Can Diabetes Cause Infertility In Females

Diabetes And Infertility In Females, What To Do?

diabetes and infertility in females, what to do? If a couple is trying to get pregnant for months, and is facing difficulty conceiving, then it is time to check the blood glucose levels of the female at first. This is because a woman might have to encounter various medical conditions that would hamper her from becoming pregnant. What is diabetes? Diabetes is developed when the pancreas fail to function effectively. In this situation, the pancreas might not be able to produce the right level of insulin for the body. This is when the insulin controls the blood sugar levels and increases it. When it becomes high, it has the ability to damage the most important organs of the body. Diabetes and infertility are linked. Diabetes is not the only reason that keeps a woman from getting pregnant, but in many cases, it is the cause that blocks a woman from becoming pregnant. Doctors explain that if a woman does not keep her blood glucose levels under control, month after month the glucose level increases and the diabetes level would prevent the embryo getting planted in her uterus. Even though you manage your diabetes and infertility and succeed in getting pregnant you might face the following issues: 1) The baby might experience birth defects, since the embryonic cells get damaged 2) Baby might become big in size, forcing a C-section delivery 4) Changes in the hormone level may take place, making you obese or feeble 5) Miscarriages can happen, as high glucose levels are deadly to the growing embryo 6) There are chances that a woman might experience a medical condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCO). This PCO is in resistance with insulin and the chances of conception would become tough. What should you do to cheat diabetes and infertility? Control Diabetes Keep your blo Continue reading >>

Infertility In Women

Tweet Diabetes is associated with lower rates of fertility. There are a number of reasons which can play a part including, obesity, being underweight, having diabetic complications, having PCOS and having an autoimmune disease. With this said, many women with diabetes are able to conceive, particularly if diabetes is well controlled and a healthy body weight is maintained. Conditions The following conditions are associated with reduced fertility rates: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Oligomenorrhea (irregular periods) Secondary amenorrhea (absent periods) Premature menopause (premature ovarian failure) Endometrial cancer (uterine cancer) Microvascular and cardiovascular complications Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) PCOS is a common condition in which a large number of cysts develop on the ovaries. Whilst this feature does not in itself pose a health risk, it can reduce fertility. Women with PCOS have higher than normal levels of testosterone (hyperandrogenism). PCOS can affect fertility by leading to irregular periods (oligomenorrhea) or absent periods (secondary amenorrhea). The condition can be treated through making lifestyle changes, while medications such as clomifene and metformin can help with improving the chances of conception. PCOS is particularly associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes that are taking high amounts of insulin daily may also be at risk of or suffer from PCOS. Oligomenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea Oligomenorrhea is the term for irregular periods that arrive at intervals of 35 days or more between each period. Secondary amenorrhea is said to occur if you have previously had a normal menstrual cycle but have stopped getting a periods for 6 months or longer. Both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are associate Continue reading >>

Diabetes And Pregnancy

Women who have diabetes before they get pregnant have special health concerns. In addition to the new demands that a pregnancy will put on your body, it will also affect your blood sugar levels and diabetes medications. If you're thinking about having a baby, take steps to lessen the risks for both you and your child. A pre-conception counseling appointment will help you be physically and emotionally prepared for pregnancy. Meet with your doctor to find out if your diabetes is controlled well enough for you to stop your birth control method. A blood test called the glycosylated hemoglobin test (HbA1c, or just A1c) can show how well it's been going over the past 8 to 12 weeks. Other medical tests can help prevent complications during pregnancy: Eye exam to see if you have glaucoma, cataracts, or retinopathy Blood work to make sure your kidneys and liver are working Foot exam High blood sugar levels early in the pregnancy (before 13 weeks) can cause birth defects. They also can increase the risks of miscarriage and diabetes-related complications. But many women don't know they're pregnant until the baby has been growing for 2 to 4 weeks. That's why you should have good control of your blood sugar before you start trying to conceive. Keep blood glucose levels within the ideal range: 70 to 100 mg/dL before meals Less than 120 mg/dL 2 hours after eating 100-140 mg/dL before your bedtime snack Use your meals, exercise, and diabetes medications to keep a healthy balance. Continue reading >>

