The Egg Whisperer Show Environmental Toxicant Exposure and Your Reproductive Health with guest Dr. Kevin Osteen
Jan 23, 2026
Dr. Kevin Osteen, Vanderbilt OB/GYN and endometriosis researcher, studies how environmental endocrine disruptors shape reproductive health. He discusses dioxin and PCBs, transgenerational impacts, organ-on-a-chip models, why paternal exposures matter, and practical ways to lower toxicant burden and inflammation for better fertility outcomes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Dioxin Causes Progesterone Resistance
- Dioxin (a combustion byproduct) inhibits progesterone regulation of matrix metalloproteinases, promoting an invasive endometrial phenotype.
- This mechanism linked toxicant exposure to more aggressive endometriosis in primate and human models.
Reduce Exposure By Choosing Food And Location
- Avoid high-dioxin exposures when possible because dioxin is persistent and accumulates in the food chain and environment.
- Be mindful of location and food sources since weather and food supply can carry and concentrate these toxicants.
EndoChip Mimics Real Organ Flow
- Organ-on-a-chip uses microfluidic flow to mimic blood, nutrients, hormones, and waste removal for more realistic human tissue testing.
- This lets researchers test toxicants and drugs on human-like organ systems without exposing people or relying solely on animals.