How Celiac Disease Can Affect Your Pregnancy

If you have celiac disease and you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you may be wondering if the condition will affect your pregnancy. Untreated celiac disease can increase the risk of problems during pregnancy, such as pregnancy loss, preterm delivery, and low birth weight. 

The good news is — if you follow a gluten-free diet, your chances of getting pregnant and having a safe pregnancy are similar to those of someone without celiac disease.  

What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that damages the intestine. In people with celiac disease, eating gluten triggers the immune system to attack the lining of the gut (digestive tract). A gluten-free diet is the treatment for celiac disease. 

Can celiac disease affect fertility?

Yes. Celiac disease can affect a person’s fertility. 

Most people know that celiac disease can cause digestive issues like abdominal pain, bloating, and weight loss. But celiac disease can cause symptoms that go beyond the gut. That’s because celiac disease affects other parts of the body, too, including the reproductive system. Celiac disease may cause:

• Delayed periods

• Irregular periods  

• Early menopause  

Can celiac disease cause infertility?

Maybe.  

Some studies found that celiac disease is more common in women who have trouble getting pregnant. But other research didn’t find this to be the case. Larger studies are needed to help determine the relationship between celiac disease and infertility

Can infertility from celiac disease be reversed?

Maybe. There’s some evidence that fertility improves if people with celiac disease stick to a gluten-free diet. 

There are only a few studies that have looked at infertility rates among people with celiac disease who are following a gluten-free diet. More studies are needed to confirm whether following a gluten-free diet can improve fertility for people who’ve already developed difficulties getting pregnant from celiac disease.

Can celiac disease cause a miscarriage?

Yes. 

Studies have shown that there’s a higher risk of miscarriages among people who aren’t receiving treatment for celiac disease, like following a gluten-free diet. This may be due to deficiencies in nutrients, such as zinc, selenium, iron, and folate. 

Some experts believe pregnancy loss may happen because the immune system attacks the placenta, which is the organ that helps nurture a growing fetus. 

Can celiac disease affect a newborn?

Yes. Celiac disease can affect a newborn, too. 

Untreated celiac disease may cause deficiencies in folic acid, vitamin B12, fat-soluble vitamin, and iron. This may lead to malnutrition in a developing fetus. Babies who experienced malnutrition during pregnancy may be smaller at birth, which can increase the risk of other medical conditions like heart and lung problems. Babies are also more likely to be born prematurely if they didn’t get enough nutrition during pregnancy. 

Can celiac disease cause birth defects?

No. Studies have looked at the risk of birth defects in babies born to moms with celiac disease. None of these studies showed that babies were more likely to have birth defects if they were born to women with celiac disease. 

Can you have a healthy pregnancy with celiac disease?

Yes. It’s possible to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery if you’re living with celiac disease. 

You can reduce your risk of pregnancy complications from celiac disease by following a gluten-free diet. Gluten exposure increases the risk of inflammation and complications in your pregnancy. So, avoiding gluten altogether can help keep you and your growing baby safe. 

Should you follow a gluten-free diet while pregnant?

Yes. If you’ve received a diagnosis of celiac disease, you should follow a gluten-free diet all the time and especially when you’re pregnant. 

But if you don’t have celiac disease, there’s no evidence that eliminating gluten from your diet while pregnant has any benefits. That’s because it can be challenging to maintain a healthy and nutritious diet while being gluten-free. Gluten-free foods are generally lower in some vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy pregnancy. So following a gluten-free diet when you don’t need to may cause more harm than good. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jennifer Sample, MD

After a fellowship, Dr. Sample worked as the medical director at the University of Kansas Hospital Poison Center (The University Of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center), which served the state of Kansas for poison exposures. In 2007, she returned to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, as a consultant in clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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