Some Cases of Infertility Possibly Linked With NSAID Therapy
November 4, 2002
Can the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs cause infertility? Recent studies in the United Kingdom and the United States have produced evidence that the use of these drugs, such as aspirin, naproxen, Advil, and Aleve, may be an important and frequently overlooked cause of anovulation and infertility. Specifically, the use of NSAIDs can cause a failure of the follicles to burst and release eggs--called luteinizing unruptured follicle syndrome (LUF or LUFS). This phenomenon is well recognized in obstetric circles, but it is not documented in the rheumatological literature. Therefore, young women in their childbearing years who are being treated with NSAIDs should coordinate this information with their obstetricians and their rheumatologists (or other physicians).
