Hello to all!
Question: Does anyone know if there is a correlation between RA, or other types of autoimmune probs and infertility...also, do any drugs cause infertility? I am not ovulating according to the ovulation kits...for 2 months now, so i was wondering.
Thanks!
I've had RA officially for about 12 years now. I've been on numerous DMARDS treatment the entire time. At 33 I entered menopause.
My doctors feel certain either one of two things are to blame. RA itself; or the medications I've been on for many years now.
Luckily for me I had two children early....no one ever mentioned it was possible that by 33 I would be unable to have children.
If your still having your periods oviously this is not your problem but I encourage woman who intend to have children later in life to discuss this possibility with your doctor.
I wish you the best of luck trying to conceive.
Lovie
When I talked to my doctors, they said that nothing I was on (at the time mtx, plaquenil or naproxyn) would affect my ability to have kids, but that with the mtx I should be SURE to not get pregnant while on it, because of birth defects.
Most of the people on the old AI boards who tried to get pregnant didn't seem to have horribly much trouble. There are no studies linking infertility with arthritis that I know of, and most of the drugs (check with your doc, of course) don't cause infertility.
Thank you so much everyone for your responses! I do not know why i am nto ovualting...maybe it has nothing to do with this. I am actually considering looking into adoption, as my body might not be able to handle pregnancy and there are many unwanted children in this country, and around the world.
thank you again!
Lovie, if you don't mine my asking...how old are you now?
I'll be 35 in January. I might be a rare case...I just wanted to warn anyone thinking of having a child. I've got a feeling MTX is the cause of my problem; but I could be wrong.
I really hope and pray that it the drugs I am taking will not affect my fertilitly down the road. I am only 23 and I do not have kids. I would like to have three, but I need to wean myself off the MTX before I can start trying. [QUOTE=NYALI]
Thank you so much everyone for your responses! I do not know why i am nto ovualting...maybe it has nothing to do with this. I am actually considering looking into adoption, as my body might not be able to handle pregnancy and there are many unwanted children in this country, and around the world.
thank you again!
[/QUOTE]
Stress can affect your ovulation cycle, and it sounds like you may be just a *teeny* bit stressed right now (like many of us :)) Take a day or two to spoil yourself a little bit and see if it helps at all.
*hug*
I'm a newbie so I'm not sure if you have seen my post but I (we)am trying to start a family. I feel so much better knowing there is someone else battling the same issues.
I am 29 and along with the RA I also have polycystic ovaries. I have known since I was 21 that I would have fertility issues - before I was diagnosed as having RA and starting on mtx (20mg/week). I am currently on first line treatment for PCO - metformin.... so far 2 periods only after 8 months of treatment
mtx is known to have fertility problems attached to it along with similar drugs like it eg cyclosporin BUT not everyone will experience this as a side effect. From my own reading/research, the consensus seems to be that RA does not effect fertility. Stress like the others have said plays a huge part....
I also felt adoption was our best option but I found out that in Australia RA is considered to be a disability and therefore we were not eligible/not high enough on the desirable list to be able to adopt....... red tape.... i am not on a pension or receiving any benefits~!
So now I am concentrating on eating well, taking folic acid. calcium & magnesium and fish oil...... and occasionally we spoil ourselves to try and decrease stress. I ahve found that by reading and being informed is also helping with stress. I am most stressed about whether my body will cope with pregnancy and birth as I have the arthritis in my hips and get alot of back pain. Not to mention being concerned about how I will manage with a baby if I don't feel well.
Good Luck
Shaz
Thanks again everyone for your input. I am curious to see if this, being my 40th post, will change mys tatus to "groupie." Oooooh! We can only hope :) !
Have a great day!