(08-06-12) Celiac disease linked to infertility

by Nate Curtis

(NaturalNews) For couples who are struggling to get pregnant, discovering the underlying cause of infertility can be a lengthy and frustrating process. In the past, infertility issues were considered a female problem, but today's research shows the causes are pretty evenly split with one third being female reproductive problems, one third male reproductive issues and one third either unknown or a combination of the two. Recently there has been some debate about the role celiac disease may play in fertility problems.
Celiac disease
Celiac disease is a condition where the lining of the small intestine becomes damaged due to wheat sensitivity. The fine lining or villi in the small intestine is responsible for absorbing vital nutrients from the food you eat, and when they become damaged it can cause a wide variety of medical problems including rashes, IBS, malnutrition and much more. It may be hard to imagine that celiac disease could have any relation to infertility, but some research is beginning to point in that direction.
Studies
Over the past ten years, researchers from around the globe have been looking at the possibilities of a celiac link to unexplained fertility issues. What researchers have found may provide viable solutions for many couples suffering from infertility. In Philadelphia doctors found the number of recurrent spontaneous abortion was four times higher among celiac patients. Thanks to these results, doctors now routinely screen for celiac disease in patients suffering unexplained infertility or RSAB.

Finland researchers determined that celiac disease rates for infertile women are about 4.1%. While doctors are still not sure of the exact correlation between celiac disease and infertility, it is hypothesized that unmanaged celiac disease leads to a shorter reproductive cycle and early menopause.

Meanwhile in Turin, Italy, researchers are also hard at work. Early reports suggest celiac disease rates are 3 to 4 percent higher in women with unexplained infertility than in the general population. These studies go a bit further and suggest that celiac disease is also responsible for lower birth weight, higher risk for abortion and decreased breast-feeding time.

If you think you may be suffering with celiac disease, it is important that you resist the temptation to begin a special diet. Not only is the diet highly restrictive, taking these steps could skew test results and delay proper treatment. Changing to a gluten free diet is challenging, especially since there are so many hidden sources. Even some medications contain gluten. Work with your family physician if you believe you are suffering from celiac disease.

Sources for this article include:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001280/
http://www.celiac.com
http://www.celiaccentral.org

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