Celiac And Fertility

[marmitelover]

Hello, I am just after a little advice I was diagnosed with celiac in April and have stuck to the diet to the letter. It is just I have been trying for a baby now for over a year, and I have read some articles that say celiac does not affect fertility and a few that state it does and am really confused and would like to know if it effects it permanently. Could anyone give me any advice?

[Tephie]

Hello,

I was recently diagnosed a month or so ago, so I don't have a lot of info. But I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I have been trying for three and a half years, so I know your pain. Have you had any kind of fertility work up? Contact me anytime if you need someone to talk.

Take care,

Stephanie

Hello, I am just after a little advice I was diagnosed with celiac in April and have stuck to the diet to the letter. It is just I have been trying for a baby now for over a year, and I have read some articles that say celiac does not affect fertility and a few that state it does and am really confused and would like to know if it effects it permanently. Could anyone give me any advice?

[alamaz]

I believe celiac disease can effect fertility but not permanently. When you have celiac disease your body is barely able to absorb the nutrients it needs to sustain you let alone another life growing inside of you. Once you take out the gluten and your body starts to heal and absorb nutrients again then your body can support the fetus. There are many stories of women on this board who have many children even before being diagnosed with celiac.

I was dx'ed in February, went really gluten-free in March and we just started trying again. Just trying to get the hang of the diet was hard enough, I also went to see a nutritionist who does know about celiac who has me on a fertility plan (and her standard fertility plan includes eliminating gluten from the diet even if the client doesn't have celiac disease). I've also talked with my OB/Gyn who is aware of my celiac disease and is starting fertility work ups on me to see if there are underlying issues as well. One thing she did mention is to try using the Clear Blue Easy fertility monitor. It was expensive ($200 on amazon) but basically it's a day by day calculation of you cycle and it will tell you when you are ovulating. This is the first month we've tried it and I'm only on day 15 but it looks promising :-)

Good luck TTC! I always said I'd never be "that woman" who gets snappy over other womens pregnancy's but i've had my moments thats for sure. i hate it that it happens but we've also been trying for a year and well, some days it just stinks! Keep your head up and keep sticking to the diet!

BTW, did any one read how it took Trista and Ryan two years to get pregnant? At least she is honest about it. Makes you wonder though.....

[marmitelover]

Hiya

Thanks for replying both its good to know your not alone. I am from the UK and things are different here (not sure what fertility work ups are?) but when I went to the doctors recently they just said they wanted me to give my body chance to get back into balance before they sent me for tests - so I am just waiting, and waiting, and waiting........

[BaileysMom]

Hi!

I have been trying to conceive off and on for nearly six years. I had two failed IVF with ISCI. We started the international adoption process last December.

One month ago, my Homeopath MD had me take Enterolab's test. I have two copies of gluten intolerance and am also Casein intolerant. I feel like this finally explains my years of having blood tests come back with an elevated WBC. I've fallen off the wagon a couple of times in the last month but have noticed a big difference in how I feel. I've also lost 10 lbs. without exercising.

I've been charting my temp for months. My temp is consistently in the 96 degree range which from what I've read can't sustain a pregnancy. I've also been doing blood spot and saliva testing which has determined that I have low estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA. Essentially, I am 35 years old with the hormones of an 80 year old! Pretty freaky!

So, next month I am going to see a specialist in adrenal fatigue and hyperthyroidism. I feel like in order to move forward, I need to know once and for all what is wrong with me.

You might want to try saliva testing. Feel free to connect with me if you want additional information. I have about two years worth of research!

Best of luck!

Shelley

[missouri celiac]

Hi!

I have been trying to conceive off and on for nearly six years. I had two failed IVF with ISCI. We started the international adoption process last December.

One month ago, my Homeopath MD had me take Enterolab's test. I have two copies of gluten intolerance and am also Casein intolerant. I feel like this finally explains my years of having blood tests come back with an elevated WBC. I've fallen off the wagon a couple of times in the last month but have noticed a big difference in how I feel. I've also lost 10 lbs. without exercising.

I've been charting my temp for months. My temp is consistently in the 96 degree range which from what I've read can't sustain a pregnancy. I've also been doing blood spot and saliva testing which has determined that I have low estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA. Essentially, I am 35 years old with the hormones of an 80 year old! Pretty freaky!

So, next month I am going to see a specialist in adrenal fatigue and hyperthyroidism. I feel like in order to move forward, I need to know once and for all what is wrong with me.

You might want to try saliva testing. Feel free to connect with me if you want additional information. I have about two years worth of research!

Best of luck!

Shelley

Hi Shelley

We have been trying to conceive off/on for the last nine years. Diagonosed in 2002 with Celiac and then in 2004 found out that I had a bi laterial tubal obstruction. I had surgery and was told that I could get pregnant but nothing. We have since moved and was told be a new doctor that we shoul just see a fertility doctor to do IVF. We are not against the idea of international adoption since my husband is adopted from Korea. Do you have any advise ?

Jodi

[SpikeMoore]

I'm 36 and found out this year I have severe endometriosis and this is linked to gluten problems. Looking back I think the two have existed together for many many years. Anyway I feel much better without gluten.

I can't help but think that gluten has had a big effect on me with respect to infertility. It is a tough decision to make about IVF and a very personal one for each of us. We ended up not trying it and I feel good about this, but instead will pursue either fostering or adopting soon.