Fertility In Women With Type 1 Diabetes

A population-based cohort study in Sweden Abstract OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to assess fertility in women with type 1 diabetes and the risk of congenital malformations in their offspring. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—This was a register-based cohort study in Sweden. All 5,978 women hospitalized for type 1 diabetes at age ≤16 years identified in the Swedish Inpatient Register during 1965–2004 were followed until the end of 2004 through linkage to nationwide registers. A standardized fertility ratio (SFR), the ratio of observed to expected number of live births, with 95% CIs, was used to express the relative fertility rate. The proportion of newborns with congenital malformations was compared with that of the general population. RESULTS—We observed 4,013 live births (SFR 0.80 [95% CI 0.77–0.82]). The SFRs for those who had retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, or cardiovascular complications were 0.63, 0.54, 0.50, and 0.34, respectively. Stratified analyses by year of first hospitalization showed that the reduced fertility was confined to women first hospitalized before 1985, but the presence of complications was associated with subfertility in all calendar-year strata. The proportions of newborns with congenital malformations decreased from 11.7% during 1973–1984 to 6.9% during 1995–2004 but were consistently higher than the corresponding figures for the general population. CONCLUSIONS—Women with type 1 diabetes have reduced fertility, but it appears that normalization has occurred among women with uncomplicated disease and an onset in the past 20 years. Our results suggest that the stricter metabolic control exercised in the past 20 years may have helped prevent subfertility. However, although the risk of congenital malformations has decre Continue reading >>

Infertility & Pre-diabetes – What's The Relationship?

Because of that, we will be dedicating Mondays in November to this topic and how it relates to infertility and fertility treatment. Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMACT) has had its focus on this topic for quite a while. Carolyn Gundell, MS, one of RMACT’s Fertility Nutritionists talked about diabetes and its connection to fertility three years ago in 2012 on PathtoFertility. In case you haven’t had a chance to read her thoughtful piece, here it is again. Best thing about Carolyn’s piece? How hopeful it is. And how she explains things in a way that is manageable and accessible to a non-clinical person reading it. Pre-diabetes and diabetes are conditions that do need to be examined if you are trying to conceive. Isn’t it a relief to know that there are programs in place, led by qualified, knowledgeable and passionate professionals that can turn a situation around so that it’s safe and effective to try to become and stay pregnant? Think of this as a preview for November. You will hear more from Carolyn Gundell, MS, Dr. Spencer Richlin, (RMACT’s Surgical Director and lead physician for the Diabetes Program), Melissa Kelleher, LCSW (one of RMACT’s Fertility Counselors) and more. Do you have questions about why this is an important subject? Or how it could affect you? Please let us know. We’re happy to find the right person to answer your questions. When it comes to pre-diabetes and diabetes, we have made sure that we have the right professionals to help with these serious, but manageable problems. ~Lisa Rosenthal November is Diabetes Awareness Month. As I think about this, I recall many patients who I have counseled through ourNutrition Program for pre-diabetic and diabetic conditions. I remember their disappointment as we discussed that th Continue reading >>

Diabetes And Infertility: When Blood Sugar Control Isn’t Enough

An excerpt from the book, Balancing Pregnancy With Pre-Existing Diabetes: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby. Maybe your blood sugars have been great and you’ve been having ongoing sex with your partner. But if you’re still not pregnant after six to twelve months of trying, you’re considered infertile. Dealing with infertility and diabetes can feel like an energy-draining double whammy of health issues, but you’re not alone. There’s a definite group of women with diabetes who require even more maintenance and medical specialists to figure out why, once again, their bodies aren’t doing what seems to come naturally for everyone else. What’s Going On? Infertility is an inability to get pregnant. You are considered infertile after a year of actively trying to conceive (i.e., having unprotected sex around the time you ovulate) if you are younger than 35, and after six months if you’re 35 or older, or if you have a history of many miscarriages. The timeframe is key: It can take some fertile couples that long to conceive naturally, while older women are advised to seek help sooner since fertility declines rapidly with age. About 10 to 15 percent of all couples experience infertility. Of those, about 40 to 50 percent are caused by female infertility, while another 30 to 40 percent are caused by male infertility. The rest are either a combination of male and female factors, or are simply unexplained as one of life’s many mysteries. Several factors can lead to infertility, according to the national infertility association RESOLVE: age, weight, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), Fallopian tube disease, endometriosis, exposure to a chemical known as Diethylstilbestrol (DES), smoking, and alcohol use. Diabetes and Infertility: Are They Related? While all the above are ge Continue reading >>

