The Celiac Disease And Infertility Connection - Sheknows.com

[Scott Adams]

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Open Original Shared Link SheKnows.com With infertility on the rise, it's time to look at the connection with celiac disease, a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine and interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. A new study from Celiac Disease Center at Columbia ... Open Original Shared Link PerishableNews (press release) Open Original Shared Link>Loblaw Launches Line of President's Choice

[mushroom]

It's about time they started doing some research on this. I have found myself saying over and over, test them for celiac before giving fertility treatment or IVF (and that goes for both would-be parents, since gluten apparently affects the quality of the sperm too, I seem to recall reading).

[kareng]

My OB/GYN does check for this. That was who suggested it to me based on my iron, D, etc levels. They look for it with thier infertile ladies.

[Chaff]

As someone with unexplained infertility and recently diagnosed with celiac (no thanks to doctors -- but blood-test confirmed elevated tTg), I want to know when I can start trying again. I've already had my miscarriages, and there's no point in just getting more of them. Is it when tTg is back down?

Science, why are you so slow?

This is not encouraging advice, folks:

“Apart from strong anecdotal evidence, there’s no published research data out there yet that proves fertility improves on the gluten-free diet,” Woodward says. “For those with celiac disease, overall health dramatically improves once they go gluten free, so it is reasonable to assume that fertility would be positively impacted, as well.”

It's just -- uh...no one's bothered to do a major study on this yet, so...we'll just assume it's fine.

Does the forum here have any thoughts on this? I need to do a deep-dive search, but the issue is *way* too emotional, so I'm not really into reading detailed miscarriage and infertility issues right now. (I'll be ready for it when my unborn children graduate college.)

[mushroom]

Many of our posters have had fertility problems resolve and carried to term after healing from gluten. I personally would hold off on trying to conceive until you have replenished the nutrient levels in your body due to malabsorption, which may well have caused your previous miscarriages. Have you had your pcp check all your vitamin and mineral levels?

[Celiac Mindwarp]

I'd agree it is probably worth getting nutrients checked first. Start taking a gluten-free prenatal vitamin suppliment well in advance of when you start trying.

In the UK i really rate books by Zita West on fertility, not sure how widely available she is.

I also wanted to say I had 2 miscarriages before my 1st child, several more before my second. So 2 kids while undiagnosed. There are many of us on the board who do have kids. Hugs to you, it is hard and emotional. Look after yourself.

[Chaff]

I'm working on that -- the doctor has ordered the tests. Unfortunately, I can't take a prenatal since they have iron in them (I have a genetic iron overload disease). But in general any iron-free multi with extra folic acid and omega-3s does the trick, too, I think. I hope, anyway.

Thanks for the advice on waiting until my vitamin levels are up. I'm guessing tTg levels have a role to play, too.

Thanks, Celiac Mindwarp! I'm glad to hear you still managed it despite all the gluten in your system, but at what a price.

[Celiac Mindwarp]

Those sound good for suppliments.

It was a heck of a price, but I am fine now and have my little ones. Now I know what is going on I can work on fixing me too

Very best of luck Mw