What Is Reproductive Toxicity?
Reproductive toxicity describes the effects on either male or female reproductive systems. Reproductive effects can occur at several points during the life span. They may be delayed, so that exposures early in life may not be apparent until later in life. Reproductive effects in one generation may not manifest until a later generation. A great deal of our knowledge of reproductive toxicity comes from studies of animals in the lab or in the wild. It is not always clear how well the results of animal studies will predict human reproductive toxicity, but generally it is assumed that an adverse effect in animals indicates the potential for risk to humans (although not necessarily the same types of effects). Reproductive toxicity can manifest in the exposed individual as adverse effects or abnormalities in: • Gamete production • Reproductive cycle (e.g., menstrual disorders) • Sexual behaviour (as seen in animals) • Fertility • Gestation, parturition and/or lactation • Pregnancy outcomes (s
