About PregnancySafeProducts

We’re an independent product-research site focused on a single, narrow question: “Is it safe to buy this during pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, or IVF?”

The same ingredient guidance applies across all four contexts. Reproductive endocrinologists and OB/GYNs broadly recommend that women undergoing IVF or other fertility treatment avoid the same endocrine-disrupting chemicals (phthalates, BPA, PFAS, parabens), the same skincare actives (retinoids, high-dose salicylic acid, hydroquinone), and the same environmental exposures (high-mercury fish, leaded ceramics, off-gassing cookware coatings) as women who are already pregnant. Our rubric is built around that shared standard, drawing on guidance from ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine), MotherToBaby (NIH), and the FDA.

How we score

Every product is evaluated against the same rubric. The dominant signals are independent lab verification (Mamavation, EWG, Made Safe) and ingredient safety (matched against pregnancy-specific blocklists rooted in MotherToBaby, ACOG, and FDA guidance). Together, those two signals make up the majority of the score. The remaining signals refine the ranking within a safety tier; they cannot move a product across one.

• Lab verification (35 pts): independent third-party testing (Mamavation, ConsumerLab, Lead Safe Mama, EWG Skin Deep)
• Ingredient hazard screen (28 pts): category-specific blocklist (retinoids in skincare, formaldehyde-releasers in shampoo, PFAS-prone materials in textiles, etc.)
• Scientific consensus (16 pts): ACOG, FDA, MotherToBaby (NIH), peer-reviewed literature
• Customer reviews (11 pts): verified-purchase rating and volume across major retailers
• Brand transparency (5 pts): full ingredient disclosure, certifications, third-party audits
• Price & access (5 pts): value relative to category median; US availability

What’s not on the site

• Products that fail our pregnancy ingredient blocklist (retinoids, formaldehyde-releasers, etc.), except as warnings.
• Brands we couldn’t verify with at least one independent source.
• Sponsored placements. We do not accept paid product placement.

Why IVF and fertility prep use the same standard

Couples going through IVF (in vitro fertilization), IUI, or other assisted reproductive therapy are often advised to follow the same product-safety guidance as women already pregnant, usually starting 3 months before a cycle begins. The reasoning:

• Egg quality is set ~90 days before retrieval. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (phthalates, BPA, PFAS) can affect oocyte maturation during this window.
• Sperm DNA quality turns over ~74 days. Male partners following the same product-avoidance rules during a fertility cycle is increasingly standard guidance.
• Embryo implantation is exquisitely sensitive. Many of the topical actives we screen for (retinoids, hydroquinone) carry the same caution in early pregnancy and during the two-week wait after embryo transfer.
• Hormonal supplementation magnifies skincare sensitivity. The estrogen and progesterone surges during stimulation can trigger melasma, acne, and reactive skin, the same scenarios we built our pregnancy-safe skincare ranks around.

We do not differentiate rankings by life stage because the ingredient blocklist is the same. If a product is ranked safe for pregnancy, it is also safe for IVF, IUI, postpartum, and breastfeeding under typical use. Where a specific product has an IVF-cycle-specific caution (e.g. avoid during stim, OK during luteal phase), we call it out in the safety notes.

Editorial team

Editorial decisions are made by the Pregnancy Safe Products editorial team. Every published product page is reviewed by at least one editor and references at least one independent source. Safety determinations involving novel ingredient categories are flagged for a clinician review by an obstetrics-trained reviewer prior to publication.

Medical disclaimer

Nothing on this site is medical advice. We summarize publicly available research and independent testing. Pregnancy is a “Your Money Your Life” topic. Your obstetrician, midwife, or registered dietitian knows your specific situation. Run any new product past them.

Affiliate disclosure (FTC)

We earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site, at no extra cost to you. This is how the site funds its research and clinician reviews. Rankings follow the rubric above and are not influenced by which products earn us more.

Corrections policy

If we get a fact wrong, we correct it visibly. Submit a correction request through our contact form with the product page URL and the specific claim that needs review. We respond within 5 business days.

Contact

For corrections, product safety questions, brand partnerships, or press inquiries, use the contact form.