Infertility in women with systemic autoimmune diseases

Publication date: Available online 2 December 2019Source: Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & MetabolismAuthor(s): Jamilya Khizroeva, Cecilia Nalli, Victoria Bitsadze, Andrea Lojacono, Sonia Zatti, Laura Andreoli, Angela Tincani, Yehuda Shoenfeld, Alexander MakatsariyaAbstractInfertility consists by definition in ” failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected intercourse” while the term subfertility means a delay to achieve pregnancy. Several factors can contribute to infertility or subfertility in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. The association of systemic autoimmune conditions with endometriosis, celiac disease and thyroid autoimmunity that are well known causes of infertility and/or subfertility need to be taken in consideration when difficulties in the onset of pregnancy is reported. The majority of the used antirheumatic drugs do not interfere with fertility. However, the use of cyclophosphamide, limited to severe disease, can provoke premature ovarian failure; to preserve fertility a preventive treatment is available. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause temporary infertility and corticosteroids are associated to a prolonged time to pregnancy in some rheumatic diseases. Data on the association of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) with infertility are still debated but in general an increased rate of aPL is described patients undergoing medically assisted reproductive techniques. In systemi...
Source: Best Practice and Research Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research