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Crohn's impacting fertility/cycles?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 10/31/2011 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
Have any of you women discovered that Crohn's affects your fertilty/cycles? I was recently diagnosed with CD and have really irregular periods. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for 4 months now, and we're getting a bit frustrated with it all.

Can Crohns cause fertility problems or irregular periods?
Posted 10/31/2011 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
My doc seemed to say that hormone imbalances mess up Crohn's, but I don't know if it's the other way around. I am 52, but I went through many years of infertility before having my kids. That was before my Crohn's diagnosis. I was in remission with the Crohn's the past couple of years and I also thought I was in menopause. My GYN even took FSH levels and said I was in menopausal range. Since my Crohn's flare in Sept. I've had two very heavy periods after not menstruating in 9 months.....so weird. So yeah, my guess is that hormones and Crohn's screw up together in some fashion.
Posted 10/31/2011 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
I'm like gumby - I struggled with fertility issues before I had a Crohn's diagnosis. I had what was called ovarian dysfunction - I had an elevated FSH at age 35, indicating poor egg quality etc. The general consensus back then was that this was an autoimmune issue, but the endocrinology is really complicated and there was no "fix." I did 6 IVF cycles to conceive my first daughter - my 2nd was a spontaneous conception, but since then I have not had any other pregnancies despite 6 years of no birth control.

So yes, I believe that Crohn's can interfere with fertility.

For some Crohn's patients, the main issue is pelvic scarring from multiple surgeries or bowel strictures/fistulas/etc. For others, perhaps it's the poor nutritional uptake of the inflamed bowel that is interfering. I'm sorry that you are struggling with this and encourage you to seek help from a reproductive endocrinologist.
Posted 10/31/2011 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sickychicky,

Sorry to hear you're having these issues. Yes, Crohn's can definitely affect your cycle and periods. I only had one period for the first year and a half that I was sick with Crohn's. It didn't matter what my weight was, I would not cycle. I finally went to a Reproductive Endocrinologist who diagnosed me with hypothalamic amenorrhea. Basically, your body is under too much stress so it shuts down your fertility hormones, because it is not a good time for you to get pregnant. It doesn't sound like you're there yet, but just wanted to say that Crohn's can definitely affect your fertility as any kind of stress on your body can.

If you are in remission, you should have just as much of a chance of getting pregnant as a women without Crohn's. If you haven't yet, I would suggest using ovulation predictor kits. You can actually get them at the dollar store. Best of luck, and so sorry you were recently diagnosed with this disease.
Posted 10/31/2011 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sickychicky,

The general consesus I have read is as Octobergirl has stated, when in remission you should have the same chance as any other but while your Crohns is active it can make you infertile in both men and women. I was lucky enough to get pregnant without any issues twice but my Crohns had been in remission for a few years so its not the same.

I hope all goes better soon.
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