Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that is triggered by the protein present in wheat, barley and rye. This protein is known as gluten. It is important to understand that celiac disease does not directly cause infertility. However, untreated celiac disease can cause nutritional deficiencies along with hormonal imbalance which may contribute to fertility problems.
Unlike other autoimmune disorders affecting fertility, celiac disease does not directly cause infertility. Patients with celiac disease can conceive naturally in most cases. However, In cases where a person suffers from celiac disease as well as repeated miscarriage or more frequently, unexplained infertility, it is vital to assess the situation. Even though celiac disease is a condition that affects the digestive system, it can cause malnutrition and other related complications which can adversely affect one’s ability to conceive.
Chronic diseases such as celiac disease are not the root cause of infertility, it is their effect on other systems of the body that may cause infertility. Here are some causes of infertility due to celiac disease:
Persistent damage to the gut due to celiac disease results in malabsorption of important vitamins and minerals—- Zinc, selenium, folate,vitamin B12 and vitamin D. This can affect reproductive health by affecting quality of egg and sperms, ovulation and disrupt hormones required for a healthy pregnancy.
Untreated celiac disease can lead to chronic inflammation and persistent immune activation. This may interfere with embryo implantation and increase the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss. This causes difficulty in implantation of the embryo and sustaining pregnancy— often resulting in recurrent miscarriages.
Women with celiac disease may experience reproductive abnormalities such as delayed puberty, irregular/absent periods and early menopause.
General health
Individuals with untreated celiac disease who experience significant weight loss or chronic malnutrition may develop hormonal changes that suppress ovulation. Fortunately, this is less common today because many patients are diagnosed before severe malnutrition develops.
Diagnosis is based on a detailed medical history and examination. For infertility related to autoimmune condition doctors often evaluate the extent of damage of the autoimmune condition this includes various routine blood tests— autoimmune antibodies, inflammatory markers , thyroid function tests and screening for the specific disorder. Specific tests for celiac disease are:
Once doctors have clear evidence for the autoimmune disease, fertility experts evaluate the cause of fertility problems. Fertility tests usually include a series of blood tests, semen analysis, ultrasounds and other imaging techniques to identify the cause of infertility.
When infertility is caused due to the underlying condition treatment often begins with managing the underlying cause. In case of celiac disease patients are treated with a strict long-term gluten free diet. This helps the small intestine to recover, reduces overall inflammation in the body promoting better uptake of nutrients—- resolving problems associated with malabsorption and nutritional deficit. When overall health is improved, reproductive health is also restored. This includes hormonal balance, better egg/sperm quality, regular menstruation and increase in chances of conception along with a healthy pregnancy. Along with a gluten free diet doctors add supplements to correct the nutritional deficiencies that promote overall wellbeing quickly.
However, if pregnancy does not occur despite a gluten-free diet further treatment may be required to aid fertility. Depending on the findings, female infertility treatments such as ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination (IUI), or infertility treatment with in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be considered. For couples with a male factor component, appropriate male infertility treatment can also be incorporated into the treatment plan.
Njinsky IVF & Fertility Clinic offers wide range of fertility treatments to pateints— including IVF,IUI and ICSI. Our clinic uses advanced fertility technologies to optimize treatment outcomes. Our clinic conducts fertility assessments for both couples, thorough investigations, treatment plans based on evidence, and even offers reproductive technology if needed. Our clinic uses the combination of expertise in the disease management along with individual fertility care to give each couple the greatest possibility of conceiving.
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