5 personal hygiene products that are messing with your fertility

We cradle so many rituals in the name of “self-care”: the morning deodorant swipe, the soothing shampoo lather, or the cherished perfume spritz. Yet behind these everyday moments lurk stealthy disruptors: chemicals that whisper confusing signals to our hormones and nudge our reproductive systems off course.

Hormones control ovulation, cycle regularity, sperm formation, and, crucially, the conditions for conception. By meddling in these natural cues, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can derail fertility in subtle yet far-reaching ways.

Let’s explore five common personal care staples and discover gentler, hormone-friendly swaps

1. Deodorant

You lift your arm and glide on a cool stick of deodorant, trusting it to keep you fresh through the day. But that simple act may be delivering more than just a pleasant scent. Many conventional deodorants and antiperspirants contain chemicals that hitch a ride through your skin and into your bloodstream, where they can meddle with hormones.

Endocrine disruptors in deodorants operate like a hormonal mirage. Parabens can trick the body into sensing extra estrogen, potentially blunting the brain’s signals that orchestrate ovulation or sperm production. Phthalates can sabotage testosterone synthesis, undermining male fertility, and may also alter thyroid function:essential for reproductive health in both sexes. Over time, these false signals and hormonal imbalances may yield irregular ovulation, menstrual disturbances, or lower sperm count.

Fertility friendly swaps

• Natural deodorants: Opt for deodorants labeled “paraben-free” and “phthalate-free.” Many brands now use natural antimicrobials and absorptive powders (like baking soda, arrowroot, magnesium hydroxide, or charcoal) to combat odour instead of parabens or triclosan

• Lifestyle tweaks: A diet low in processed foods can alter your body’s chemistry so you naturally sweat less odour. Additionally, giving your underarms periodic breaks (especially at night) allows the skin microbiome to rebalance, potentially reducing odour production over time.

2. Menstrual products

Women will use around 11,000 menstrual products in a lifetime. This includes pads, tampons, panty liners, and now alternatives like menstrual cups or period underwear. With such frequent use, it’s worth asking: what exactly is in these products that spend hours in contact with some of the most absorbent tissue in the body?

Traditional pads and tampons are often made of cotton or rayon (wood pulp) blends. To appear pristine, they are usually bleached white, a process that in the past produced dioxins as a byproduct. Dioxins are extremely potent endocrine disruptors and carcinogens; even trace amounts matter because dioxins can accumulate in the body over time. 

Remember, the vaginal canal absorbs chemicals straight into the bloodstream , bypassing the liver’s usual detox. This means any residual dioxin, phthalate (from plastic applicators), or pesticide (from non-organic cotton) can leach into your body, with potential to disrupt cycles and fertility.

Fertility friendly swaps

• Organic cotton: Switch to organic cotton tampons and pads that are explicitly unscented and free of dyes. Organic cotton products avoid pesticide residues and are typically not bleached with chlorine (thus, essentially dioxin-free). Many brands also avoid adding any fragrance or lotions to the product. By using organic, you eliminate a whole slew of potential endocrine disruptors: no glyphosate, no dioxin, no synthetic fragrance, no phthalates (aside from any in plastic applicators, which some organic brands even forego by using cardboard applicators or none at all). 
• This bears repeating: never use scented tampons or pads.

3. Shampoo and conditioner

That luxurious lather and lingering fragrance might come at a cost. Many conventional shampoos and conditioners rely on parabens (for shelf life), phthalates (to stabilise fragrances), and sulphates (like SLS for foam). 

While you may rinse these products out, studies show that even brief contact on our scalp allows some chemical absorption into the bloodstream. Over time, this may contribute to subtle hormonal shifts, from disrupted menstrual cycles to changes in sperm quality.

Fertility friendly swaps 

• Clean formulas: Seek out “paraben-free, phthalate-free, SLS-free” shampoos and conditioners. Botanical extracts (like aloe, chamomile, rosemary) plus mild cleansers (coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside) can cleanse effectively without leaving hormone confusion in their wake.
• Simplify scents: Synthetic fragrance is often where phthalates hide. Opt for lightly scented with essential oils or unscented haircare to reduce chemical load.
• Egg wash: Some people (aka our founder Niall) embrace the egg-based wash: whisking an egg or two, massaging it into the scalp, and rinsing with cool water. The proteins in eggs help cleanse and condition while avoiding the chemical tangle of conventional products.

4. Perfumes

The word “fragrance” on an ingredient list is a black box that may hide hundreds of chemicals, including known endocrine disruptors like phthalates and synthetic musks. Phthalates (especially diethyl phthalate) are commonly used in fragrances to make scents last longer on your skin. In doing so, they also make their presence last longer in you. 

Fertility friendly swaps

• Essential oil elixirs: Craft your own signature scent with a blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils diluted in a carrier oil or alcohol. For instance, a couple of drops of jasmine or ylang-ylang essential oil in jojoba oil can create a lovely natural perfume. Because you control the ingredients, you can ensure it’s free of phthalates and synthetics. Remember: Use essential oils judiciously. They are potent plant concentrates. A well-diluted mix (a few drops in a 10 ml roller bottle) will give you a gentle scent. Plant essences like citrus, rose, sandalwood, or peppermint not only smell divine but also often carry mood-lifting or stress-reducing benefits, unlike synthetic fragrances, which have been linked to headaches and irritation (on top of endocrine effects).

• Phthalate-free labels: When purchasing any scented product (perfumes, body mists, aftershaves), look for those explicitly labeled “phthalate-free”. 

• Enhance natural pheromones: It’s worth noting that our natural scent (clean and free of heavy fragrances) is tied to pheromones that can actually enhance attraction and social communication. Overwhelming those signals with artificial fragrance isn’t always a plus. By using minimal or natural scents, you let your true chemistry speak. And an added perk: you’ll spend a lot less on pricey perfumes

5. Toothpaste

We swirl minty foam nightly, trusting it for fresh breath and cavity prevention. But some popular toothpastes have historically used triclosan, an antimicrobial linked to disrupted thyroid function and lower sex hormones. Fluoride, while protective against cavities, can encroach on thyroid health if overconsumed. Parabens sometimes sneak into specialty formulas, acting as estrogen mimics.

Fertility friendly swaps

• Oil pulling: Swish coconut for 10–15 minutes to reduce bacteria without any synthetic chemicals.
• Tongue scraping: Use a stainless steel or copper scraper each morning to remove bacteria and leftover debris from the tongue: helping freshen breath and reduce oral microbes naturally.
• Choose triclosan-free and fluoride-free options (easily found in most alternative health shops)

Each of these swaps might seem small, but collectively they lighten the chemical burden on your reproductive system. Start with one product and over time, your self-care routine becomes a true ally, supporting ovulation, sperm health, and the delicate possibility of new life,