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Does APS Impact Women’s Fertility?

  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome (S Zuily, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Rheumatology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review focuses on the relationship between anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) and female infertility by addressing three key questions: (i) how can aPL induce women’s infertility?; (ii) are aPL more prevalent among infertile than fertile women?; (iii) do aPL-positive women display reduced fertility?

Recent Findings

According to experimental data, aPL impair female fertility interfering with endometrial decidualization thus with implantation. Some aPL tests are more frequently detected among infertile women compared to controls; the association between aPL and assisted reproduction techniques outcome is not supported by most studies. Two reports suggest a decreased ovarian reserve among aPL-positive patients, while fertility is preserved in women with systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly associated with aPL positivity. Pregnancy rates drop after diagnosis and lupus women have fewer children than wished, due to many disease-related factors.

Summary

While awaiting definitive conclusions on the relationship between aPL and infertility, rheumatologists should properly counsel female patients to safeguard fertility.

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Recently published papers of particular interest have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Experimental Laboratory of Immunological and Rheumatologic Researches, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, via Zucchi 18, 20095 Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy

    Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola & Pier Luigi Meroni

  2. Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia 20, 20149, Milan, Italy

    Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola, Maria Gabriella Raimondo & Pier Luigi Meroni

  4. Department of Rheumatology, ASST Istituto Gaetano Pini & CTO, Piazza Cardinal Andrea Ferrari 1, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Maria Gabriella Raimondo & Pier Luigi Meroni

Authors
  1. Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola
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  2. Maria Gabriella Raimondo
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  3. Pier Luigi Meroni
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Correspondence to Pier Luigi Meroni.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Antiphospholipid Syndrome

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Chighizola, C.B., Raimondo, M.G. & Meroni, P.L. Does APS Impact Women’s Fertility?. Curr Rheumatol Rep 19, 33 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-017-0663-7

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