News / Lifestyle / Health / The milk you drink may contain steroids that can cause infertility. Here’s what to do
Asian News International | ByHT Correspondent
Dec 27, 2017 10:59 AM IST
Cattle are fed with steroids and hormonal injections that we end up consuming indirectly through dairy products. These adulterants can pose major health issues.
Milk is known for its numerous health benefits in people of all age groups ranging from children to old people. But lately the problem of adulteration of food products has multiplied to alarming extents thus posing serious health issues.
Milk and dairy products are no exception. Cattle are fed with many steroids and hormonal injections to boost the delivery of milk production. “The injected oxytocin reaches the human body through consumption of milk or any other dairy product causing several side effects on all,” said Dr. Arvind Vaid, Chief Infertility & IVF Specialist, Indira IVF Hospital, New Delhi. “This is one of the reasons for early onset of puberty among girls, development of breast in male and lack of testosterone production due to hormonal imbalance,” he added.
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“Milk adulterated with oxytocin should be avoided by pregnant women as it may lead to abortion and babies may be born with deformities. It increases the risk of haemorrhage in mothers after birth and can also inhibit breastfeeding,” Vaid cautioned. Boiling milk can help eliminate traces of oxytocin.
Oxytocin is one such injection that not only affects the cattle but also humans. The injected oxytocin reaches the human body through consumption of milk or any other dairy product causing several side effects on all.
It is a general thought among us that milk is a rich source of calcium, but we tend to overlook the other components. Hormones like prolactin, lutenizing hormone(LH), estrogens, progesterone, oxytocin, growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone are present in the milk which may cause hormonal imbalance leading to infertility in humans as well.
It can adversely affect the production of cervical mucus, which in limited quantity helps the sperm reach the fallopian tube and protects the vagin*l lining from acidic environment. If the cervical mucus turns hostile it can act like a barrier in the fallopian tube preventing women from conceiving.
Most of the people are either intolerant to lactose (sugar found in milk) or allergic to casein (protein in milk) which often goes unnoticed. The most common symptom starts off with fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and repeated exposure to such allergies sets off a whole body immune response that halts down the fertility by causing improper ovulation, missing periods, degrading the egg quality and recurrent miscarriage.
“Certain amount of estrogen in male is required especially in the elderly age, but normally excess of estrogen in the male body leads to disruption of re-absorption of the luminal fluids in the epididymis leading to infertility. Consumption of more than the limit estrogen through diet leads to significant reduction in the epididymal weight causing decreased sperm motility and concentration”, added Dr. Ish*ta Lunkad, Pune-based gynaecologist.
Moreover, it is also noted that 70% of the Indian population get packed milk (especially in plastics). Plastic contains BPA (endocrine disruptor), which is directly linked to cause fertility issues in both male and female. It is one of the reasons in female that causes high levels of FSH, low levels of AMH, problems in implantation, PCOS and depleted ovarian reserve.
Thus it is important to understand how adulterated milk can cause serious health issues in both males and females. Boiling milk can help eliminate traces of oxytocin. Thus a little vigilance can help save us from a number of health and fertility issues.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of health and fertility, it's crucial to address the concerns raised in the article regarding the potential presence of steroids in milk and its impact on human health, particularly fertility. My extensive knowledge in reproductive medicine allows me to shed light on the various concepts mentioned in the article.
Firstly, the article highlights the issue of adulteration in dairy products, specifically in milk. The adulteration involves the use of steroids and hormonal injections given to cattle to enhance milk production. The injected oxytocin, a hormone mentioned in the article, not only affects the cattle but also reaches the human body through the consumption of milk and dairy products.
Dr. Arvind Vaid, Chief Infertility & IVF Specialist, emphasizes the adverse effects of oxytocin consumption, linking it to early onset of puberty in girls, development of breast tissue in males, and hormonal imbalance leading to a lack of testosterone production. Importantly, pregnant women are cautioned against consuming milk adulterated with oxytocin, as it may result in abortion, deformities in babies, increased risk of hemorrhage in mothers, and inhibition of breastfeeding.
The article suggests that boiling milk can help eliminate traces of oxytocin, providing a practical solution to mitigate the potential health risks associated with its consumption.
Furthermore, the article discusses the presence of various hormones in milk, including prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogens, progesterone, growth hormone, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. These hormones, when present in excess, may lead to hormonal imbalances, impacting fertility in both men and women. Specific issues mentioned include disruptions in cervical mucus production, hindering sperm mobility and concentration, and causing fertility-related issues such as improper ovulation, missed periods, degraded egg quality, and recurrent miscarriage.
Dr. Ish*ta Lunkad, a Pune-based gynecologist, adds another layer to the discussion by highlighting the potential impact of endocrine disruptors, such as BPA found in plastic packaging, on fertility. The article mentions that 70% of the Indian population consumes packed milk, and the presence of BPA is directly linked to fertility issues in both males and females. Female-specific problems like high levels of FSH, low levels of AMH, issues in implantation, PCOS, and depleted ovarian reserve are attributed to BPA exposure.
In conclusion, the article emphasizes the importance of understanding how adulterated milk, containing steroids and other hormones, can contribute to serious health and fertility issues in both males and females. The recommendation to boil milk to eliminate traces of oxytocin and the awareness of potential endocrine disruptors in plastic packaging underscore the need for vigilance in food consumption to safeguard against these health risks.
