Introduction

As a certified menopause support practitioner and doula, I have spent the last six years studying and researching the medical aspects of menopause. I learned about the multiple of symptoms, reasons why women experience them, and how to manage these symptoms through lifestyle changes and treatment options such as HRT. During my studies at Doula Canada, I also learned about early menopause and often wondered why some women, including myself, experience early menopause. According to the medical definition, natural menopause occurs after the age of 50. There’s no definite explanation why healthy women enter menopause early. In fact, until very recently (less than two years ago), studies in women’s health, particularly menopause, were very limited. The media today is more obsessed with using menopause as a keyword for financial gain and directs women to seek medical treatments rather than identify the causes of early menopause. 

Could The Ingredients in Household Cleaners Induce Early Menopause?

In the Nutrition And The Environment course, we learn about toxic chemicals found in common household products that are endocrine disrupters, such as Phthalates, BHA, BHT, BPA, and Parabens. These findings made me question whether such chemicals, and other chemicals, could contribute to early menopause. With that in mind, I went on a quest to find published studies that can answer this question. 

To my surprise, some studies published by credible health and science agencies, including the Endocrine Society, The School of Public Health (University of Michigan), PLOS.One, The National Library of Medicine, and more, indicate that certain toxic chemicals used in household products induce early menopause. 

How Chemicals in Household Cleaners Accelerate Menopause

According to researchers, several categories of chemicals found in everyday household products interfere with the female reproductive system via the following mechanisms: 

Researchers also believe that the association between certain chemicals found in household products and early menopause is quite significant. They can accelerate menopause twice as much as active smoking (2 to 3 years early).

Key Chemical Classes Found in Household Products Linked to Early Menopause

Before I provide the required details on the household products that I use at home for this assignment, I started by researching the list of chemicals in cleaning products linked to menopause:

Part 1: The Dirty Four – Early Menopause Inducing Household Products

With some knowledge and understanding of the type of chemical ingredients found in household products and how they can induce early menopause, I decided to analyze the ingredients in the top four (4) household products that I (along with many women) use to clean our homes, clothes, and tableware: 

1. Finish Automatic Dishwasher Detergent (Powerball) Quantum Ultimate
2. Lysol Multipurpose Surface Cleaner
3. Bounce Fabric Softener
4. Palmolive Ultra Oxy Deep Grease

Finish Automatic Dishwasher Detergent (Powerball) Quantum Ultimate

Ingredients listed on the packaging are Sodium Carbonate, Non-ionic surfactants, and enzymes. However, I was able to find a larger list of ingredients online at RBNA: 

Intentionally added:

Fragrances:

Non-functional Constituents:

The following ingredients were listed on EGW’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning:

* Listed with concerns by EGW’s Guide To Healthy Cleaning

Lysol Multipurpose Surface Cleaner

Ingredients listed on the package: n-Alky, Dimethylbenzyl, Ammonium chloride.

Ingredients listed online at RBNA:  

Active:

Intentionally added: 

Fragrances:

Non-functional constituents: Ethanol*

The following ingredients were listed on EGW’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning

* Listed with concerns by EGW’s Guide To Healthy Cleaning

Bounce Fabric Softener

The product packaging doesn’t list ingredients! I utilized DuckDuckGo, Perplexity, and EWG to pull this list of chemicals:

* Listed with concerns by EGW’s Guide To Healthy Cleaning

Palmolive Ultra Oxy 

Ingredients on the package:

The following ingredients were listed on EGW’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning

* Listed with concerns by EGW’s Guide To Healthy Cleaning

Part 2: Why Should You Be Concerned About These Hidden Ingredients

EGW’s Guide For Healthy Cleaning lists the following chemical ingredients as top of the endocrine disruptor list:

• Dimethyl Siloxanes & silicons: There is evidence linking them to effects on menopause timing
• Polyethylene Glycol – Concerns from [ETHYLENE OXIDE]

Dimethyl Siloxanes & Silicons

This chemical is found in Finish Dishwash Detergent, added as an anti-foaming agent and for protective coating purposes. These compounds have raised concerns as they persist in the environment and can cause potential health risks.  It’s also labeled as dimethylsilanone, Dimethyloxosilane, 47956-45-6, Silane, dimethyloxo-, KQ8X4B6MN9.

Physical and Chemical Properties

PDMS is viscoelastic, meaning that at long flow times (or high temperatures), it acts like a viscous liquid, similar to honey. In low temperatures, it acts like an elastic solid, similar to rubber.  The chemical formula for PDMS is (H3C)3[Si(CH3)2O]nSi(CH3)3

Dimethyl siloxanes are characterized by:

• Hydrophobic Nature: Water-repellent, enhancing moisture resistance.
• Thermal Stability: Effective in a wide temperature range (-50°C to 200°C).
• Chemical Resistance: Inert and non-toxic, making them safe for various applications.
• Appearance: Colorless, transparent, oily liquid.
• Density: Typically to (less dense than water).
• Thermal Properties: High stability (to); boiling point 
• Surface Tension: Low (approx. 20-25 mN/m).
• Solubility: Insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents.

