Impact of endocrine disruptors on sexuality: a pediatric aspect

Endocrine disruptors(EDs) can act and disturb the function of endocrine system during the whole life however, their impact is outstanding during childhood, as the effects in this period could lifelong influence different processes, mainly in the sexual area. The endocrine disruptors can directly influence the development of sexual organs, as teratogens, during the fetal life (cryptorchidism, hypospadias, micropenis), and late (pubertal, adult) sexual events as faulty imprinters (functional teratogens, when the exposure happens perinatally or later). The perinatal period is not the last, when endocrine disruptors can influence the development of sexuality as the system is very sensitive during adolescence and continuously dividing cells can also be imprinted during the whole life. Pubertal hormonal imprinting is also inherited to the progeny generations. The number and amount of EDs are extremely increasing and their importance as inducers of sexual alterations became outstanding. There is not drugs against them (many drugs are EDs themselves) only the information on them and on their effects can help to diminish the danger. It must not forget the DES-catastrophe, when mass vaginal cancers were recognized decades after the exposure to diethylstilbestrol and other serious alterations afterwards in both genders, and must know that EDs are DES-like molecules with very long-time effects.