People with diabetes can have all sorts of other complications along with their diabetes. One of these complications for some diabetics is reduced fertility rates. Diabetes may affect the fertility of both women and men, although there are some things that can be done to limit potential fertility issues.
Fertility in Women
Diabetics with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes may have fertility problems. First, female diabetics may start to menstruate later than those without diabetes. They also may go into menopause earlier. This combination leads them to have a shorter time period during which they are fertile. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, a common condition for women with diabetes, can limit fertility even further. Type 1 diabetics who have additional complications tend to have the most problems with fertility.
Fertility in Men
Although it isn't clear whether diabetic men are less fertile than men without this condition, a 2007 article on the BBC News website notes that a higher percentage of sperm are damaged in diabetic men than in men without diabetes. Defective sperm is one of the main reasons for miscarriages, pregnancy failures and male infertility.
History
Fertility problems in diabetic women appear to have been more common in the past, as a study by Junmei Miao Jonasson, MD, MS, published in 2007 in "Diabetes Care" found that women with type 1 diabetes who were first hospitalized before 1985 had a higher rate of fertility problems than those who were first hospitalized after 1985. Those first hospitalized after 1985 have similar infertility rates to women without diabetes unless they have other diabetes complications.
Considerations
Women with diabetes are also more likely to have babies with birth defects, according to Jonasson. As with the incidence of fertility problems in diabetics, the incidence of birth defects has been going down as treatment for diabetes improves. However, the birth defect rates for children of diabetics were still higher than those for children of people without diabetes as of 2007.
Significance
Strict control of blood glucose levels is needed for diabetic men and women who wish to have children, according to ABC News. Women should aim for an A1c test result of less than 7 percent before they try to conceive. Controlling blood sugar levels will also help to reduce the risk of diabetic complications which might further lower fertility levels.
