May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month. Celiac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. When an individual with celiac disease ingests gluten, it triggers a reaction in the small intestine. This eventually will damage the intestinal lining, thus preventing vital nutrients from being absorbed. The damage can also cause diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating, anemia, and other serious complications.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for celiac disease—but symptoms can be managed with a gluten-free diet and other measures to promote intestinal healing.

Did you know uncontrolled celiac disease can also have a detrimental effect on pregnancy? Women who have celiac disease are 2-4 times more likely to suffer from pregnancy problems and complications such as miscarriages, preterm labor, low birth weight, and stillbirths. Research also shows women with celiac disease have higher rates of infertility if they have not been diagnosed.

This leads many women to wonder if they have celiac disease, could they be a good candidate for embryo adoption?

If your celiac disease is under control, it should not hinder your ability to pursue embryo adoption. Research shows that most of the celiac disease-related pregnancy problems occur in women who have not yet been diagnosed with celiac, or who are not following a gluten-free diet. As long as you are managing the condition well, a doctor should have no trouble signing off that you have no contraindications to pregnancy.

To learn more about celiac disease and pregnancy, visit this webpage from the Gluten Intolerance Group. To learn more about embryo donation and adoption, visit EmbryoAdoption.org.

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