The Hidden Hormone Disruptor That Could Be Affecting Your Fertility
If you’re trying to get pregnant—or planning to within the next year—there’s one sneaky disruptor that might be working against you every single day: synthetic fragrance.
In this week’s episode of the Wellness with Vanda podcast, I’m sharing a conversation I had with Erica Hoke, an infertility coach, speaker, and author who helps women heal their fertility holistically. This interview originally aired inside The Mama’s Advice Vault, and the information she shares is too good to keep hidden away.
Why Synthetic Fragrance Matters for Fertility
Erica’s #1 tip for women trying to regulate their cycle and support fertility is simple, but powerful:
“Ruthlessly eliminate synthetic fragrance from all personal care and household products.”
Why? Because synthetic fragrance isn’t just a single ingredient—it can contain up to 1,300 individual chemicals, many of which are known endocrine disruptors. That means they can interfere with your hormones, impact your egg quality, and even lower the success rate of reproductive treatments.
And the worst part? These chemicals are hiding in products you use every day—laundry detergent, body wash, shampoo, lotion, cleaning sprays, air fresheners, and more.
Where to Start: The “Big Rocks” Method
Not sure where to begin? Erica recommends starting with the “big rocks”—the products you use most often and have the greatest exposure to.
Laundry products are at the top of the list, because:
- You wear your clothes and sleep on your sheets almost 24/7.
- Your skin (your largest organ!) absorbs whatever it touches.
- Fragrance in fabric softeners, detergents, and dryer sheets is especially potent.
After tackling laundry, look at your body wash, shampoo, and moisturizer—especially the ones you use every single day.
How to Spot the Sneaky Ingredients
You can’t trust front labels. Even if a product says “natural fragrance” or “with essential oils,” you have to flip it over.
🔍 Look at the ingredients list and scan for:
- The term “fragrance” (red flag!)
- Phrases like “naturally derived fragrance” (also synthetic)
- ✅ Bonus: If it’s a real essential oil, you’ll see the Latin name listed (like lavandula angustifolia for lavender oil)
How Long Until It Helps?
Here’s the timeline that matters: it takes about 90 days (or 3 full months) for your body to develop new eggs. What you do today directly impacts your cycle and fertility outcomes three months from now.
So if you start cutting out synthetic fragrance now, your body will have the time it needs to detox, rebalance hormones, and create healthier eggs for your next cycles.
Ready to Take Action?
If this topic has you feeling both inspired and overwhelmed, I want you to know—you don’t have to do it all overnight. Start with one big change (like switching your laundry detergent) and build from there.
💜 You can also grab Erica’s free guide: 10 Scented Products Wrecking Your Fertility
It’s an incredible resource for anyone who wants to take this seriously but needs help knowing where to begin.
And if you’re ready to go even deeper into hormone health, don’t forget to download my Hormones 101 secret podcast—it’s linked in the show notes.