News | Asthma Treatment Linked to Higher Miscarriage Rates and Fertility Difficulties
A large study presented at the 2024 European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria, found that women receiving asthma treatment were more likely to miscarry and require fertility treatment to conceive. The study also found that most women with asthma were still able to have children.
The study was presented by Dr. Anne Vejen Hansen of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark and her team. Although women with asthma had higher miscarriage rates and used fertility treatment more often than women without asthma, final live-birth rates did not differ significantly between the groups.
Dr. Hansen explained: "Asthma is common among women of reproductive age. Previous studies have shown that women with asthma who receive fertility treatment take longer to become pregnant and use fertility treatment more often than women without asthma. Most existing studies, however, included only women who were already pregnant. We therefore wanted to investigate fertility outcomes nationwide, including women who may not have become pregnant."
The study analyzed fertility among all Danish women born from 1976 to 1999 and followed them from 1994 through 2017. It included 769,880 women, and those regularly using asthma medication were classified as having asthma. Fetal loss occurred in 17.0% of women with asthma, compared with 15.7% of women without asthma. Fertility treatment use was also higher, at 5.6% versus 5.0%. Final live-birth rates were 77% in both groups.
Dr. Hansen added: "Women with asthma had higher miscarriage rates and used fertility treatment more often. The more severe and frequently recurring the asthma, the more likely fertility treatment was needed. This may be related to systemic inflammation, including effects on the reproductive organs. However, eventual reproductive success did not differ, suggesting that most women with asthma can still become pregnant and give birth to healthy babies."
Professor Lena Uller, chair of the ERS Airway Pharmacology and Treatment Group and head of the Respiratory Immunopharmacology Research Group at Lund University in Sweden, commented: "Although live-birth rates were similar, the results suggest that women with asthma should consider possible fertility challenges when planning a family. They should discuss fertility concerns with a doctor. The study also highlights the importance of asthma management during the reproductive years. Greater asthma severity was associated with more fertility problems, suggesting a need to help these women achieve better asthma control."
News | Asthma Treatment Linked to Higher Miscarriage Rates and Fertility Difficulties
News | Asthma Treatment Linked to Higher Miscarriage Rates and Fertility Difficulties
A large study presented at the 2024 European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria, found that women receiving asthma treatment were more likely to miscarry and require fertility treatment to conceive. The study also found that most women with asthma were still able to have children.
The study was presented by Dr. Anne Vejen Hansen of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark and her team. Although women with asthma had higher miscarriage rates and used fertility treatment more often than women without asthma, final live-birth rates did not differ significantly between the groups.
Dr. Hansen explained: "Asthma is common among women of reproductive age. Previous studies have shown that women with asthma who receive fertility treatment take longer to become pregnant and use fertility treatment more often than women without asthma. Most existing studies, however, included only women who were already pregnant. We therefore wanted to investigate fertility outcomes nationwide, including women who may not have become pregnant."
The study analyzed fertility among all Danish women born from 1976 to 1999 and followed them from 1994 through 2017. It included 769,880 women, and those regularly using asthma medication were classified as having asthma. Fetal loss occurred in 17.0% of women with asthma, compared with 15.7% of women without asthma. Fertility treatment use was also higher, at 5.6% versus 5.0%. Final live-birth rates were 77% in both groups.
Dr. Hansen added: "Women with asthma had higher miscarriage rates and used fertility treatment more often. The more severe and frequently recurring the asthma, the more likely fertility treatment was needed. This may be related to systemic inflammation, including effects on the reproductive organs. However, eventual reproductive success did not differ, suggesting that most women with asthma can still become pregnant and give birth to healthy babies."
Professor Lena Uller, chair of the ERS Airway Pharmacology and Treatment Group and head of the Respiratory Immunopharmacology Research Group at Lund University in Sweden, commented: "Although live-birth rates were similar, the results suggest that women with asthma should consider possible fertility challenges when planning a family. They should discuss fertility concerns with a doctor. The study also highlights the importance of asthma management during the reproductive years. Greater asthma severity was associated with more fertility problems, suggesting a need to help these women achieve better asthma control."
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