Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancer types among women. Many factors can contribute to the development of this disease, including environmental factors and, thus, eating habits. Our study aims to determine the levels of various mycotoxins and their metabolites in the blood serum and endometrial tissue samples of participants with previously proven endometrial cancer and to find possible contributions to cancer development. In the cohort clinical trial, 52 participants aged between 44 and 86 were studied. The participants were divided into two groups: patients or matched controls. All patients had previously histologically diagnosed endometrial cancer. The cancer patients were divided into low-grade endometrioid and low- plus high-grade endometrioid groups. Controls had no history of endometrial malignancy or premalignancy. Blood serum and endometrial tissue samples were obtained from all study patients. We compared the concentrations of total Aflatoxins (Afs), Deoxynivalenol (DON), Ochratoxin-A (OTA), T2-toxin and HT2 toxin (T2/HT2 toxin), Zearalenone (ZEN), alpha-Zearalenol (α-ZOL), and Fumonisin B1 (FB1) in the serum and endometrium between the different study groups. As a result, we can see a significant correlation between the higher levels of Afs and zearalenone and the presence of endometrial cancer. In the case of Afs, DON, OTA, T2/HT2 toxins, ZEN, and alpha-ZOL, we measured higher endometrial concentrations than in serum. Considering the effect of mycotoxins and eating habits on cancer development, our results might lead to further research exploring the relationship between certain mycotoxins and endometrium cancer.

Climate change has contributed to increased mycotoxin contamination in food systems, posing a growing threat to human health, including reproductive health. Our study aimed to investigate how mycotoxins entering the follicular fluid affect oxidative stress processes. We analyzed 88 follicular fluid samples from infertile patients for common mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), its main metabolite alpha-zearalenol (aZOL), and aflatoxin M1 (AfM1), and examined their relationship with oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, GPx, CAT, and TAOC) and hormones (cortisol, estradiol, and anti-Müllerian hormone). Higher mycotoxin levels were associated with increased oxidative stress, particularly elevated MDA levels, and disrupted antioxidant enzyme activity. Notably, DON showed a positive correlation with SOD and estradiol levels, indicating a compensatory antioxidant response, while AfM1 served as a negative predictor. The metabolite aZOL was strongly linked to cortisol, with effects influenced by estradiol levels, implying endocrine-disrupting activity. Importantly, the interaction between DON and AMH appeared to impact dominant follicle development, suggesting a potential mechanism by which environmental toxins impair fertility without directly reducing oocyte or embryo counts. These results highlight the complex, dose-dependent effects of mycotoxins on oxidative and hormonal balances within the follicular environment, with implications for oocyte quality and reproductive success. Better understanding these mechanisms could help develop early diagnostic markers and targeted interventions to improve fertility outcomes in women exposed to changing environmental conditions.

Background: Delivering contraceptive hormones through a transdermal patch or a vaginal ring might have advantages over the traditional oral route. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness, compliance, and side effect profile of oral and parenteral drug administration methods. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in four medical databases—MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Embase, and Scopus—from inception to 20 November 2022. Randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy, compliance, and adverse event profile of combined parenteral and oral hormonal contraceptives were included. Results: Our systematic search provided 3952 records; after duplicate removal, we screened 2707 duplicate-free records. A total of 13 eligible studies were identified after title, abstract, and full-text selection. We observed no significant difference in contraceptive efficacy (Pearl Index) between oral and parenteral drug administration (MD = −0.06, CI: −0.66–0.53; I² = 0%). We found significant subgroup differences between parenteral methods in terms of compliance (χ² = 4.32, p =0.038, I² = 80%) and certain adverse events: breast discomfort (χ² = 19.04, p =0.001, I² = 80%), nausea (χ² = 8.04, p =0.005, I² = 75%), and vomiting (χ² = 9.30, p =0.002; I² = 72%). Conclusion: Both parenteral and oral contraceptives can be used as an effective contraceptive method, and the route of administration should be tailored to patient needs and adverse event occurrence.

Glyphosate (GLY), a widely used herbicide classified as a probable human carcinogen, has an unclear role in hormone-dependent malignancies. This cross-sectional study investigated the presence and elevated concentration of this compound in endometrial tissues and its potential link to uterine cancers, also exploring interactions with other natural environmental contaminants such as mycotoxin Zearalenone (ZEN). Patients with endometrial cancers and age- and Body Mass Index-matched controls with benign endometrial diseases were recruited. Serum and excised endometrial tissue samples were analyzed for GLY, ZEN, and related physiological-hormonal indicators. Results revealed significantly elevated serum GLY levels in patients with high-grade endometrial cancer compared to controls (p < 0.05). Similarly, endometrial tissues from cancer patients, particularly those with high-grade malignancy, exhibited higher GLY levels than controls. Notably, GLY concentrations were significantly greater in endometrial tissue than in serum across all participant groups. No significant correlations were found between hormonal/physiological indicators and GLY levels. A strong positive correlation was observed between endometrial GLY and ZEN levels. This study is among the first to detect the presence and elevated concentration of GLY in human endometrial tissue, raising concerns that GLY exposure may be a significant factor in hormone-dependent diseases, particularly those mediated by estrogen or estrogen-like substances. The findings also highlight the need for further research into the endocrine-disrupting effects and long-term health consequences of GLY and various mycotoxins, as well as their potential synergistic involvement in the development of uterine cancers.

Background: Exposure to anthropogenic and/or natural (e.g., herbicides or mycotoxins) endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been linked to several reproductive disorders. Glyphosate (GLY), a common agricultural agent, is a potential element of the exposome that bioaccumulates and has potential endocrine and oxidative stress-related effects. However, data on its presence in the human ovarian microenvironment remain limited. Our study examined GLY levels in follicular fluid (ff) and serum and their relationships with oxidative stress markers, reproductive hormones, and stress hormones in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: 50 women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation participated. Serum and ff samples were routinely collected during oocyte retrieval. GLY, related hormones (e.g., cortisol, estradiol-E2, anti-Müllerian hormone-AMH, and melatonin-MT), an oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzyme activities, total antioxidant capacity, and co-occurring natural pollutant mycotoxin levels were measured. Relationships between GLY levels and these mediators were assessed using correlation and regression analyses. Results: GLY was detected in both serum and ff at similar concentrations (0.038 ± 0.006 ng/mL vs. 0.045 ± 0.006 ng/mL; p = 0.414). Follicular GLY levels showed a positive association with MDA (Spearman’s r = 0.4487, p < 0.001), explaining 28.6% of the variability in follicular MDA. Serum GLY was positively associated with serum (β = 40.26, p = 0.0058) and follicular E2 (r = 0.29, p = 0.042). Serum GLY levels were negatively correlated with cortisol (β = −0.0188, p = 0.020). A slight correlation between follicular GLY and MT was observed (p = 0.03). No associations were found between GLY levels and age, body mass index, AMH, the recombinant gonadotropin dose used, antioxidant enzyme activities, follicle count, oocyte yield, or embryo viability. Conclusions: This study might be the first to demonstrate the presence of GLY of exposome in human ff, indicating that environmental exposure to GLY may reach the oocyte microenvironment. The correlation with lipid peroxidation suggests GLY could contribute to follicular oxidative stress. The associations with E2 and cortisol point to potential endocrine-disrupting effects. While no direct impact on IVF outcomes was observed, findings suggest low-level exposure to GLY could influence ovarian physiology through specific biochemical mechanisms.