ovarian reserve and ovarian response analysis, r…

Study questionIs pre-treatment alcohol and caffeine intake associated with infertility treatment outcomes among women undergoing ART?Summary answerLow to moderate alcohol and caffeine intakes in the year prior to infertility treatment were …

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between protein intake (amount and type) and antral follicle count (AFC).DesignProspective cohort.SettingAcademic fertility centre.PopulationTwo hundred and sixty-five women undergoing fertility treatmen…

ObjectiveTo 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.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingHospital …

Study questionIs dairy food consumption associated with live birth among women undergoing infertility treatment?Summary answerThere was a positive association between total dairy food consumption and live birth among women ≥35 years of age.…

Experimental data in rodents suggest that the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on oocyte development may be modified by dietary methyl donors. Whether the same interaction exists in humans is unknown. We evaluated whether intake of methyl donor…

Physical activity could benefit reproductive function through its ability to regulate energy balance and improve insulin sensitivity, but its association with IVF outcomes remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether pre-t…

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between pretreatment intake of whole grains and outcomes of IVF.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingAcademic medical center.Patient(s)A total of 273 women who collectively underwent 438 IVF cycles.Int…

Di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), a non-phthalate plasticizer, was introduced commercially in 2002 as an alternative to ortho-phthalate esters because of its favorable toxicological profile. However, the potential health ef…

BackgroundAnimal studies demonstrate that several phthalates are embryofetotoxic and are associated with increased pregnancy loss and malformations. Results from human studies on phthalates and pregnancy loss are inconsistent.MethodsWe exam…

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between urinary paraben concentrations and IVF outcomes among women attending an academic fertility center.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingFertility clinic in a hospital setting.Patient(s)A total o…

BackgroundEvidence from both animal and human studies suggests that exposure to phthalates may be associated with adverse female reproductive outcomes.ObjectiveWe evaluated the associations between urinary concentrations of phthalate metabo…

Study questionAre urinary phthalate metabolites associated with reduced antral follicle growth among women in an infertility setting?Summary answerHigher urinary concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites were associate…

BackgroundPreconceptional folate and vitamin B-12 have been linked to beneficial reproductive outcomes in both natural pregnancies and those after assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment.ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to e…

Total hair mercury (Hg) was measured among 205 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and the association with prospectively collected IVF outcomes (229 IVF cycles) was evaluated. Hair Hg levels (median=0.62ppm, range: 0.03…

Male factor etiology may be a contributing factor in up to 60% of infertility cases. Dietary intake of phytoestrogens has been related to abnormal semen quality and hormone levels. However, its effect on couple fecundity is still unclear. I…

ObjectiveTo study the relation of dietary phytoestrogens intake and clinical outcomes of women undergoing infertility treatment with the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART).DesignProspective cohort study.SettingFertility center.Pa…

Study questionAre urinary BPA concentrations associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes among women attending an academic fertility center?Summary answerUrinary BPA concentrations were not associated with adverse reproductive and…

ObjectiveTo prospectively evaluate the associations of folate with assisted reproductive technology outcomes within a population in the United States.MethodsThis analysis included women (n=232) in a prospective cohort study at the Massachus…

Study questionIs paternal physical activity associated with semen quality parameters and with outcomes of infertility treatment?Summary answerAmong men presenting for infertility treatment, weightlifting and outdoor activities were associat…

In this prospective cohort of women undergoing infertility treatments, we measured specific-gravity adjusted urinary BPA (SG-BPA) concentrations and used regression models to evaluate the association of BPA with antral follicle count (AFC),…

BackgroundExposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in consumer products, has been associated with in vitro Cyp19 gene expression.ObjectiveTo evaluate an in vivo human model of Cyp19 gene expression in granulosa cells.Study desi…