Doctors thought I couldn't fall pregnant - I cut one thing out my life and now have two kids

Forget burglars and the bogeyman, the real baddies are already inside your house, and they could be wreaking havoc on your health, as one woman found.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, are a because they have been linked to declining rates and the increasing incidence of hormone-sensitive. But what are they, and how do we avoid them?

EDCs are synthetic or man-made chemicals that can block or mimic the action of. This interferes with the delicate balance of our , which is responsible for regulating many biological processes in the body.

“EDCs affect the natural functioning of our hormones and their feedback mechanisms,” says Grace Kingswell, a nutritional therapist who specialises infertility (gracekingswell.com). These days, it’s hard to get away from them – especially around when we typically embark on the big “spring clean”.

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From cosmetics in the bathroom cabinet to cleaning products under the sink, they’re in almost every corner of your home.

“[EDCs] are in a variety of products such as plastics, cosmetics, food, toys, clothing, cleaning products, furnishings and electronics,” explains Christina Hawkes, founder of the natural cleaning brand Greenscents.

Studies – including one from the Endocrine Society, co-produced with the International Pollutants Elimination Network – show that exposure to these toxins can have an impact on female reproduction. They have highlighted girls starting puberty earlier and menopause symptoms getting worse, as well as conditions like endometriosis.

EDCs have also been blamed for the declining sperm count and sperm quality in men. Worryingly, some EDCs are also known for suspected carcinogens, and exposure has been linked to a rise in ovarian and breast cancer in women, as well as testicular and prostate cancer in men.

Dot Moorhouse, 41, from Totnes, says removing toxins from her life helped end a 15-year struggle with and PCOS.

“As soon as my periods started when I was 13, they were problematic. I was put on the pill at 14 to ‘manage my symptoms’ but the pain persisted. At 20 I was told I had endometriosis.“ A few years later, I also found out I had polycystic ovarian syndrome and that it would be highly unlikely I’d be able to conceive naturally.

“Then in 2013, I had a cancer scare when I found blood in my stools – my dad had died from bowel cancer when I was a child.

“Thankfully, I got the all-clear but I went on a mission to cancer-proof my life and after reading the book Clean by Alejandro Junger, I decided to remove as many toxins from my life as possible.

“I bought organic food, swapped my cleaning and beauty products to ‘low tox’ alternatives, and stopped using items like bleach and scented candles.

“Then I came off the pill, and eight weeks later, my partner Maarten and I found out I was pregnant with our daughter. Two years later we left London for Devon to access nature and cleaner air, then I fell pregnant with our son on our first try.

“For the past seven years I’ve had a healthy menstrual cycle with no noticeable symptoms of endometriosis or PCOS and we’ve continued to refine our environment.

“I work to support families who want to switch out toxic products. We also have an amazing online community called The Holistic Health Club where we share information on everything from DIY skincare to managing the menstrual cycle.”

Follow Dot on @dotmoorhous