News | Women with Infertility Have a 25% Higher Risk of Autoimmune Disease
On December 4, 2024, a new study published in Human Reproduction reported that women with infertility who did not receive fertility treatment had a higher risk of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) during the nine years after a spontaneous delivery than women without fertility problems. Conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough in Canada, the study offers new insight into the link between infertility and autoimmune disease.
Link Between Infertility and Autoimmune Disease Risk
After accounting for infertility-related pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth, women with infertility still had a higher risk of SARD. These rare but serious disorders include systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, and inflammatory myopathies. They occur when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues and can substantially affect quality of life.
Lead researcher Dr. Natalie V. Scime said infertility may be an important marker of future SARD risk. “We found that women with infertility who did not receive fertility treatment had a 25% higher risk of SARD than women without infertility. By contrast, women who received fertility treatment, including ovulation-inducing medication, intrauterine insemination, or invasive treatment such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), had a risk similar to women without fertility problems.”
Methods and Data Analysis
The study analyzed singleton deliveries among 465078 women aged 18 to 50 from 2012 to 2021 using Ontario's public health insurance data. The data cover most female residents of Ontario and are highly representative.
Women were divided into four groups: spontaneous conception without infertility (88%), infertility without treatment (9.2%), noninvasive fertility treatment (1.4%), and invasive treatment such as IVF (1.4%). During an average follow-up of 6.5 years, researchers adjusted for factors including age at delivery, diabetes, obesity, smoking history, and pregnancy history.
The study found:
About 9 new SARD cases per 10000 women per year among women without infertility;
About 13 new cases per 10000 women per year among women with untreated infertility;
About 11 cases per 10000 women per year among women receiving either invasive or noninvasive fertility treatment.
Significance and Clinical Considerations
Dr. Scime emphasized the importance of recognizing future health risks among women with infertility. “SARD often takes years to diagnose, and early detection is essential to prevent organ damage and improve treatment outcomes. During care, women with infertility should be monitored for rheumatic symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, or rash, as well as gynecological symptoms such as sexual dysfunction.”
Infertility has complex causes, including endometriosis, reproductive anatomy abnormalities, and advanced maternal age, which may also be related to SARD risk. Although the study did not examine these details, it provides important direction for research into biological links between infertility and SARD.
Study supervisor Associate Professor Hilary Brown said future research should examine the relationship between specific causes of infertility and SARD risk and how SARD disease processes affect female fertility.
Future Health Considerations for Women with Infertility
The study highlights the potential importance of including rheumatic disease screening in infertility care to support early intervention and quality of life. As research advances, clinicians may be able to offer more precise diagnosis and treatment.
News | Women with Infertility Have a 25% Higher Risk of Autoimmune Disease
News | Women with Infertility Have a 25% Higher Risk of Autoimmune Disease
On December 4, 2024, a new study published in Human Reproduction reported that women with infertility who did not receive fertility treatment had a higher risk of systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD) during the nine years after a spontaneous delivery than women without fertility problems. Conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto Scarborough in Canada, the study offers new insight into the link between infertility and autoimmune disease.
Link Between Infertility and Autoimmune Disease Risk
After accounting for infertility-related pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth, women with infertility still had a higher risk of SARD. These rare but serious disorders include systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, and inflammatory myopathies. They occur when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues and can substantially affect quality of life.
Lead researcher Dr. Natalie V. Scime said infertility may be an important marker of future SARD risk. “We found that women with infertility who did not receive fertility treatment had a 25% higher risk of SARD than women without infertility. By contrast, women who received fertility treatment, including ovulation-inducing medication, intrauterine insemination, or invasive treatment such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), had a risk similar to women without fertility problems.”
Methods and Data Analysis
The study analyzed singleton deliveries among 465078 women aged 18 to 50 from 2012 to 2021 using Ontario's public health insurance data. The data cover most female residents of Ontario and are highly representative.
Women were divided into four groups: spontaneous conception without infertility (88%), infertility without treatment (9.2%), noninvasive fertility treatment (1.4%), and invasive treatment such as IVF (1.4%). During an average follow-up of 6.5 years, researchers adjusted for factors including age at delivery, diabetes, obesity, smoking history, and pregnancy history.
The study found:
About 9 new SARD cases per 10000 women per year among women without infertility;
About 13 new cases per 10000 women per year among women with untreated infertility;
About 11 cases per 10000 women per year among women receiving either invasive or noninvasive fertility treatment.
Significance and Clinical Considerations
Dr. Scime emphasized the importance of recognizing future health risks among women with infertility. “SARD often takes years to diagnose, and early detection is essential to prevent organ damage and improve treatment outcomes. During care, women with infertility should be monitored for rheumatic symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, or rash, as well as gynecological symptoms such as sexual dysfunction.”
Infertility has complex causes, including endometriosis, reproductive anatomy abnormalities, and advanced maternal age, which may also be related to SARD risk. Although the study did not examine these details, it provides important direction for research into biological links between infertility and SARD.
Study supervisor Associate Professor Hilary Brown said future research should examine the relationship between specific causes of infertility and SARD risk and how SARD disease processes affect female fertility.
Future Health Considerations for Women with Infertility
The study highlights the potential importance of including rheumatic disease screening in infertility care to support early intervention and quality of life. As research advances, clinicians may be able to offer more precise diagnosis and treatment.
Source:
Collected online