Women who suffer from asthma are more likely to require fertility treatment in order to conceive, according to a new study.
Research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress showed that 12% of women with asthma received fertility treatment before getting pregnant, compared with just 7% of women who do not suffer from the condition.
The study has not established a causal relationship between asthma and infertility, but the correlation has led researchers to suggest that good asthma management may help improve chances of natural conception, and conception following fertility treatment.
The Director of Research and Policy at Asthma UK has commented on the research, saying, “There is a wealth of existing research linking asthma and hormones and this study adds to our knowledge on the subject. However, it does not prove that asthma plays a part in reducing fertility in women, we need much more investment in asthma research to be able to understand exactly how asthma could impact on fertility.”
Asthma and all other health conditions should be considered as part of a fertility assessment, and it is important to get this and any other chronic conditions under control as part of a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. By improving asthma symptoms and management, couples could reduce the amount of time that it takes to conceive and therefore reduce the need for fertility treatments (or repeated treatments).
If you suffer from asthma and are trying to conceive, please get in touch to discuss your overall fertility and your options. Best practice states that you should try to conceive for at least a year before seeing a fertility specialist if you are under 35, and at least 6 months if you are 35 or older. 84% of couples will conceive within 1 year of trying, and only 20% will conceive within 1 month.
