Researchers from Stavanger University Hospital in Norway identified that men dealing with inflammatory joint disease tended to become fathers at higher rates than their peers without such conditions. The findings were published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
The study involved a large Norwegian cohort of 10,865 men, of whom 37 percent had rheumatoid arthritis, 33 percent had psoriatic arthritis, and 30 percent had spondyloarthritis. Data for comparison were drawn from 54,325 healthy volunteers.
Across the full sample, 111,246 children were born between 1967 and August 2021. The average age at the birth of the first child was 27 for men with inflammatory joint disease and 28 for men without such conditions.
The analysis divided childbearing into three historical periods that mirror major shifts in inflammatory joint disease treatment: 1967-1985, a period before the widespread use of the anti inflammatory drug methotrexate; 1986-1999, when methotrexate became common; and 2000-2021, marked by the arrival and use of genetically modified biological therapies.
The results showed that men with any inflammatory joint disease in the study family had an average of 1.8 children, compared with 1.7 in healthy volunteers. Childlessness stood at 27 percent among those without arthritis, while 21 percent of men with inflammatory joint diseases did not have children.
These differences persisted across all age groups except those aged 19 and younger and remained evident in each historical period.
Researchers acknowledged that drawing firm conclusions about the causes behind these patterns is not possible from the data available. They noted that inflammatory joint diseases might not be the direct cause of reduced male fertility. For individuals experiencing reproductive health concerns, seeking a personalized evaluation from a doctor is advised to obtain a precise diagnosis.
Overall, the study highlights the complexity of factors that influence paternal fertility in the context of inflammatory joint disease and the evolution of treatment over several decades. Many elements, including disease activity, therapy exposure, and lifestyle factors, could contribute to the observed trends. Further research is encouraged to better understand the interplay between rheumatic conditions and reproductive outcomes.
Citations: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Stavanger University Hospital researchers.