Associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in Southwest China

Abstract Background Previous studies suggest organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) negatively affect fertility, but limited research explores their metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes. Objectives To investigate the associations between concentrations of OPFRs metabolites in...

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Main Authors: Xiaohong Li, Jiahui Qiu, Zhiwei Gan, Shangwei Li, Xun Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-025-01390-3
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author Xiaohong Li
Jiahui Qiu
Zhiwei Gan
Shangwei Li
Xun Zeng
author_facet Xiaohong Li
Jiahui Qiu
Zhiwei Gan
Shangwei Li
Xun Zeng
author_sort Xiaohong Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Previous studies suggest organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) negatively affect fertility, but limited research explores their metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes. Objectives To investigate the associations between concentrations of OPFRs metabolites in follicular fluid and the outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) among women undergoing treatment. Methods Women who underwent IVF/ICSI treatment at the Reproductive Center of West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, China, from 2017 to 2020 were recruited. The levels of seven OPFRs metabolites were quantified in follicular fluid collected on the day of oocyte retrieval. Reproductive outcomes were assessed, including key IVF/ICSI outcomes. Results This study included 401 women. After adjusting for relevant confounders, elevated concentrations of BBOEP (β = -0.08, 95% CI: -0.12 to 0 0.05), BEHP (β = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.17 to 0.05), DnBP (β = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.08), and DPhP (β = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.18 to 0.06) in follicular fluid were inversely associated with the number of good embryos on day 3. Elevated BEHP concentrations were negatively associated with the total number of oocytes (β = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07 to 0.01). In comparison with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of DnBP was associated with a 42% reduction in biochemical pregnancy (p-trend = 0.05). Furthermore, the BKMR models revealed inverse associations between OPFRs metabolites mixtures and the number of good embryos. Conclusion Findings suggest OPFRs may negatively affect IVF/ICSI outcomes, warranting further study on environmental impacts on fertility.
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spelling doaj-art-b230f6fcaac94d539af4ff3ccfc4a0562025-08-20T02:17:13ZengBMCReproductive Biology and Endocrinology1477-78272025-04-012311910.1186/s12958-025-01390-3Associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in Southwest ChinaXiaohong Li0Jiahui Qiu1Zhiwei Gan2Shangwei Li3Xun Zeng4Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversityCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversityCollege of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan UniversityCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversityCenter for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan UniversityAbstract Background Previous studies suggest organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) negatively affect fertility, but limited research explores their metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes. Objectives To investigate the associations between concentrations of OPFRs metabolites in follicular fluid and the outcomes of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) among women undergoing treatment. Methods Women who underwent IVF/ICSI treatment at the Reproductive Center of West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, China, from 2017 to 2020 were recruited. The levels of seven OPFRs metabolites were quantified in follicular fluid collected on the day of oocyte retrieval. Reproductive outcomes were assessed, including key IVF/ICSI outcomes. Results This study included 401 women. After adjusting for relevant confounders, elevated concentrations of BBOEP (β = -0.08, 95% CI: -0.12 to 0 0.05), BEHP (β = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.17 to 0.05), DnBP (β = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.08), and DPhP (β = -0.12, 95% CI: -0.18 to 0.06) in follicular fluid were inversely associated with the number of good embryos on day 3. Elevated BEHP concentrations were negatively associated with the total number of oocytes (β = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07 to 0.01). In comparison with the lowest tertile, the highest tertile of DnBP was associated with a 42% reduction in biochemical pregnancy (p-trend = 0.05). Furthermore, the BKMR models revealed inverse associations between OPFRs metabolites mixtures and the number of good embryos. Conclusion Findings suggest OPFRs may negatively affect IVF/ICSI outcomes, warranting further study on environmental impacts on fertility.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-025-01390-3Organophosphate flame retardantsFollicular fluidReproductive outcomes
spellingShingle Xiaohong Li
Jiahui Qiu
Zhiwei Gan
Shangwei Li
Xun Zeng
Associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in Southwest China
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Organophosphate flame retardants
Follicular fluid
Reproductive outcomes
title Associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in Southwest China
title_full Associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in Southwest China
title_fullStr Associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in Southwest China
title_full_unstemmed Associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in Southwest China
title_short Associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment in Southwest China
title_sort associations between organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in follicular fluid and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing ivf icsi treatment in southwest china
topic Organophosphate flame retardants
Follicular fluid
Reproductive outcomes
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-025-01390-3
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