Can Psoriatic Arthritis Cause Infertility?

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The chance of your child of developing the same problem

Unfortunately, either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis is thought as a genetic disease. This means that it is more likely to occur in people with a family history of the same problem.

In other words, it tends to run in families. However, this doesn’t mean that your child will be definitely has the same problem – but your child are at greater risk of the disease than others if you have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

Currently, the answer of the mechanism for how the disease is passed from a generation to another is unclear yet. This chance may involve multiple genes, and some studies are continuously going for the answer.

If both parents have the disease, their kid will have about a 50 % chance of developing the same problem – and about 10 % chance if only one parent has the disease.

Having a family history of the disease can be a significant risk factor. But not all people who have a relative with the disease develop psoriasis /psoriatic arthritis. It seems that other factors /external factors are required.

Things you should do before trying to get a conception

It’s important to consult first with your doctor if you want to plan a pregnancy with your partner. Your doctor may recommend the following crucial points:

  1. Since pregnancy is crucial phase and everything should be prepared as well, your doctor usually recommend only taking the safest forms of medications for your psoriatic arthritis. Therefore, not all kinds of treatment can be used during pregnancy and nursing.
  2. For instance, there are only certain topical treatments that can be safe for a woman with pregnancy and nursing. Each treatment can have a different set of precautions!
  3. The use of minimal treatment for time-treatment issue may also be recommended. For instance, if you have remissions that average 12-months following a course of PUVA (one of common treatments for psoriasis), you may need to finish your most recent course before trying to become pregnant!
  4. Men also should concern about taking the most effectively treatment options to get a conception effectively with their partner! For instance, the use of methotrexate should be discontinued both in men & women at least 1 year before trying to conceive!
  5. The use of biologics for psoriasis (such as sotretinoin, retinoids, etc) also should be stopped before trying to get a conception because they may increase the risk of some pregnancy complications such as birth defects.

In addition, the disease may cause a condition called arthritis mutilans (a painful, severe, & disabling form of the disease). This complication may cause a serious effect before or during pregnancy. If you concern about this issue, work with your doctor /healthcare provider for more advice!

Citations /references:

  1. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/basics/definition/con-20015006
  2. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/basics/causes/con-20034770
  3. http://www.papaa.org/children/psoriasis-fertility-conception-and-pregnancy
  4. https://www.psoriasis.org/about-psoriasis/women-and-psoriasis/before-conception

All of these sites accessed on July 2014

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