Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInfertility and Lupus Disease ActivityInfertility and Common Lupus DrugsAge and InfertilityProtecting Your FertilityDiagnosing InfertilityFertility TreatmentsCoping With Infertility
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Infertility and Lupus Disease Activity
Infertility and Common Lupus Drugs
Age and Infertility
Protecting Your Fertility
Diagnosing Infertility
Fertility Treatments
Coping With Infertility
Verywell / Jessica Olah
Many different aspects of lupus activity can impair your fertility. Most of them are specific to the female or male anatomy.
Female Reproductive Anatomy
One of the more common causes of female infertility in lupus isprimary ovarian failure (POF), also called primary ovarian insufficiency, which is when your ovaries stop releasing eggs and you stop having periods before the age of 40. You may miss a period here and there or stop having them altogether.
Because you can’t get pregnant if your ovaries don’t release an egg, POF can make it difficult or impossible for you to conceive. POF can start early—even during your teens—or occur any time before you reach 40, which is when female fertility typically begins to taper off.The autoimmune activity of SLE is believed to be behind many cases of POF.
Irregular menstrual cycles are also common with this disease, including going several months between periods or experiencing especially long and heavy periods.
One study showed that 53% of women with lupus who were under 40 years old had menstrual irregularities that weren’t linked to lupus medications (some of which can cause fertility issues).What’s more, no hormonal differences were found that could explain the irregularities, suggesting an autoimmune cause. Specific causes may include:
High SLE disease activity is strongly associated with these factors, underscoring the importance of finding and sticking with effective treatments.
How the Female Reproductive System Works
Male Reproductive Anatomy
Lupus can affect the male reproductive anatomy in several ways. Some studies have reported finding anti-sperm antibodies, but since these antibodies have been found in some healthy, fertile men as well, it’s likely that they contribute to infertility but aren’t solely responsible for it.
Other studies have linked some cases of lupus to significantly reduced volume in thetesticles, and the volume change appears to be linked to abnormalities in the sperm that may impair its function. This may be due to SLE damaging the seminiferous tubules, which are structures inside the testicles that produce sperm.
Some men with lupus may have increased concentrations of both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are what cause the testicles to producetestosterone. These levels may be abnormal because of lupus-related damage to thepituitary gland. High levels of both FSH and LH are linked to infertility.
Men with SLE are also 14 times more likely to haveKlinefelter syndrome, meaning they have an extra X chromosome (XXY instead of XY, which is typical in males). This can cause a variety of problems, including infertility and low testosterone.
What Is Lupus Nephritis?Lupus nephritis is a condition that impacts between 40% and 70% of people with SLE, and involves kidney damage or failure.
What Is Lupus Nephritis?
Lupus nephritis is a condition that impacts between 40% and 70% of people with SLE, and involves kidney damage or failure.
Conditions Related to Infertility
Some conditions that are common in people with lupus may also contribute to infertility:
A drug commonly used to treat severe lupus is the immunosuppressant Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide, or CYC). This drug is highly effective, but it can impair fertility in all sexes. It’s linked to POF, and damages oocytes and sperm production. These problems are sometimes, but not always, reversible.
Women
In young girls with SLE, the CYC-related infertility risk is lowest in those who are given the drug before puberty. The later it’s taken and the longer it’s used, the greater the risk of impairment.
Some other standard lupus drugs may pose fertility risks for women too:
Most of these drug-related problems should go away once you stop taking the drug.
Men
In men, two common lupus drugs—methotrexate andsulfasalazine—can reduce sperm count and thus lead to infertility.Other medications that may impact your fertility include:
In women with lupus, age may play a role in conception difficulties.Generally, people are having children later in life than they used to, with many people delaying pregnancy until their 30s. On top of that, women with SLE are advised to delay getting pregnant until their disease has been stable for at least six months.
Pay attention to your reproductive health as well. Tell your healthcare provider about any changes or irregularities in your sexual function or menstrual cycle.
If your healthcare provider suggests cyclophosphamide, talk to them about the possible risk it poses to your fertility. You can also be given drugs calledgonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which can protect your ovaries.These include Lupron (leuprolide acetate) and CellCept.In fact, leuprolide has been shown to reduce the risk of CYC-related POF from 30% to just 5%.
