Impact of Collective Chemical Exposome of Infertile Couples on the Likelihood of Clinical Pregnancy and Live Birth

Infertility affects 15-20% of all couples during their reproductive lifespans and is a significant couple and public health problem.

Despite advanced techniques to address infertility, about 30% of infertile couples do not experience live birth after fertility treatment.

Therefore, each new risk factor that can be identified, quantified, and reduced, or even eliminated, is of great importance.The aim of this project is to investigate how the collective chemical exposome of infertile couples (defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse) contributes to the likelihood of achieving clinical pregnancy and live birth following fertility treatment.We will use the world’s largest and most detailed infertility cohort collected in the Öresund Region – the ReproUnion Biobank and Infertility Cohort (RUBIC).

In the end of year 2024, the cohort will include 1,200 Danish and 1,200 Swedish couples with full clinical work up for both partners regardless of female or male factor indication.

In the project will we analyze a large panel of endocrine disruptive chemicals, vitamins, and other biomarkers in 500 couples in serum using liquid chromatography-tandem-mass-spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).

The associations between multiple exposures and outcomes will be analyzed with novel statistical approaches.The project has unique possibility to investigate the importance of the couple’s exposure and will be performed during 2025-2027.