| #ffffff;" /> | | | | inability of a celiac that is eating foods that contain |
| Undiagnosed Celiac’s disease has been | | | | gluten to absorb enough nutrients from their diet. |
| associated with infertility, miscarriage late onset of | | | | Celiacs should maintain a gluten-free diet while |
| menstruation, irregular periods, early onset of | | | | pregnant |
| menopause, and various pregnancy problems. | | | | Although many women with Celiac’s |
| Most of these issues can be resolved if | | | | disease manage to conceive and give birth to |
| Celiac’s disease is diagnosed, and a | | | | perfectly healthy babies, celiacs who continue to |
| gluten-free diet is followed. | | | | eat foods that contain gluten throughout |
| Infertility and miscarriage are thought to be | | | | pregnancy risk having a low birth weight baby, |
| associated with Celiac’s disease due to | | | | due to their inability to absorb sufficient nutrients |
| the body’s inability to absorb the nutrients | | | | for it to grow to a normal weight. |
| necessary to carry a healthy baby. Until recently, | | | | This contradicts a popular theory that celiacs |
| investigations into infertility rarely considered | | | | should start to include gluten in their diet again |
| Celiac’s disease as a cause, yet up to | | | | when they become pregnant, to ensure their |
| eight per cent of supposedly infertile women are | | | | babies are getting enough grains. The most |
| now believed have gluten sensitivity. | | | | frequently asked question relating to |
| Times are changing as experts acknowledge | | | | Celiac’s disease and pregnancy is |
| Celiac’s disease as a major cause of | | | | ‘will following a gluten-free diet harm my |
| fertility issues, and getting tested for | | | | baby?’ This is certainly not the case and |
| Celiac’s disease and starting to eliminate | | | | one study has shown that celiacs that follow a |
| foods that contain gluten, has saved thousands of | | | | gluten-free diet often have higher birth weight |
| women the expense and emotional stress of IVF | | | | babies that mothers without celiacs disease who |
| or other fertility treatments. If you are having | | | | follow a regular diet. |
| problems conceiving, and are also experiencing | | | | Women that adopt the gluten-free diet between |
| any of the symptoms related to Celiac’s | | | | pregnancies reduce the risk of miscarriage, and |
| disease and gluten sensitivity, ask your doctor for | | | | low birth weight with their second baby. Many are |
| an initial blood test. | | | | also able to breastfeed their second child for |
| Research shows impact of Celiac’s | | | | longer, on average an extra two and a half |
| disease on the menstrual cycle | | | | months. |
| Studies of women with Celiac’s disease | | | | Testing for Celiac’s disease should be part |
| have concluded that those who included gluten in | | | | of infertility investigations |
| their diet tended to start their periods around | | | | Celiac’s disease and gluten sensitivity are |
| eighteen months later than those following a | | | | such a common cause of fertility problems, |
| gluten allergy diet. They were also four times | | | | miscarriages and irregular menstruation, that they |
| more likely to experience irregular periods, or | | | | should be one of the first lines of investigation for |
| gaps in menstruation, and to enter menopause | | | | women that are experiencing these problems, |
| around four to five years earlier. Again, this | | | | especially of they have other possible symptoms |
| disruption of the menstrual cycle is linked to the | | | | of Celiac’s disease as well. |