For men, testosterone supplements during CYC treatment can help prevent infertility.
Before starting treatments that could impact your reproductive health, you may want to consider harvesting and cryopreservation (freezing for later use).This can be done with sperm, eggs, or an entire ovary, which is then transplanted back into your body when you’re ready to conceive.
Lupus Treatment Options
If you’ve tried to conceive without success for a full year and you’re under 35, your healthcare provider may diagnose you as infertile. If you’re over 35, this may happen after six months.
Once you’re diagnosed, the next step is testing to see what’s preventing you from conceiving. While looking at lupus-related issues may be a priority, it’s possible that your fertility problems have nothing to do with lupus or its treatments.
Testing for women typically includes:
For men, testing typically includes:
What to Expect During Fertility Testing
The fertility treatments you receive will depend on what’s causing yourinfertility. Studies indicate they can be successful for people with lupus-related fertility issues.Treatment can include:
These feelings are normal. It can help to reach out to family or friends for support or to find a support group for other people in situations like yours. You may find infertility groups or lupus support groups where people have gone through fertility problems, either in your area or online. Some support groups even have Zoom meetings.
You should allow yourself time to grieve, but if you need help dealing with your feelings or think you’re becoming clinically depressed, talk to your healthcare provider. You may benefit from seeing a therapist and taking antidepressants.
A Word From Verywell
It wasn’t that long ago when women with lupus were counseled not to get pregnant at all. Now, protecting your fertility is often a priority when choosing treatments.
Wherever you are in your lupus treatment and infertility journey, know that your healthcare provider is an excellent resource for information and guidance. Talk to them about your priorities when it comes to having a child, now or in the future, and discuss ways to protect your fertility and catch potential problems early so you can have the family you envision.
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Hickman RA, Gordon C.Causes and management of infertility in systemic lupus erythematosus.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2011;50(9):1551-8. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ker105
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Primary ovarian insufficiency.
Khizroeva J, Nalli C, Bitsadze V, et al.Infertility in women with systemic autoimmune diseases.Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019;33(6):101369. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2019.101369
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels test.
Mohan C, Putterman C.Genetics and pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis.Nat Rev Nephrol. 2015;11(6):329-341. doi:10.1038/nrneph.2015.33
Lupus Foundation of America.Women’s health and reproductive issues with lupus.
Bălănescu A, Donisan T, Bălănescu D.An ever-challenging relationship: lupus and pregnancy.Reumatologia. 2017;55(1):29-37. doi:10.5114/reum.2017.66685
The Oncofertility Consortium.Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Choux C, Cavalieri M, Barberet J, et al.Traitements immunosuppresseurs et préservation de la fertilité: indications et modalités pratiques [Immunosuppressive therapy and fertility preservation: indications and methods].Rev Med Interne. 2018;39(7):557-565. doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2018.02.010
Kado R, McCune WJ.Ovarian protection with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists during cyclophosphamide therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus.Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2020;64:97-106. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2019.10.008
Somers EC, Marder W.Infertility - prevention and management.Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2017;43(2):275-285. doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2016.12.007
Swellam M, Khaial A, Mosa T, El-Baz H, Said M.Anti-mullerian and androgens hormones in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing IVF/ICSI.Iran J Reprod Med. 2013;11(11):883-890.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Hysterosalpingography.
Barratt CLR, Björndahl L, De Jonge CJ, et al.The diagnosis of male infertility: an analysis of the evidence to support the development of global WHO guidance-challenges and future research opportunities.Hum Reprod Update. 2017;23(6):660-680. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmx021
American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Diagnostic tests for male infertility.
Ammar T, Sidhu PS, Wilkins CJ.Male infertility: the role of imaging in diagnosis and management.Br J Radiol. 2012;85 Spec No 1:S59-68. doi:10.1259/bjr/31818161
Vagelli R, Tani C, Mosca M.Pregnancy and menopause in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and/or antiphospholipid syndrome. Practical messages from the EULAR guidelines.Pol Arch Intern Med. 2017;127(2):115-121. doi:10.20452/pamw.3906
Hickman RA, Gordon C.Causes and management of infertility in systemic lupus erythematosus.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2011;50(9):1551-1558. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/ker105
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