[BaileysMom]

Hi Shelley

We have been trying to conceive off/on for the last nine years. Diagonosed in 2002 with Celiac and then in 2004 found out that I had a bi laterial tubal obstruction. I had surgery and was told that I could get pregnant but nothing. We have since moved and was told be a new doctor that we shoul just see a fertility doctor to do IVF. We are not against the idea of international adoption since my husband is adopted from Korea. Do you have any advise ?

Jodi

Hi Jodi,

You might want to have your hormone levels tested. I'm not a doctor but I found out that my hormone levels are that of an 80 year old. Also, if you basal body tempature is in the 96 degree range, I have read that you can't conceive or hold a pregnancy. I'm going to see a thyroid specialist next month. I think I have adrenal fatigue.

We are adopting from China - the program has slowed tremendously and we could be facing a 3-4 year wait. I would suggest going to the following Yahoo groups Open Original Shared Link and Open Original Shared Link or go to groups.yahoo.com and put in the words adopt, korea, agency, etc. The lists of groups will then be available for you to peruse. They have information about the process and will likely have ratings on agencies. Choosing the right agency is so important. You may have an expedited referral because of your husband's Korean heritage. Good luck!

Shelley

[mccargar]

I believe celiac does effect fertlity. We were unable to conceive for 5+ years (when both of us were in our late 20s, early 30s). 2 months after i stopped eating gluten my wife became pregnant. My wife does not react to gluten though.

So at least in my case if wheat really was causing me to have infertility it wasn't permanent.

[BakeryLady045]

My daughter just learned last week that she was pregnant. She has celiac disease and has been gluten-free for 3 years. She maintains a strict gluten-free diet, was taking a multivitamin and B complex every day. Her husband is in the military and was only home for 1 1/2 months when she got pregnant....while on birth control!

Stay on the diet and supplement your vitamins (talking to your Doctors first, of course!) It will happen. For years we thought she would have major fertility issues due to the severity of what the celiac disease did to her total body. But they were blessed. Be patient and stay completely gluten-free.

Good luck!

[Amelia01]

hi Marmitelover,

We are also experiencing infertility and have undergone 2 IVFs. I was just diagnosed celiac this past spring (just prior to the last IVF) and have been gluten-free for 6 months and still no luck getting pg. Side note, none of our fertility workups (we have undergone extensive testing) have given us any results as to why.

I have asked many fertility doctors about the correlation between celiac and infertility and the jury seems to be out on the extent of celiac causing infertility. Studies have shown that the correlation is related mainly to the malabsorption issue (meaning your body couldn't sustain a pregnancy). But that is what would explain recurrent miscarriage, not necessarily infertility. I beg to differ, however -- I'm convinced that the celiac disease causes some other issues that actually impede pregnancy -- hopefully not permanently!

celiac disease is classified as an immune disorder (as is endometriosis) and unfortunately I am unable to find any clear explanation as to why celiac disease it isn't treated as one in the infertility treatments. Of course, it goes without saying that you should remain gluten-free.

I've tried to find out from others just how long it takes being gluten-free prior to falling pg and haven't found any set amount of time. ANYONE?????

Don't wait to clear up your body prior to setting out on the fertility journey! Your homone levels et al will not be affected by celiac disease. Seeing that you are in the UK, get yourself on the NHS waiting list for infertility treatment asap!

Best of wishes to you!

Amelia

[Engineer2]

FYI for those interested in adoption, I used to volunteer at an adoption agency and can tell you that domestically there are plenty of babies available. What there is a shortage of is very good agencies!

Here is a tip: Put yourself in the shoes of a prospective birthmother, wouldn't she call an agency that treated her with respect and gave her some options for ensuring that she'll have some contact with the adoptive family so that she'll know for sure that her child is growing up happy & healthy? (Even though most adoptions are happy ones, we all read in the paper about those few tragic stories that happen every year - You wouldn't trust your future baby to a stranger's care without meeting and developing a relationship with a caregiver... why would a pregnant woman be any more cautious when it comes to a life-long adoption placement decision she is making?) Wouldn't she want an agency that provides counseling and will be there afterwards to help her get back on her feet and provide post-adoption counseling & birth parent support groups? When considering an agency review their website and promotional material for what they say to prospective birth parents. Does it sound patronizing or condensending? Is there an honest tone to the agency's material? If you were the one making this tough decision, how would you feel about this agency? Meet the birthparent social worker: would you trust this person and feel comfortable enough with her to discuss the most personal and most important decision you've ever made in your life with her? Does the agency have at least a part-time social worker to focus only on post-adoption birth parent support? Agencies that counsel birth parents on all their options and treat them with respect are the agencies that get a good reputation among potential birth parents via word-of-mouth in the community and also the internet. They are the ones that place the most babies and have less failed adoptions.

Not that I have anything against international adoption because sometimes that can work out very well but seems like domestic is usually cheaper than the costs I've heard for international. But no matter which option you look at, educating yourself about adoption is key! Especially read books written by adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents. Read the positive stories and read the negative stories. Keep your mind open, face your fears, and educate yourself. I've seen couples come in to adoption educational classes absolutely only wanting a closed adoption and after facing & talking about their fears, go on to have wonderful semi or open adoptions. I'd see them a year later with their adorable baby and they actually complain to me that they wish their child's birth mother would contact them more often! (Honestly - this happened more times than I could count!)

Best Wishes to all of you on becoming parents!