[Coeliac disease and problems associated with reproduction]

Abstract

Coeliac patients taking a normal diet have a shortened reproductive period with delayed menarche and early menopause. Many studies have shown that coeliac women are susceptible to reproductive difficulties such as infertility and miscarriages. The disease is also associated with low birth weight in babies and short duration of breast feeding. Folic acid deficiency is present in the majority of patients with untreated disease and it might be a maternal risk factor for neural tube defects and orofacial clefts. Coeliac men may have reversible infertility, and as in women, if gastrointestinal symptoms are mild or absent the diagnosis may be missed. It is important to make diagnosis because the giving of gluten free diet may result in conception and favourable outcome of pregnancy.