The 6 Household Items That Could Be Preventing You From Getting Pregnant

By Dr. Alyssa McPeak, DC, CFMP

If you’re doing all the right things—tracking ovulation, eating well, supporting your hormones—and still struggling to conceive, it may be time to look beyond food and supplements and into your home.

Many everyday household products contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that interfere with hormone signaling, ovulation, egg quality, sperm health, and implantation. These exposures often go unnoticed because they’re so normalized.

Here are 6 common household items that may be quietly blocking your fertility—and what to do instead.

1. Beauty & Skincare Products 💄

This is one of the biggest and most overlooked fertility disruptors.

Many conventional beauty and skincare products contain hormone-disrupting ingredients like:

• Phthalates

• Parabens

• Synthetic fragrance

• Triclosan

• PFAS (“forever chemicals”)

These chemicals are absorbed directly through your skin and can:

• Mimic estrogen (estrogen dominance)

• Disrupt ovulation

• Impact egg quality

• Affect thyroid function

If a product lists “fragrance” without transparency, that alone can represent hundreds of undisclosed chemicals.

👉 What to do instead: Switch to truly clean, fertility-friendly skincare and makeup—and learn exactly what to look for on labels.

🔗 I walk you step-by-step through safe swaps, ingredient red flags, and my favorite fertility-safe brands in my Fertility Friendly Skincare Course.

2. Nonstick Cookware 🍳

Traditional nonstick pans often contain PFAS (like Teflon), which are strongly linked to:

• Reduced fertility

• Longer time to conception

• Poor egg and sperm quality

• Hormonal disruption

When overheated or scratched, these chemicals can leach directly into your food.

👉 What to do instead: Use cast iron, stainless steel, or ceramic-coated cookware.

3. Plastic Food Containers & Water Bottles💧

Plastics—especially when heated—can release chemicals like BPA and BPS, which:

• Mimic estrogen

• Disrupt ovulation

• Impact implantation

• Lower sperm quality

This includes:

• Plastic food storage containers

• Plastic wrap

• Single-use water bottles

• Plastic baby food containers

👉 What to do instead: Choose glass, stainless steel, cast iron or silicone—and never heat food in plastic.

4. Household Cleaning Products 🧽

Many conventional cleaners contain:

• Ammonia

• Chlorine

• Synthetic fragrance

• Quaternary ammonium compounds

These chemicals are inhaled and absorbed through the skin, placing additional stress on your liver—the organ responsible for hormone detoxification.

👉 What to do instead: Use simple, low-tox options like vinegar, baking soda, or truly clean cleaning brands. Check out my Amazon Favorites.

5. Artificial Air Fresheners & Candles 🕯️

Plug-ins, sprays, and many candles release endocrine disruptors into the air you breathe daily.

These toxins have been associated with:

• Hormonal imbalances

• Irregular cycles

• Reduced fertility

• Increased miscarriage risk

👉 What to do instead: Opt for essential oil diffusers, beeswax candles, or fragrance-free living spaces.

6. Laundry Detergent & Fabric Softeners 👕

Laundry products are another major source of hidden fragrance chemicals.

Because clothes sit directly on your skin all day, these toxins can:

• Disrupt hormones

• Contribute to estrogen dominance

• Impact reproductive health

👉 What to do instead: Choose fragrance-free or naturally scented detergents made without endocrine disruptors. Check out my Amazon Favorites.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to live in a bubble to get pregnant—but reducing toxic load can be a game-changer for fertility.

Start with the areas that create the most exposure:

• What you put on your body

• What you cook with

• What you breathe daily

If you’re overwhelmed by label-reading or unsure where to start, begin with skincare—it’s one of the fastest ways to reduce hormone disruption.

🔗 Explore my Fertility Friendly Skincare Course to learn exactly how to protect your hormones while still creating a routine you love.

Your fertility deserves a safe environment to thrive. 💛