Doctors acknowledge anecdotally that trauma and other stresses (e.g., illness, pregnancy) can trigger celiac disease, but there is no specific epidemiological research data to support a definitive conclusion.
(Updated .)Keyword: pregnancy
What percentage of women with undiagnosed celiac disease struggle with infertility?
Our best guess is that about 5% of women with undiagnosed celiac disease struggle with infertility.
(Updated .)Why does celiac disease lead to fertility problems in women with undiagnosed celiac disease?
When women with celiac disease eat gluten, the immune system attacks the placenta.
(Updated .)Is it unwise to do a gluten challenge while pregnant?
Yes, it is unwise. We do not recommend a gluten challenge while pregnant.
(Updated .)Will exposure to gluten during pregnancy cause any problems with the baby?
Stay gluten-free during pregnancy and rest assured nothing gluten-related will happen to the baby. Inadvertent, minimal exposures (if not repeated) are meaningless for the health of pregnancy. In women with undiagnosed celiac disease, however, gluten has been related to an increased risk of infertility and miscarriages.
(Updated .)Can someone with celiac disease also have pruritic urticarial papules and plaques (PUPPS) during pregnancy?
PUPPS can result from a person who has dermatitis herpetiformis with celiac disease.
(Updated .)Given that celiac disease is associated with infertility, what can a woman with celiac disease do to help her get pregnant?
A strict gluten-free diet for a few months and a good multivitamin are all a woman with celiac disease needs to be sure there’s no interference with fertility.
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