It is estimated that at least 6% of women suffering from infertility do so due to undiagnosed or untreated coeliac disease.

According to research published in the Lancet medical journal, women with coeliac disease are more likely to have an adverse pregnancy outcome - such as a miscarriage - than those without. 

The research also found that up to 7% of men with coeliac disease have hypogonadism - which impacts a man’s sperm health and hormones.

Nutritionist and dietitian Sarah Keogh from the Coeliac Society of Ireland said there are many symptoms of the disease to watch out for. 

“Not everybody gets gut symptoms,” she said. 

“So, people might have repeated low iron, they might have low Vitamin B12, they might feel very tired, they might have a very itchy skin rash, they might get mouth ulcers. 

“So, there can be lots of things that [be symptoms] of coeliac disease you can go to coeliac.ie and just look up the full list of symptoms.” 

A pregnancy test.

Ms Keogh said despite the seriousness of the condition, many people are completely unaware of the impact coeliac disease can have on a person’s fertility. 

“It’s not surprising that it does have the affect [that it does] but I think it’s underestimated how many people it does affect,” he said. 

“Partly due to the coeliac disease causing this malnutrition, so people are often low on micronutrients and they don’t know it and that does affect fertility in both men and women. 

“So, I think it’s something that people do need to think about if they are struggling with fertility in any way.” 

An estimated 1 in 100 people are coeliac; however, only 36% are diagnosed with the condition.

Main image: A couple with a pregnancy test. Picture by: Alamy.com