As autoimmune diseases become more prevalent in the Western population, researchers are exploring potential connections between these conditions and male infertility.
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Two men take care of their babies at Humlegarden in Stockholm on September 24, 2020.
Shedding Light for Men with IJS
While fertility issues in women with autoimmune diseases are well-documented, there has been limited research on the impact of such diseases on male fertility.
A study sheds new light on this subject, indicating that men with inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) may have more children than those without such conditions.
Interesting Engineering reported that the study focused on 10,865 Norwegian men diagnosed with joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondyloarthritis, comparing them with a control group of 54,325 men without these diseases.
The combined cohort of 65,190 men contributed to the birth of 111,246 children between 1967 and 2021.
The research categorized births and childlessness into three distinct time periods, coinciding with significant changes in drug treatments for inflammatory joint diseases: 1967-85, 1986-99, and 2000-21.
The results consistently revealed that men with IJDs had a higher average number of children across all time periods. This trend was particularly pronounced in the latest period, reflecting significant changes in the treatment landscape for IJDs.
Finding Similar Fertility Patterns
Upon analyzing the onset of the disease, the research team discovered that men diagnosed before the age of 20 or during their reproductive years exhibited similar fertility patterns as those without Inflammatory Joint Diseases.
However, for individuals diagnosed at later stages of life, both groups still had fewer childless men, indicating that factors beyond the disease itself may play a significant role.
While the study raises questions about a potential correlation between joint diseases and fertility, it's essential to recognize that it doesn't offer definitive explanations for the observed occurrences.
Factors beyond the scope of this study, such as emotional well-being, occupational aspects, and smoking habits, could also influence fertility.
As highlighted by the researchers published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, factors associated with developing or having an IJD might influence fertility.
Also Read: Male Infertility Is Real: Find Out What Causes it And What You Can Do About it
This study operates within an observational framework, necessitating caution in drawing definitive causal conclusions.
Beyond the impact of the disease itself, variables like psychological well-being, socioeconomic status, employment conditions, and smoking habits could potentially influence fertility-a spectrum of factors beyond the study's current scope.
The researchers emphasize that male patients with inflammatory joint disease can find reassurance as the study does not anticipate any impairment of fertility.
However, Medical Xpress reported that the researchers acknowledge the need for more targeted patient information through substudies specific to certain diagnoses, warranting further and more in-depth investigation.
Revealing a lower incidence of childlessness and a higher number of children per man in individuals with inflammatory joint disease, the study's novel finding sparks new hypotheses about the intricate associations between fertility, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, and immune-modulating drugs.
Related Article: New Research Sheds Light on Male Infertility, Potential Treatments
