Can Birth Control, Antibiotics, Steroids, and Caffeine really make fish turn into hermaphrodites?

Question

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=24681&page=2

Actually, I first read about this in my "Ex's" Maxum or Playboy ... but this is the first I've seen this since then.

Answer 1

this isn't the first mention of a possible pollution by the 80-90% of women who are basically being chemically castrated for 20-30 or 40 years solid. There have been a lot of articles and studies showing these same results, but the environmentalists in general don't care, bcz for them, overpopulation is a bigger deal. The only people who care are women who think "maybe this is why the infertility rate has steadily risen every decade", or women like me who have had several healthy pregnancies, and all of the sudden require a hormonal "antidote" to prevent miscarriage due to the overabundance of estrogen in our water systems. Do a web search on "estrogen dominance' and you'll see that is it an increasing problem for all kinds of women. The other thing i think is related is the number of women who are on antidepressants - i think the reason they *need* antidepressants is because the pill is affecting them adversely, even if they are not taking the pill. There is no mechanism to "kill" the hormones excreted by a woman on the pill every time she goes to the bathroom - and they don't break down in our sewage treatment system... so yeah, fish are hermaphrodites, but it is affecting the human population, too...in my opinion

Answer 2

Pollution can definitely alter sex characteristics in animals. And hormones from things like animal feed can be a problem for people too. Here's a good article:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0301_040301_genderbender.html

But the idea that birth control pills are a serious part of this environmental problem is something only a religious opponent of birth control could come up with. Scientists are working hard on the problem of "endocrine disruptors" in general. Google "endocrine disruptors" for lots more.

Here are some suggestions about what to watch out for (at the bottom of the page). Note that birth control is not listed.

http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp

Answer 3

Some studies have raised the concern that estrogen from sewage, possibly linked to birth control usage may be contributing to a curious increase in mixed sex fish in some populations. See the links. The data and studies on this are young and it is not yet conclusive. The concern however is there.

Answer 4

give it a shot and let me know.

Answer 5

omg - you kidding me or what???????????????? what you really want to ask me girl! cut to the chase!