Can Nail Polish Affect Your Fertility? The Truth About Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals

Since I started my fertility practice over 6 years ago, I’ve had no shortage of patients ask me whether they should be concerned about potential risks to their fertility from nail polish. With the EU’s recently announced ban on certain chemicals used in gel nail polish, this issue has gotten a lot more public attention (and rightly so, I might add.)

As a fertility doctor (and someone who pretty much always has her nails done), I get this question a lot and it’s a important topic when it comes to your fertility. I’m Dr. Lucky Sekhon, a double board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility (REI) specialist practicing in New York City. Through this blog, my Instagram @lucky.sekhon, and my upcoming book The Lucky Egg: Understanding Your Fertility and How to Get Pregnant Now, I hope to help you cut through the fertility noise: scary lab values, social media fertility myths, and conflicting advice on treatments like IUI and IVF. So let’s break it down: what’s actually in nail polish, what the science says about these ingredients, and what are some smart, practical changes you can make in your day-to-day mani-habits.

The Hidden Chemicals in Your Manicure

Nail polish isn’t just pigment in a bottle, it’s a cocktail of chemicals that help it stick, shine, and last. Some of these ingredients fall into the category of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These are substances that can interfere with the delicate hormone signaling your body relies on to ovulate, prepare your uterine lining, and support early pregnancy.

The big three in nail polish are:

• Phthalates (like dibutyl phthalate, or DBP): Plasticizers that make polish flexible, but have been linked to hormone disruption.
• Toluene: A solvent that smooths application but is a known neurotoxin and developmental toxicant.
• Formaldehyde: Yes, the same chemical used in embalming fluid. It helps harden polish, but is a known carcinogen and reproductive toxicant.

Cue the rise of “3-free,” “5-free,” and even “10-free” polishes, which ditch some (or all) of these questionable chemicals. But spoiler alert: not all labels are as honest as we’d like (surprise, surprise), so make sure to research your brand before you buy. Since my days of writing about makeup are long gone, let me focus our discussion on the science behind the paint bucket.

What the Research Says

Here’s where things get interesting, and also why I tell patients “don’t panic” (which is, incidentally, one of my favorite Coldplay songs), but rather be informed. Studies don’t show that one manicure will tank your egg quality. But they do show that regular exposure to these chemicals can add up and negatively impact your fertility, especially when combined with the dozens of other places we encounter EDCs (think plastics, fragrances, household cleaners).

Here’s a quick snapshot of the science, distilled into key takeaways before we dive into the table of details:

• Yes, absorption happens: Chemicals like TPHP from polish are detectable in the body within hours of application.
• Phthalates and ovarian reserve: Several large studies show that women with higher phthalate levels tend to have lower antral follicle counts (a measure of egg supply).
• Impact on IVF outcomes: Higher exposure to phthalates has been linked to fewer eggs retrieved and lower chances of pregnancy and live birth.
• Recent evidence: Newer studies confirm these associations, pointing to diminished ovarian reserve when multiple EDCs are present.
• Labeling isn’t always reliable: Even products marketed as “3-free” sometimes contain hidden endocrine disruptors.

These findings highlight why this topic matters if you’re trying to conceive: not because one manicure will change everything, but because repeated exposures add up.

Here is a breakdown of what some studies recently done on this topic have shown:

Publication	Main Findings	Dr. Lucky’s Take
Mendelsohn E, Hagopian A, Hoffman K, et al. Nail polish as a source of exposure to triphenyl phosphate. Environ Int. 2016;86:45-51. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2015.10.005	Urinary metabolite DPHP increased \~7× 10–14 hrs after applying polish	Confirms nail polish chemicals are absorbed into the body
Messerlian C, Souter I, Gaskins AJ, et al. Urinary phthalate metabolites and ovarian reserve among women seeking infertility care. Hum Reprod. 2016;31(1):75-83. doi:10.1093/humrep/dev292	Higher urinary DEHP metabolites linked to lower AFC	Suggests phthalates reduce ovarian reserve
Hauser R, Gaskins AJ, Souter I, et al. Urinary Phthalate Metabolite Concentrations and Reproductive Outcomes among Women Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization: Results from the EARTH Study. Environ Health Perspect. 2016;124(6):831-839. doi:10.1289/ehp.1509760	Higher DEHP metabolites → fewer oocytes, lower pregnancy/live birth rates	Evidence that phthalates may reduce IVF success
Jiang Y, Xu Y, Xiao S, et al. Phthalate and DINCH exposure and ovarian reserve markers among women seeking infertility care. Sci Total Environ. 2024;927:172185. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172185	Phthalate/DINCH mix inversely associated with AFC (−8.56 %) and positively with FSH (+7.71 %)	Recent evidence linking EDC mixtures to diminished ovarian reserve
Young AS, Allen JG, Kim UJ, et al. Phthalate and Organophosphate Plasticizers in Nail Polish: Evaluation of Labels and Ingredients. Environ Sci Technol. 2018;52(21):12841-12850. doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b04495	Found TPHP/DEHP in some “3-free” products—labeling unreliable	Demonstrates exposure risks even with “toxin-free” labels

My Clinical Take

Here’s the deal: I love a good manicure. I also love data (in addition to gum balls.) And the data says: while the occasional polish is unlikely to cause harm, the science does warn us that repeated exposures to certain chemicals in nail polish can negatively impact fertility. If you’re wearing polish all the time, especially during sensitive windows like egg retrieval, embryo transfer, or early pregnancy, it’s worth making practical changes to reduce your risk.

Think of it like this: fertility is like a bucket. Genetics, age, and environment all add water. EDCs are tiny leaks in the bucket. One polish? Not a big deal. Weekly exposure to phthalates, parabens, BPA, fragrances, pesticides, and nail polish? That’s a lot of leaks.

Some Easy Changes You Can Make to Lower Your Risk

1. Choose “n-free” brands: The higher the “n,” the more chemicals excluded. Look for 5-free, 7-free, or 10-free polishes.
2. Ventilate your space: Open a window or use a fan during at-home manis.
3. Gloves during removal: Acetone can increase absorption through skin.
4. Time your polish breaks: Consider going polish-free during stimulation, transfer week, or the first trimester.
5. Double-check labels: As one study showed, some “3-free” polishes still contained phthalates.

The Bottom Line

No, you don’t need to break up with your nail salon forever. Fertility is never about a single product or exposure: it’s about the cumulative load. But nail polish, and the manner in which you apply it, is one of the easiest areas to make a change that lowers your risk without costing you your sanity (or your self-care ritual).

So the next time you’re picking between “I’m Not Really a Waitress” and “Cajun Shrimp”, remember to not just look at the color and the texture, the ingredients and makeup of these paints matter just as much! If this blog resonated with you, I also share regular updates, tips, and supportive insights on Instagram and through my newsletter. My goal is always the same: to help you feel informed, empowered, and less alone on your fertility journey.