For many years, it has been widely believed that environmental pollution—in all its forms, which pose a global threat—affects all people equally, regardless of gender, in terms of harm and impact. However, science and current realities are now revealing to us a strong link between environmental factors and their effects on the hormonal and endocrine systems of women. This impact is notably evident in menstrual cycle disorders, serving as a clear health indicator that something is wrong, and highlighting that women bear a greater burden from environmental pollution than others.
These disorders are not limited to physiological aspects; their impact extends to women's psychological and emotional health. Moreover, the risks posed by environmental pollution can affect women's future fertility and reproductive ability, and even increase their susceptibility to serious and life-threatening diseases.
Hormonal Imbalance
The menstrual cycle has always been a fundamental part of a woman's life. However, the rapid climate change, from rising temperatures to increasing pollution, directly affects women's hormonal systems, leading to menstrual cycle disorders and an intensification of accompanying symptoms, according to Dr. Amal Al-Hasani, a gynecologist, who spoke to "Khuyut."
As for how this occurs, Dr. Al-Hasani explains that some pollutants have a chemical structure similar to estrogen, which allows them to bind to estrogen receptors in the body and interfere with their normal functions. So, this interference can lead to hormonal imbalances that affect the menstrual cycle and increase the risk of breast diseases and uterine cancer. Additionally, other pollutants, such as heavy pesticides used in agriculture, can inhibit the production of natural hormones in the body, leading to hormonal imbalances in women.
“Various climatic events, such as floods and storms, can increase stress and anxiety levels, negatively affecting women's mental health and leading to menstrual cycle disorders. Moreover, temperature fluctuations and rainfall also play a role in the balance of women's hormones and their overall health.”
"The symptoms of hormonal imbalance caused by pollution manifest in women in various ways, such as irregular menstruation, increased bleeding, and severe pain. Further, the pollution can even reduce fertility in women, increase the risk of miscarriages, and delay pregnancy. On the other hand, the pollutants can accumulate in a pregnant woman’s body and be transferred to the fetus, affecting its growth and development and increasing the risk of congenital deformities," adds Dr. Al-Hasani.
Harmful Social Customs
In Yemen—like many other traditional societies around the world—menstruation is often seen as a taboo subject that should not be discussed, despite its inherent connection to women's physiological nature. This societal attitude persists despite the recognition that caring for women during menstruation is crucial for maintaining their reproductive health, which in turn ensures the health and safety of children.
Besides, the general reticence in addressing this topic has created a shadow area and a gap in research, health, and development efforts in Yemen, explaining why many specialists have overlooked this issue despite the growing scientific attention to the impact of pollution on hormonal balance in women. Consequently, this impact is no longer just a hypothesis but a scientific fact supported by evidence and experience.
In this regard, sociologist Sabah Al-Daroubi tells "Khuyut" that with global climate change and the widespread environmental pollution, of which Yemen has not been spared, it is essential to raise awareness about the health and social effects of climate change and environmental pollution on women. She adds that there is a need to highlight the challenges they face and empower them through training programs to adapt to climate change and contribute to solving the environmental problems they inevitably encounter.
Psychological Implications
For her part, Dr. Iman Al-Bukari, a psychologist, explains to "Khuyut" that women generally suffer from various psychological and neurological disorders during their menstrual cycles, due to the hormonal changes occurring in their bodies during the menstruation period. However, these disorders can be exacerbated by external factors such as environmental pollution, which has a significant impact on psychological and mood states, sometimes appearing exaggerated and seemingly inexplicable to some.
According to Dr. Al-Bukari, "Various climatic events, such as floods and storms, can increase stress and anxiety levels, negatively affecting women's mental health and leading to menstrual cycle disorders. Moreover, temperature fluctuations and rainfall also play a role in the balance of women's hormones and their overall health."
Growing Scientific Attention
The issue of the impact of climate change and environmental pollution on women's hormones and menstrual disorders has gained attention in the scientific community, following the discovery by Boston University researcher Patricia Hunt of bisphenol-A (BPA), a toxic and dangerous substance in plastics that can cause cancer and other diseases. Hunt found that BPA affects the production of sperm, eggs, and male and female chromosomes. Additionally, other chemicals widely used in plastics, such as parabens, phthalates, and flame retardants, disrupt endocrine function and may have similar effects on fertility as BPA, according to Hunt.
In a related scientific study on the impact of pollution on women's hormonal and reproductive gland systems, researchers from Boston University's School of Medicine conducted a study published in the scientific journal "Human Reproduction." The study, which involved adolescent girls aged 14 to 18, used participants' medical data and linked it to the data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's air quality monitoring system, which tracks air pollution levels.
The researchers found that the frequent exposure to fine particles inhaled by the adolescent girls due to air pollution was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing irregular menstrual cycles after puberty.
“It is widely agreed, according to real-life experiences in the Yemeni environment—particularly in areas heavily contaminated by chemicals from explosives and other pollutants—that millions of women in Yemen face significant health risks that go beyond a single health issue.”
According to the research team leader, Dr. Shruthi Mahalinga, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine, "although exposure to air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular and lung diseases, this study suggests that other systems in the body, such as the reproductive endocrine system, are also affected by pollution."
No One Exempt from the Ravages of War
The ongoing conflict in Yemen over the past nine years has caused environmental disruptions, particularly in areas exposed to considerable amounts of toxic chemical pollutants that have affected and contaminated the air, soil, and water. These pollutants, resulting from the use of various explosives and bombs dropped on villages, residential areas, or agricultural lands, have led to an increase in birth defects and miscarriage rates in areas heavily affected by these chemical pollutants, which are believed to contain some level of radiation. Although this has not yet been scientifically tested or proven due to Yemen's limited resources and expertise, the recurrence of these symptoms in bombed areas has become increasingly noticeable, especially in regions that have been targeted by various types of bombs during the airstrikes led by the Saudi-UAE coalition in Yemen since March 2015.
In addition, waves of displacement have forced hundreds of thousands of Yemenis in conflict zones to flee their homes and villages in search of safety in other areas. As a result, they have been compelled to live in unhealthy environments and camps, where they are exposed to plastic and chemical pollutants.
Moreover, the indiscriminate and excessive use of pesticides, which are sold, promoted, and used without regulation, in spraying agricultural crops consumed by Yemenis, such as vegetables, fruits, and even qat, has slow and cumulative effects that harm health and impair the functioning of the body's organs.
Furthermore, Yemen ranks at the bottom of the global list for city cleanliness. Yemeni cities, including the capital, Sana'a, lack even the most basic standards of cleanliness, proper sanitation infrastructure, or effective rainwater drainage systems. All these polluting factors combine to create an unhealthy environment, affecting not only women's health but also the well-being of the entire society.
Although there are no local statistics or studies specifically addressing the impact of climate change and pollution on women's hormones in Yemen, it is widely agreed, according to real-life experiences in the Yemeni environment—particularly in areas most contaminated by chemicals from explosives and other pollutants—that millions of women face significant health risks that go beyond a single health issue. There are approximately six million Yemeni women and girls of childbearing age, ranging from 15 to 49 years old, who are in need of support due to the growing shortage of food supplies. Additionally, over one million pregnant women suffer from malnutrition, putting them at risk of giving birth to children with stunted growth. Moreover, around 114,000 women are at risk of experiencing complications during childbirth, according to recent statistics from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
