When couples planning a family decide to use in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive, giving the procedure as much of a chance to work as possible is a priority. That’s because IVF isn’t just time-consuming and expensive, it could be their last chance.

During IVF, mature eggs are collected from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. So it makes sense to want them to be in tip-top shape. That means eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, that can promote fertility. And for men, it also means avoiding a single threat that could make their fertility levels take a nosedive…

Pesticides impact male fertility rates

There is nothing good about exposure to pesticides. They can raise your risk of Parkinson’s, cancer and liver damage. One study found that men who were exposed to a lot of pesticides at work had a 45 percent higher risk of heart disease or stroke.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), non-organic produce is loaded with pesticides that may act as endocrine disruptors and harm the male fertility system. And a growing body of research is confirming this…

A study led by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health included around 240 couples undergoing IVF treatment. The researchers estimated the exposure of the male partners to pesticide residue from fruits and vegetables through self-reported diet data.

The findings were sobering. A higher level of male exposure to pesticides was linked with lower fertilization rates, while rates of fertilization were higher for those couples whose male partners had a lower exposure to pesticides.

Previous data have suggested that pesticide exposure can also affect semen quality.

“Our data suggest that exposure to pesticide residue through diet may have this important impact on reproductive function beyond what we have previously described with effects on semen quality,” says Jorge Chavarro, a professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health who led the study. “This suggests that exposure to pesticides at levels that are assumed safe for human consumption by U.S. regulatory agencies may impair the ability of the sperm to fertilize oocytes.”

Chavarro notes there are no specific dietary guidelines for fruits and vegetables to recommend for couples getting fertility treatment or couples specifically trying to conceive. “But we do have very robust dietary guidance for the general population for maintaining health in general and for specific factors,” he says.

Produce to buy — and avoid

If you’re trying to conceive, you’ll want to do all you can to reduce your pesticide exposure. And there’s one resource that can help.

Every year, the EWG releases its Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce. In the guide, the EWG names what it calls the Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides, as well as its Clean Fifteen fruits and vegetables with very low or no pesticide residues. In 2024, the Dirty Dozen were as follows:

1. Strawberries
2. Spinach
3. Kale, collard and mustard greens
4. Grapes
5. Peaches
6. Pears
7. Nectarines
8. Apples
9. Bell and hot peppers
10. Cherries
11. Blueberries
12. Green beans

And the Clean Fifteen were:

1. Avocados
2. Sweetcorn
3. Pineapple
4. Onions
5. Papaya
6. Sweet peas (frozen)
7. Asparagus
8. Honeydew melon
9. Kiwi
10. Cabbage
11. Mushrooms
12. Mangoes
13. Sweet potatoes
14. Watermelon
15. Carrots

Food associated with improving semen quality and sperm count include walnuts, tomatoes, beans and lentils.

Use these lists the next time you go shopping to keep your pesticide exposure to a minimum. Try to buy organic whenever possible, particularly if the fruit or vegetable in question is on the Dirty Dozen list. And if you have to buy non-organic, make sure to rinse your produce thoroughly to remove as much of the pesticide residue as you can.

Sources:

Pesticide exposure from fruits, vegetables could lower male fertility — Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

In vitro fertilization (IVF) — Mayo Clinic

Fruit, vegetable pesticide exposure may impair sperm during IVF cycles — Healio

EWG’s 2024 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce — Environmental Working Group

6 foods that boost fertility — UCLA Health