Diabetes & Infertility

(BlackDoctor.org) — While diabetes can contribute to infertility for both men and women, controlling it seems to help fertility challenges and improve outcomes for pregnancy.

Recent studies have linked diabetes with male infertility. Uncontrolled diabetes seems to damage the DNA in sperm cells and cause fertility problems, including a higher rate of miscarriages due to genetic problems.

Women with uncontrolled diabetes are more likely to have fertility problems as well. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of infertility and is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Many women with PCOS are also diabetic or pre-diabetic. When insulin resistance is controlled through diet, exercise and in some cases use of diabetes drugs, fertility tends to improve. For women with diabetes, good blood sugar control improves pregnancy rates and the success rate of pregnancy.