Diabetes Mellitus: The Infertility Triple Threat

Based on the feedback received from doctors reading the blog, we are introducing a new feature: Case of the Month. This Case of the Month is an actual patient from The Turek Clinic. It is presented to recognize American Diabetes Association Alert Day. The Case of Male Infertility He is a 31-year old who has been trying to conceive with his 28-year old wife for 2 years. During this time, he has noticed a lower sex drive and has had trouble ejaculating. His medical history is negative except for a 6-year history of diabetes mellitus that is well controlled with insulin injections. Exacerbated, he states “I really don’t know what’s happening to me!” Upon further questioning, the sex drive issue started even before they were trying to conceive. Regarding ejaculation, the patient states that his erections are not very strong and, although he has the sensation of climax, nothing comes out of the penis with ejaculation. In fact, he is concerned that things might be “backing up” in his body with these symptoms. A Short Review of Diabetes First identified as a disease of “sweet urine” in ancient times, diabetes mellitus a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels. It is one of the most common medical diseases in the U.S., affecting 26 million adults and children or about 8% of the population. Among those affected, about 15 million are people of reproductive age. Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. When the blood glucose rises, say after eating food, insulin is released to decrease the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, there is low or no production of insulin and therefore blood sugar levels are elevated. The sugars spill into the urine, hence the term “sweet uri Continue reading >>

Diabetes And Fertility: How Diabetes Can Affect Your Fertility

You’ve have been trying with no luck to get pregnant and have not been able to a find a reason for your infertility. You may have tried a fertility cleanse, begun eating a fertility diet, and are taking all the right supplements and herbs, but are still having trouble conceiving. It may be time to have a simple blood test to determine if your glucose levels are too high. With the rates of Type II diabetes rising every year in the U.S., more and more infertility specialists are looking toward this health issue as a main cause of some otherwise unexplained infertility cases they see. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are more than 200,000 new cases of Type II diabetes diagnosed every year, with another 2.4% of the general childbearing population suffering from the disease but not knowing it. When it comes to diabetes and infertility the answer is clear: there is a connection. No, in many cases (especially among women), diabetes alone does not keep them from getting pregnant, but it oftentimes keeps them from staying pregnant. In many cases, say fertility doctors, “a woman with higher than normal glucose levels does get pregnant month after month. Unfortunately her diabetes status prevents that embryo from implanting in the uterus, causing a miscarriage before she ever realizes she is pregnant.” In this case, the diabetes isn’t preventing conception, but is preventing an ongoing pregnancy. High glucose levels are reported to increase a woman’s chances of miscarriage by 30-60% according to statistics released by the American Diabetes Association. Even when implantation does occur, there are other risks to consider, including: An increased risk of birth defects due to damage caused to embryonic cells form the high levels of glucose in the blood Continue reading >>

Fertility Issues In Women With Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus Type 1 and Type 2 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of menstrual abnormalities and infertility. The reproductive period of diabetic women may be reduced due to delayed menarche and premature menopause. During the reproductive years, diabetes has been associated with menstrual abnormalities, such as oligomenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea. It was found that better glycemic control and prevention of diabetic complications improves these irregularities and increases fertility rates close to those that are seen in the general population. Women with persistent menstrual abnormalities despite adequate treatment need to be approached by broader evaluation, which will include the examination of the hypothalamicpituitaryovarian axis and the hormonal status, presence of autoimmune thyroid disease and antiovarian autoantibodies, and hyperandrogenism. Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people and their families. The WHO estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030.[ 1 ] Type 1 diabetes, which predominately affects youth, is rising alarmingly worldwide, at a rate of 3% per year. Some 70,000 children aged 14 and under develop Type 1 diabetes annually. Type 2 diabetes is also increasing in number among children and adolescents as obesity rates in this population continue to soar, in both developed and developing nations.[ 101 ] Diabetes affects women in many ways, and one of them will be the focus of the present review the association between diabetes mellitus and infertility ( Box 1 ). Table 1. Standardized fertility ratios among women hospitalized for Type 1 diabetes at 16 years of age, stratified by type of complications (19652004, Sweden). SFR for Type 1 diabet Continue reading >>

