Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Asthma and Infertility: A Prospective Case-Control Study on Pregnancy and Live Birth Rates in Women With Asthma
Frida E Lundberg1, Amalie H Sneckenborg2, Hanna Nilsson1
1Department of Oncology-Pathology, Laboratory of Translational Fertility Preservation, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Background:
Previous studies have suggested a negative impact of asthma on fertility, and it has been hypothesized that the underlying inflammation is playing an important role. However, available data are scarce and mostly refer to women conceiving naturally. With this study, we wished to investigate whether asthma affects the outcomes of medically assisted reproduction or not.
Methods:
We conducted a prospective cohort study of 809 women, with (N = 213) or without asthma (N = 596), undergoing fertility treatment between 2009 and 2019 at one academic-based reproductive medicine center. Treatment outcome measures included clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) per stimulation cycle, per oocyte pickup, and per embryo transfer, among women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment, and LBR among women treated by intrauterine insemination. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariable generalized estimating equation models.
Results:
No significant differences were found in CPR or LBR between women with asthma and women without asthma undergoing in vitro fertilization (N = 694) or intrauterine insemination (N = 45). In women with asthma, the adjusted odds ratio of clinical pregnancy per embryo transfer for all cycles was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.71-1.16), and the adjusted odds ratio of live birth per embryo transfer for all cycles was 0.90 (95% CI, 0.70-1.16). The adjusted odds ratio of live birth per performed intrauterine insemination was 1.42 (95% CI, 0.63-3.21) in women with asthma.
Conclusions:
Infertile women with asthma undergoing medically assisted reproductive treatment have a similar chance of achieving clinical pregnancy and live childbirth when compared to infertile women without asthma.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:23Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...