Clinical Screening Tool
EDES-W
Women’s Endocrine Disruptor Exposure Screen
The EDES-W is a clinician-guided exposure screening tool designed specifically for women across reproductive life stages. It addresses the exposure routes most relevant to feminine hormonal health — including menstrual product use, intimate and personal care exposures, life-stage context, and reproductive timing — and is designed to be used alongside the EDES-10 for a complete exposure picture.
Clinical note: The EDES-W is designed to complement, not replace, the EDES-10. For a complete exposure profile, clinicians are strongly advised to administer both tools within the same consultation.
Version v3 | Last updated: June 2026
Why screening for EDC exposure matters in women’s health
Women carry a distinct and often underappreciated EDC exposure profile. Beyond the general population exposures addressed by the EDES-10, several pathways are either specific to women or disproportionately affect them: menstrual products used in close mucosal contact over decades; a significantly higher average personal care product load; routine use of intimate hygiene products; and regular skin contact with synthetic materials and plastics.
These exposures interact directly with the hormonal landscape of a woman’s reproductive life — cycling hormones, ovulatory function, implantation, pregnancy, postpartum physiology, and the perimenopausal transition.
The EDES-W creates a structured route for these conversations: helping clinicians identify the most relevant exposure domains for each individual woman, contextualise them within her current life stage, and prioritise practical, meaningful reduction.
Who this tool is for
- Preconception and fertility consultations — including IVF/IUI workups and unexplained infertility
- Cycle-related symptom assessment: PMS, PMDD, dysmenorrhoea, heavy bleeding, or cycle irregularity
- Diagnosis or management of PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, or thyroid conditions
- Pregnancy and postpartum care — especially first trimester and breastfeeding consultations
- Perimenopausal and early menopause management
- Adolescent hormonal health consultations
- General preventive health for women with an interest in hormonal or reproductive wellbeing
Clinical disclaimer: EDES tools are educational screening instruments designed to support structured clinical conversations about environmental chemical exposure. They are not diagnostic tools, do not replace clinical judgement, and are not formal clinical guidelines.
The Screen
The EDES-W contains 21 scored items across four modules. Completion time is approximately 5–7 minutes. Recommended to administer alongside the EDES-10.
| Module | Domain | Items | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module A | Life Stage & Hormonal Context | A1, A2, A3a–c, A4a–c | 8 items |
| Module B | Menstrual Product Use | B1–B5 | 5 items |
| Module C | Intimate & Personal Care Exposures | C1–C4 | 4 items |
| Module D | Reproductive & Pregnancy Timing | D1–D4 | 4 items |
Full scored items: 21 | Maximum total score: 42 | Each item rated 0–2
Download & Print
The EDES-W is available as a complete clinical package:
EDES-W Clinical Tool (Questionnaire)
Printer-ready clinical questionnaire for women's health consultations
EDES-W Clinician's Interpretation Guide
Module flag logic, life-stage counselling priorities, and chart note template
EDES-W Patient Handout
Practical reduction advice for female patients
Tip: Use the individual PDF buttons above to download each document separately.
Stay informed of tool updates
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Evidence Note
Grounded in peer-reviewed endocrinology, reproductive toxicology, and developmental biology literature.
Visit the Evidence BaseImplementation Support
Patient-facing handouts, counselling guides, and expanded clinical education materials.
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