IC cause of infertility?

[boohiss13]

Can IC actually cause infertility? Is this another "condition" that could go with it, like IBS or Fibromyalgia?

[Katrina]

not that I know of. Other than sex being painful and that one of the more common conditions with IC is Endometriosis which can cause infertility for some I don't know of it effecting fertility.

[babygirl694]

Hi... well i was diagnosed with IC when i was 17.. i'm 19 now.. and i got pregnant in august.. so i dont think it causes infertility.. thats just me though ;)..
<3

[sherry6]

I don't think so. I am the most fertile person I know. I also have endometriosis, which can affect fertility. (unless your me ;) )

I think there are more ICers with fertility problems because there are more women in the general population with fertility problems these days.

[boohiss13]

Thanks guys........I certainly hope not! I"m 34 and haven't had kids yet, but I want to!

Congratulations Babygirl!

[Melanie]

There are no medical studies or direct links that prove IC and infertility are directly related.

However, many ICers are challenged by painful sex. And of course, just like the general population.... some % is challenged with fertility issues.

There is a wide range of IC experiences WHILE pregnant. Some of us go into remission, some stay the same, and some of us unfortunately get worse during pregnancy. (i'm one of the unlucky in the last category).

[boohiss13]

I hate to even type this, in fear that my heinie might "hear" it :biglaugh: But I haven't really had much sex since being diagnosed (I've got a pretty severe back problem at the moment too; sex is NOT fun right now), and I haven't noticed any pain during or after....or rather, no change. Since I'm in pain 24/7 right now, and I guess I need to give my bladder time to calm, I don't think I could tell.

This seems, from what I've read, to be quite a problem for alot of women w/IC. What should I do to prepare? My Primary Doc told me NO LATEX, that it irritates the area (we use condoms).

Any....tips?

[holles]

i'm infertile, but not because of IC. i have endometriosis, a thyroid issue, but all the fertility specialists i've seen think there might be something else causing our infertility. they just never could figure out what it was.

but like previous posters have said, painful intercourse from IC (and in my case from endometriosis as well) can lead to less sex which means less chance of conceiving. if you're serious about ttc, start using ovulation predictors to determine when you'll ovulate. it helps you time intercourse, and that reduces the amount of sex you'll have to have. less pain for you.

sorry about your back issues too. my dh has spinal stenosis, and it frustrates him so much. feel better.

[babygirl694]

hey guys.... When it comes to getting pregnant its hard with Ic in my opinion. Sex is very painful for most of us.. and so it hurts to have sex... but we all want kids.. So we go through the pain and end up resenting our mates. Dont let it be that way. As Holles said... try the ovulation predictors so you dont have to have sex as much. My pregnancy came as a TOTAL suprise to me. I was off my birth control for a week and ended up getting pregnant by having sex 1 time. But i havent heard of infertility being related to Ic.. unless you have Endro. Keep your head up.. you'll get pregnant soon enough. :)