Current research indicates that up to 8% of women with unexplained infertility have Celiac disease.
Today, approximately one in six people are infertile or need some help in achieving a pregnancy, and of those, 15% have unexplained infertility. That is, doctors can find no reason why they are infertile.
Celiac disease is a silent, inherited autoimmune disorder that is often missed by medical professionals. The disease affects the digestive process of the small intestine and is triggered by the consumption of gluten–a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Celiac Disease causes an abnormal response to gluten ingestion: the immune system attacks the small intestine, inhibiting the absorption of important nutrients such as Vitamin B12, folic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium, all nutrients needed to support a viable pregnancy. When undiagnosed, gluten destroys the intestinal villi and wreaking havoc on the body’s systems, including the reproductive system.
About 97% of people with Celiac Disease have not been diagnosed and if gone untreated can lead to other health issues such as infertility. For a child, it takes an average of eight visits to several pediatricians before getting a proper diagnosis, often because it has gone undetected in one of the parents.
To read more of Jasmines article click here
~ Jasmine Jafferali | kickSprout Health Editor and Owner of HealthJasmine.com