Does exposure to BPA increase my risk of developing endometriosis based on recent studies?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in many plastics and can act like a weak estrogen in the body. Because endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent condition, researchers have studied whether BPA exposure might increase your risk. Recent large analyses of multiple studies suggest there is a link: women with higher BPA levels appear to have a greater chance of having endometriosis. However, these studies show an association, not proof that BPA directly causes the disease.
What the research says
A 2025 meta-analysis of seven studies including 2,488 participants found that BPA exposure was associated with a statistically significant increase in endometriosis risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, 95% CI 1.13–1.63, p = 0.008) 3. This means women with higher BPA exposure had about a 36% higher odds of having endometriosis compared to those with lower exposure. Another meta-analysis from 2024, which included 22 articles and over 83,000 women, reported an even stronger association: the effect size for BPA and endometriosis risk was 1.82 (95% CI 1.50–2.20) 9. Both analyses adjusted for various factors and found the results to be robust.
Laboratory studies help explain how BPA might contribute to endometriosis. A 2020 case-control study found that women with higher urinary BPA levels had increased blood levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9), enzymes that help endometrial cells invade and grow outside the uterus 10. In cell experiments, BPA exposure increased these enzymes in a dose-dependent way, and this effect could be blocked by inhibitors of a specific estrogen receptor (GPER) and a cell signaling pathway (MAPK/ERK) 10. This suggests BPA may promote the spread of endometrial tissue by acting through estrogen-like pathways.
A 2026 review of the reproductive toxicity of bisphenols and PFAS chemicals summarizes that BPA disrupts hormonal and cellular processes in the female reproductive system, including ovarian function and uterine structure, and that these mechanisms align with epidemiologic studies linking BPA to endometriosis 11. The review notes that BPA can cause oxidative stress and epigenetic changes that may contribute to disease development 11.
What to ask your doctor
- Given my personal risk factors, should I consider testing for BPA or other endocrine-disrupting chemicals?
- Are there specific steps I can take to reduce my exposure to BPA from plastics, food containers, or other sources?
- Could my endometriosis symptoms be influenced by environmental chemical exposures, and is there any role for dietary changes?
- Should I be concerned about BPA exposure if I am planning pregnancy or undergoing fertility treatment?
- Are there any ongoing studies or registries I could join to help researchers understand environmental links to endometriosis?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about this topic and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.