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Celiac And Infertility


ivfmama31

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ivfmama31 Newbie

I was recently diagnosed with Celiac. Now I'm starting to connect the dots wondering if that was the mystery behind my daughter's IUGR and preterm birth, and my first two second trimester losses, all of which are unexplained.

My husband and I would love to have another baby, and are secretly hoping that going gluten free may be at least a little bit of a help. My husband hasn't been officially diagnosed, but I really think he at least has a sensitivity to gluten(we'll find out shortly). We both had fertility issues, his unexplained, mine PCOS and went through 6 rounds of IVF before finally having a live birth.

Does anyone know how having celiac may effect fertility in males? I'm hoping if going gluten free boosts my chances it may boost his too. Not only that but I'm hoping it makes a subsequent pregnancy go a little smoother, and maybe make it closer to that full term mark.


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Grace'smom Explorer

Hi there,

I'm a parent of a celiac child, and I haven't experienced pregnancy w/celiac myself, but I did want to say that I've read a lot of posts from other women who experienced sometimes multiple miscarriages and infertility when their celiac disease was undiagnosed and untreated. They then went on to have healthy babies after going gluten free. I saw several threads on the topic a few down from yours titled something like, "pregnancy with diagnosis, so different from before diagnosis". I thought you might want to read it as there were several stories like your own. I'll say a prayer for you that you deliver a healthy happy baby. Take care, Emily

i-geek Rookie

I've heard that celiac can affect both male and female fertility- usually in both cases due to nutrient malabsorption. My husband and I started trying to have children a little over 6 years ago. I had one early miscarriage that coincided with a bad flare-up of otherwise latent (or so I thought) celiac disease 5 years ago. I went gluten-free right after Christmas 2009. Now the husband is starting to suspect that he has problems with gluten based on reactions to gluten foods after a mostly gluten-free diet (his uncle is a confirmed celiac, another uncle has been told to eat a gluten-free diet, and his mother has a whole host of mysterious health issues). I wonder if we'd be able to have children if he also went gluten-free...

Lisa Mentor

Celiac has many symptoms and can create lots of collateral damage:

Open Original Shared Link

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM SYMPTOMS IN MALES IN CELIAC DISEASE

Disorders of organ structure and function.

* Hypogonadism

* Impotence

* Infertility

* Sperm Abnormalities

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    • Jenny (AZ via TX)
      Thanks for the reply. I’ll call Colace to be sure.  I was just wondering if anyone had already gone through this:) I have not seen any gluten-free labeling on the package but I know that doesn’t mean it’s not gluten-free. The labeling is more of a comfort thing for me.  Do you think I need to worry about cross contamination if they say no gluten ingredients?  I’m so strict with being gluten-free but realize many manufacturers may have cya statements and the products are safe   Will look into Phillips as well. The surgeon recommended Colace and to add MiraLAX if needed so I actually need to get both as he says one of the worst things is to get constipated post surgery. 
    • QueenBorg
      Thanks for the information. I will definitely be doing a lot more investigating in the future!
    • Scott Adams
      Living or working in environments where gluten exposure is a constant risk can be incredibly challenging, especially when neurological symptoms are involved. For those with celiac disease or severe gluten-related disorders, airborne gluten (like flour dust in kitchens or shared workspaces) can trigger indirect exposure through inhalation or cross-contact, though true celiac reactions typically require ingestion. However, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) or wheat allergy can sometimes cause airborne-triggered respiratory or neurological symptoms (e.g., headaches, brain fog, or even seizure-like episodes in rare cases). Your focal seizure could stem from chronic inflammation, vagus nerve irritation, or neuroglial activation if accidental ingestion occurred—but it’s also worth exploring PTSD-related responses if anxiety around exposure is severe. Many with celiac report delayed neurological symptoms (hours to days later), making it hard to pinpoint triggers. Since your family isn’t gluten-free, shared kitchens may pose risks (e.g., crumbs, toaster use, or cookware residue). Suggestions: Workplace Safety: If airborne flour was a factor, request accommodations (e.g., ventilation, PPE) under disability protections—though proving causality is tough. Medical Follow-Up: Push for neurological testing (EEG, MRI) to rule out other causes, and consider a gluten-free household trial to see if symptoms improve. It’s unfair you were let go without clearer answers. Keep documenting symptoms and exposures.
    • Scott Adams
      It’s incredibly frustrating when specialists don’t grasp the urgency of worsening symptoms, especially when neurological involvement is at play. For refractory celiac disease (RCD) diagnosis in Adelaide, your best bet is to seek out a gastroenterologist with specific expertise in complex celiac cases. Consider reaching out to: The Royal Adelaide Hospital’s Gastroenterology Department (ask for clinicians affiliated with celiac research or autoimmune disorders). A university teaching hospital (e.g., specialists at the University of Adelaide’s medical network often handle refractory cases). Celiac Australia’s clinician directory (they may have vetted specialists familiar with RCD). Since your symptoms are escalating, emphasize the neurological progression (e.g., neuropathy, ataxia) when booking appointments—this often flags urgency. You might also request repeat biopsies, TTG-IgA testing, and HLA-DQ2/DQ8 gene testing to rule out complications like RCD Type 2 or overlap conditions (e.g., gluten ataxia). If local options fall short, telehealth consults with celiac-focused centers in Melbourne or Sydney (e.g., The Alfred, RPAH) could provide second opinions. Keep advocating for yourself—you deserve answers. We also have a ton of articles on refractory celiac disease here: https://www.celiac.com/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-amp-related-diseases-and-disorders/refractory-celiac-disease-collagenous-sprue/
    • Scott Adams
      Your blood test was not negative (TTG-IgA result - 4 where <4 negative), but looks borderline if above 4 is positive or weak positive, but you can still have celiac disease with negative blood test results, although it's not very common:  Clinical and genetic profile of patients with seronegative coeliac disease: the natural history and response to gluten-free diet: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606118/  Seronegative Celiac Disease - A Challenging Case: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9441776/  Enteropathies with villous atrophy but negative coeliac serology in adults: current issues: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34764141/   
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