Applications

Human Health Risks

A large group of Siloxanes may have endocrine-disrupting properties and reproductive effects. Some laboratory studies have found that L2 affects the liver, the male reproductive system, and the lungs. L4 also affects the liver. D3 is also associated with effects on the liver. D4 is a suspected endocrine disruptor and reproductive toxin. 

Environmental Risks and Concerns

According to an article published on David Suzuki website¹⁶, many siloxanes are persistent-bioaccumulative-toxicants in the environment. Polydimethylsiloxane (dimethicone and PDMS) is likely to bioaccumulate in the tissues of organisms and be toxic to aquatic life. Cyclopentasiloxane (D4) is a stable and nonreactive chemical that takes years to decompose. It may evaporate into the air or enter waterways through drainage pipes when rinsed off skin and hair.

Polyethylene Glycol – Concerns from [ETHYLENE OXIDE]

Polyethylene Glycol  is present in Finish Dishwash Detergent used as a rinse aid, and pods as a stabilizer, thickener, and solvent to enhance cleaning performance. According to EWG’s Guide For Healthy Cleaning, this chemical scored D as there are concerns for reproductive toxicity with the lack of studies and data to prove otherwise. Therefore, we must consider the precautionary principle that recommends taking preventative actions due to uncertainty (lack of data) rather than waiting for evidence.

Ethylene Oxide. According to a study done in 2025 published by Endocrine Connections, exposure leads to altered sex hormone levels in the general US population, and further research is required in the future to validate our findings.

Physical and Chemical Properties (Ethylene Oxide)

• Appearance and Odor: Clear, colorless liquid with a pleasant, wine-like odor.
• Volatility: Highly volatile and flammable, with a flash point of 9–11°C.
• Boiling Point: 78.5°C.
• Melting/Freezing Point: -114.5°C.
• Density: 0.789 g/cm³ at 20°C (lighter than water).
• Solubility/Miscibility: Completely miscible in water and most organic solvents.
• Hygroscopic: Readily absorbs water from the air.
• Viscosity: Relatively low viscosity compared to longer-chain alcohols.

Applications For Ethylene Oxide

Human Health Risks (Ethylene Oxide)

Environmental Risks & Concerns (Ethylene Oxide)

Atmospheric Behavior: Ethylene Oxide can contribute to ground-level ozone, which damages crops and acts as a greenhouse gas.

Ecosystem Damage: Accidental spills can cause immediate harm to local fauna and flora, and high concentrations can kill birds, fish, and plants.

Water and Soil: While not known to be a common water pollutant, it can break down into ethylene glycol in soil and water, which is toxic.

Animal Health Risk: Land animals near facilities that release EtO into the outdoor air may be exposed to and affected by it.

Part 3: Managing The Risk Of Early Menopause At Home

Researching product safety information and identifying endocrine-disrupting ingredients is overwhelming. When you are juggling work and family priorities and managing rising costs, assessing household product safety is less important. However, every woman must use safe cleaning products because we inhale and touch them every day. While studies on women’s health are evolving, particularly regarding menopause and causes of early menopause, follow the Precautionary Principle – do not assume they are safe!  Accordingly, follow these simple holistic recommendations to minimize your exposure (as well as your family’s) to endocrine disruptions:

• Check EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning for safe cleaning products.
• Always seek fragrance-free products since fragrances are endocrine disruptors
• DIY Options

Conclusion:

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can damage the ovaries, impede the production of eggs, and interfere with hormone regulation in the brain. Such damages induce menopause as early as 27 years old. While the medical field argues that menopause before the age of 30 is associated with ovarian failure, they haven’t been able to link it directly to specific chemical ingredients in household cleaning brands. This paper aims to help women realize the importance of taking precautionary measures to protect their health and make it a habit to opt for a well-informed and holistic approach to healthy living. 

Bibliography

Endocrine Society, Study finds PFAS exposure may cause early menopause in women: Washington, DC, 2020.

Ning Ding , Siobán D Harlow , John F Randolph, Jr , Antonia M Calafat , Bhramar Mukherjee , Stuart Batterman , Ellen B Gold , Sung Kyun Park, Associations of Perfluoroalkyl Substances with Incident Natural Menopause, The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, June 2020.

Ning Ding and Sung Kyun Park, PFAS Exposure May Lead to Early Menopause in Women,  June 2020.

Sarah Matysiak, What’s the Link Between Endocrine Disruptors and Menopause?. Healthline: April 2025.

Ting Ding, Wei Yan, Ting Zhou, Wei Shenk Tian Wang, Milu Li, Su Zhou, Meng Wu, Jun Dai, Kecheng Huang, Jinjin Zhang, Jiang Chang, Shixuan Wang, Endocrine-disrupting chemicals impact on ovarian aging: Evidence from epidemiological and experimental evidence:  Direct Science, 2022.

Duygu Aydemir, Nuriye Nuray Ulusu, The possible role of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the premature and early menopause associated with the altered oxidative stress metabolism: Frontiers, 2023

Alison M Neff, Mary J Laws, Genoa R Warner, Jodi A Flaws, The Effects of Environmental Contaminant Exposure on Reproductive Aging and the Menopause Transition: Epub, 2022