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Autoimmune disease

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Infertility and autoimmune disease

5 replies

Werewolfnotswearwolf · 04/06/2023 19:14

Not after a diagnosis, but just wondering whether there are links.
I miscarried multiple times, always very early, and finally had a baby after a few rounds of IVF. In the round that worked, I had blood thinners.
I have since been diagnosed with alopecia areata and recently have found that my joints are very sore and feel sprained when I wake, particularly my big toes. Pre pregnancy, I ran distance races with no problems and still run short distances now, but I struggle. I am a healthy weight, 62kg at 5’6’, and 35. Never really gained/lost weight for no reason, always fairly stable.
Does this sound like it could all be linked and does it sound symptomatic of something autoimmune? Being sent for blood tests but I feel like I’ve aged 50 years in the last few months and we’d love another baby so to know what’s wrong would be so helpful.

OP posts:
Farmhouse1234 · 10/06/2023 17:41

If you go on fertility friends website there is a bit of information on there about autoimmune stuff and infertility. Some ivf specialists do believe that high inflammation can cause problems with conceiving / staying pregnant. But others dispute this.

MissSmiley · 10/06/2023 18:14

I had 9 rounds of ivf before my coeliac disease was diagnosed, the only cycles that worked I had steroids which obviously reduced the inflammation. Antibody tests came back negative for years, eventually diagnosed by duodenal biopsy and genetic test

Werewolfnotswearwolf · 10/06/2023 19:04

@MissSmiley wow good on you for sticking with it and glad you finally got some answers! Did you have any other symptoms? My husband has coeliacs and I would assume I don’t based on what I know from him but it’s interesting that it was linked.

OP posts:
Werewolfnotswearwolf · 10/06/2023 19:05

@Farmhouse1234 thank you - I’ll have a look. I know, lots seems anecdotal but thinking about number 2 and the thought of going through it all again is just too much at the moment so wondering what I can do first to help myself.

OP posts:
MissSmiley · 12/06/2023 13:29

@Werewolfnotswearwolf I only decided to get tested when one of my kids got tummy problems (turned out he's coeliac too) they took his testing more seriously once I was diagnosed. I had had low iron for years and worsening tummy pain/diarrhoea but for years it was intermittent. I hope you get your positive soon x

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