Although rheumatoid diseases are related to bones, muscles, ligaments and joints, they also affect the human reproductive system and cause problems such as childlessness, preterm birth and miscarriage.
In a recent study published in the Rheumatology Journal, researchers have revealed that how rheumatic diseases are associated with reproductive system problems. This study was focused on 5339804 Finnish citizens born between 1964 -1984 and diagnosed with immune-mediated diseases (IMDs).
In this study, researchers used data from nationwide health registers. Women and men diagnosed with IMDs before the age of 30 and 35 respectively, were considered eligible for this research. The aim of this study was to understand the impact of IMDs on reproductive health measures.
The results of this study indicate that individuals with rheumatic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) showed higher rates of childlessness and fewer children.
When focused on the results of women, researchers found that the average mean difference in childlessness between women with IMDs and women who were not having IMDs was 3.6%. Women with IMDs had their first child and last child at a younger age as compared to women who were not having IMDs.
The study also indicates that some of the women having IMDs such as hypothyroidism and asthma faced higher risk of miscarriage. Some women faced adverse perinatal outcomes such as preterm delivery, small for gestation age (SGA), C section and NICU treatment. Women with type 1 diabetes (T1D), SLE, Addison’s disease showed highest risk of NICU and preterm delivery.
The results of this study show that there is a need to monitor and manage the reproductive health of women with rheumatic diseases. This study will help healthcare professionals reduce the risk factors in pregnant women who are having rheumatic diseases.
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