Female Infertility And Diabetes

Once a couple passes twelve months of trying to get pregnant with no success, and that means sex without the use of contraception 3 times a week or more, the couple is deemed infertile. When the couple seeks medical help, one of the first conditions the doctor will look for is diabetes, since the condition can cause fertility problems in both sexes. Recurrent Miscarriages But even when conception takes place in spite of diabetes, poor control of blood sugar can lead to recurrent miscarriages. Miscarriage occurs because the high levels of blood sugar are toxic to the developing embryo. This makes it crucial to explore diabetes as a cause for both infertility and recurrent miscarriage, and this is one of the first things a good diagnostician should explore. Both partners should be tested. Diabetes can affect fertility in many different ways. In women with Type 1 diabetes, for instance, antibodies are produced that cause the woman's body to attack the male sperm as well as her own eggs. But diabetes also causes a general reduction in the function of the immune system making diabetics susceptible to various conditions. Tuberculosis is one illness for which diabetics have an especial susceptibility. An infection with tuberculosis can invade the genital tract which in women, may cause the cervix to become sealed off to entry by the sperm, or an inflammation of the fallopian tubes that often leads to scarring and blockage. Insulin Resistance Some diabetic women have a condition underlying their sugar problems. This condition is called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In PCOS, too much testosterone is produced and this affects the ability of the eggs to mature within the ovaries. Because women with PCOS develop insulin resistance, there are often ovulatory problems leading t Continue reading >>

Diabetes Alert: How Diabetes Affects Fertility

March 27 was American Diabetes Association Alert Day, a one-day wake-up call asking Americans to take a Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for prediabetes or Type 2 Diabetes. There are nearly 26 million Americans living with diabetes, which is a disorder of the metabolism. Type 2 is its most common form of diabetes. With Type 2, a person's body is insulin-resistant, meaning the body produces insulin, but does not use it effectively to move glucose from the blood and into the cells. Thus, the glucose builds up in the blood and passes out of the body in the urine, and the body loses its main source of fuel. Prediabetes is a condition that affects 79 million Americans. With prediabetes, blood glucose levels that are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Diabetes can affect the fertility of both men and women by affecting hormones and other bodily functions in such as way as to make it difficult to conceive. Insulin is a hormone, and when a hormone is out of balance, it can cause other hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, to get out of balance. In women, Type 2 diabetes is linked to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is a common hormonal disorder that causes anovulation and infertility. In addition, obesity is common in women with Type 2 diabetes, and studies have found that women who are obese take longer to get pregnant and produce eggs that create embryos of lower quality. In men, scientists have found that DNA damage in the sperm of diabetic men is higher than in the sperm of men who do not have diabetes. In addition, nerve damage from diabetes can lead to retrograde ejaculation in which the semen goes into the bladder and never reaches the woman's reproductive system. Erectile dysfunction i Continue reading >>

