Asthma and Fertility Treatment Outcomes

Last month we discussed how a recent Danish study found an interesting link between women who suffer from asthma and their subsequent difficulty becoming pregnant. This is just the sort of research that we at Viera Fertility Center get excited about. While every case is unique and special, this research can help guide Dr. Chaumond in finding the perfect path to fertility for your family.

It is now known that it may take asthmatic women who are participating in fertility treatments much longer to become pregnant than women who do not suffer from this chronic disease. The study, which involved 245 participants – 96 diagnosed with asthma, revealed it may actually take a woman with asthma an additional two years to conceive with the help of fertility treatments. This difficulty has also proven to increase after an asthmatic woman reaches 35 years of age.

Asthma does not cause infertility, but it certainly plays a role in this extremely complicated biological process. At Viera Fertility Center, we are committed to your desire to begin a family, and with this new research we can more accurately diagnose your issues and help you begin the exciting journey to fertility.

What is Asthma and How Could It Affect Fertility?

Asthma is a chronic disease that is characterized by inflammation of mucus linings and airways to the lungs. The inflammation causes constriction of the bronchial tubes, and excess mucus build up. Symptoms manifest as slight to severe difficulty breathing including, coughing, wheezing, and can even be fatal in serious situations.

A person can become asthmatic at any time in their lives. Childhood asthma plagues millions of children often by the age of five and must be managed with varying degrees of treatments for their entire lives. Most commonly asthma is brought about following vigorous exercise. This is called exercise-induced asthma. There is also allergic asthma, which constricts airways once a person is exposed to certain allergens. And finally, occupational asthma occurs when a person is exposed to gasses, dust, and other harmful substances while on the job. Genetics also play a role in the development of asthma. Having a family history of the disease greatly increases the chances a person will suffer from asthma.

Because the cause of asthma is inflammation of the bronchial tubes and airways, scientists and researchers can hypothesize that this inflammation does not just reside in a person’s airways. It may affect the reproductive organs as well. Inflammation of the uterus would certainly affect successful implantation and the ability to become pregnant. The researchers of this study note that more research needs to be done to determine if asthma and inflammation instead affects the development of ovum and egg cells. If this proves to be the case, there will be a direct link between asthma and infertility and doctors can begin to work towards a solution.

How Will Asthma Affect My Fertility Treatments?

Every day we are forging a new era of fertility treatments. With the dawn of new findings like the study discussed in this blog as well as the many others that are yet to be conducted. As of now it is impossible to say with certainty how asthma will affect your fertility treatments. However, because we are now aware of this link, we can begin to understand and further study how it affects your treatment.

We know that if you suffer from asthma, fertility treatments can still be successful for you. You may just need to have a bit more patience. We also know that the best odds of any fertility treatment reaching success is to perform them on a healthy body. If you have asthma it is extremely important for you to speak with your doctor and get your asthma under control before you seek fertility treatments.

Dr. Chamound and the wonderful staff at Viera Fertility Clinic understand your desire to grow your family. We stay at the forefront of fertility research and treat each case individually. If you are suffering from asthma or any manner of female or male infertility issues, it is our goal to get to the root of the problem. Once we determine the best course of action, we can set your expectations and begin the best fertility treatments for you and your family. If you have any questions about fertility, call Viera Fertility Center today. We want to help you grow your family.