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Phthalates have been linked to adverse male reproductive health, including poor sperm quality and embryo quality as well as a longer time to pregnancy (months of unprotected intercourse before conception occurs). The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of preconception exposure to two ubiquitous phthalate chemicals, di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di‐n‐butyl phthalate (DBP), and their mixture on sperm function, fertilization, and embryo development in mice.

Adult male C57BL/6J mice aged 8–9 weeks were exposed to di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate, di‐n‐butyl phthalate, or their mixture (di‐n‐butyl phthalate + di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate) at 2.5 mg/kg/day or vehicle for 40 days (equivalent to one spermatogenic cycle) via surgically implanted osmotic pumps. Caudal epididymal spermatozoa were extracted and analyzed for motility using computer‐assisted sperm …