Infertility In A Young Woman With Type 2 Diabetes

Go to: Case history A 33-year-old teacher (BMI 28 kg/m2) saw her general practitioner (GP) due to primary infertility. She was previously fit and healthy apart from a history of hirsutism which had been treated by laser therapy in her 20s. As part of her initial diagnostic work-up, she was identified to have Type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovaries on a transvaginal ultrasound scan. Her recent HbA1c was 7.7% (DCCT) (IFCC 60.7 mmol/mol). She was referred to a structured education programme and a dietician. She was also started on metformin and the dose was gradually increased to 2 g/day. Her total cholesterol was 6.2 mmol/l and her blood pressure was 144/86 mmHg. Her case was brought to the Ealing multidisciplinary group meeting for further discussion. Go to: Ways to think about the problem What is the likely cause of her infertility? In the UK, approximately one in seven heterosexual couples experience problems conceiving and investigations reveal a cause in 75% of these. The most frequent causes of subfertility are outlined in Table 1. Male causes of subfertility are mainly detected by semen analysis and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI). In women, the routine investigations would include a transvaginal ultrasound scan, folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinising hormone (LH) levels, day 21 progesterone level, STI checks and, if necessary, more invasive procedures such as an hysterosalpingogram or laparoscopy. Fertility problems affecting both the man and the woman are detected in 40% of couples with conception problems.1 This young woman has infertility associated with Type 2 diabetes, high BMI and polycystic ovaries. The most likely diagnosis would be polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), causing oligo-ovulation and metabolic disturbance. What is th Continue reading >>

How Does Diabetes Affect Female Fertility?

Question: How does diabetes affect female fertility? Answer: There is somewhat of a relationship between diabetes and fertility. Young women with diabetes, either type 1 or type 2, tend, on average, to start their periods a little bit later in life than women without diabetes. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, women with diabetes tend to go through menopause slightly earlier, so this provides a slightly smaller window of fertility for women with diabetes. In addition, many women with type 2 diabetes have an underlying syndrome called 'polycystic ovarian syndrome.' We call it 'PCOS.' PCOS is associated with insulin resistance, which is a major player in type 2 diabetes, and so that's why there's a relationship between these two issues. Because of the effects of PCOS on the ovaries, women with type 2 diabetes and PCOS may find a harder time with conception than women without diabetes. So, that's really the relationship between diabetes and fertility. And, if a woman does want to get pregnant and has diabetes, it's critically important for her to be in good control of her blood glucose levels with an A1c below 7 percent before she goes off of contraceptive agents and starts trying to get pregnant. Previous: Does Menopause Change Insulin Sensitivity, And What About Hormone Replacement Therapy After Menopause? Continue reading >>

Fertility Issues In Women With Diabetes.

Abstract Diabetes mellitus Type 1 and Type 2 should be considered in the differential diagnosis of menstrual abnormalities and infertility. The reproductive period of diabetic women may be reduced due to delayed menarche and premature menopause. During the reproductive years, diabetes has been associated with menstrual abnormalities, such as oligomenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea. It was found that better glycemic control and prevention of diabetic complications improves these irregularities and increases fertility rates close to those that are seen in the general population. Women with persistent menstrual abnormalities despite adequate treatment need to be approached by broader evaluation, which will include the examination of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and the hormonal status, presence of autoimmune thyroid disease and antiovarian autoantibodies, and hyperandrogenism. Continue reading >>

Can Diabetes Cause Infertility In Women?

by Pandit | Sep 25, 2017 | Female infertility | 0 comments According to a study, India is among the top two countries with the highest number of diabetic population. Prevalence of diabetes has more than doubled for men in India and has also increased by 80 percent among women in India (4.6 percent to 8.3 percent). While there is increasing awareness about diabetes prevention and treatment, there isnt much awareness about other problems that are caused by diabetes like early onset and increased severity in sexual and urological functions. Diabetes can cause female infertility by delaying menarche (onset of menses for the first time) and this is intensified by the fact that high sugar causes rapid and premature ovarian aging as evidenced by an early menopause. Thus diabetes leads to shortening of a womans reproductive lifespan. During the reproductive years, diabetes has consistently been associated with menstrual abnormalities as well. The risk of oligomenorrhea, or delayed periods, is directly proportional to the levels of blood glucose. Uncontrolled diabetes may also negatively affect a growing eggs micro-environment, thus compromising on ovarian hormone synthesis, ovulation, and the eggs quality. Further, it may lead to infections of pelvic organs like the ovaries and the fallopian tubes, compromising on a womans fertility potential. You might be wondering if there is any connection to being diabetic and infertility. It is not necessary that diabetes is only the reason that keeps women from getting pregnant, but it is often the reason which keeps them from staying pregnant. In many cases, a woman with higher than normal glucose levels does get pregnant month after month. Unfortunately, her diabetes status prevents that embryo from implanting in the uterus, causing a Continue reading >>