TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A new study suggests that women who experience infertility without receiving fertility treatment may face a heightened risk of developing systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). The findings were published online on December 4 in Human Reproduction.
Led by Natalie V. Scime, Ph.D., from the University of Toronto Scarborough, the study examined a large cohort of 465,078 women, aged 18 to 50, who gave birth to singleton children. The researchers investigated the relationship between infertility, with or without fertility treatments, and the subsequent onset of SARD. The study followed participants for an average of 6.5 years.
The researchers found varying incidence rates of SARD across different groups. Among women who had no infertility, the rate was 9.3 per 10,000 person-years. In women with infertility who did not receive fertility treatment, the rate was 12.5 per 10,000 person-years. Women who received noninvasive or invasive fertility treatments had similar rates of 10.9 per 10,000 person-years. Importantly, even after adjusting for adverse pregnancy outcomes, infertility without treatment was linked to a 25% higher risk of developing SARD (controlled direct effect hazard ratio, 1.25). However, no such association was found for women who underwent either noninvasive or invasive fertility treatments.
The study’s authors highlight the importance of increased awareness among healthcare providers regarding the potential signs of SARD, particularly in women experiencing infertility. Early detection of these conditions could improve treatment outcomes during the reproductive years. “Greater health provider awareness of SARD symptoms and related gynecological issues in women with infertility could facilitate earlier detection and treatment of SARD,” the authors concluded.
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