Submitted by Shelby D Burns Wed 11/07/2012
Lab Autoimmune infertility is a type of infertility caused by your own immune system. Your immune system will target healthy cells in the reproductive systems and attack them as though they were bacteria or a virus. Infertility has been defined by experts as the inability to conceive after a year of trying.
Autoimmune disorders to impact fertility Autoimmune disorders can affect many parts of the body. Other autoimmune diseases include Type 1 diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. A number of biological components which are involved in pregnancy can be at risk including nerves, endocrine system and reproductive organs in both men and women. This can make getting pregnant and maintaining a pregnancy challenging.
Genes and hormones Hormones are the cause of most autoimmune infertility cases. Hormone fluctuations can trigger the over-responsiveness of the immune system. Genetics also play a role. Here is a strong connection between heredity and autoimmune diseases like autoimmune infertility. Still, there is no guarantee that just because your mother has it, you will have it either. “Autoimmune disease is about inflammation. The immune system reacts to cells and creates an inflammatory reaction,” explained Norbert Gleicher, MD, medical director of the Center for Human Reproduction in New York City. The inflammation leads to the symptoms and causes the damage.
Treatments to make it better are not good for developing baby There is no agreement in the medical community about how widespread autoimmune infertility is. Some doctors say a major role while others believe that most of these illnesses don’t directly cause infertility since they don’t directly affect reproductive organs. However, everyone agrees that the medications taken to control autoimmune diseases do impact fertility negatively. These drugs include steroids and methotrexate.
