Asthma medication linked to infertility in women

Studies have identified a link between certain types of asthma medication and infertility in women.

A link between short-acting beta agonists or rescue medications and infertility has been discovered during an international study on Australian women. 

While the use of long acting asthma treatments showed no effect on fertility, women using quick relief medications on average took 20 per cent longer to conceive, and were 30 per cent more likely to take more than a year to conceive, which researchers define as the threshold for infertility. 

Dr Luke Grzeskowiak from the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute said asthma is one of the most common chronic medical conditions in women of reproductive age and that several studies have shown a link between asthma and infertility in women. 

"This study shows that women using short-acting asthma relievers take longer to get pregnant. On the other hand, continued use of long-acting asthma preventers to control asthma seems to protect fertility and reduce the time it takes women with asthma to become pregnant," he said. 

Researchers recommend prospective mothers take steps to get their asthma under control before trying to conceive. 

Dr Grzeskowiak said "What we don't yet know is exactly how asthma or asthma treatments lead to fertility problems. As well as affecting the lungs, asthma could cause inflammation elsewhere in the body, including the uterus. It could also affect the health of eggs in the ovaries.

"Inhaled corticosteroids suppress the immune system, whereas short-acting asthma treatments do not alter immune function. In women who are only using relievers it's possible that, while their asthma symptoms may improve, inflammation may still be present in the lungs and other organs in the body."

Short acting beta agonists include Albuterol, Proventil®, Ventolin®, Xopenex® and ProAir. 

More than 2.5 million Australians suffer from asthma and research shows 45 per cent don’t stick to their management plans while only 25 per cent of adults and 40 per cent of children with asthma have a written asthma action plan.

Nearly half of all Australians with asthma only use reliever medications.

At the end of last month Health Minister Greg Hunt launched a new National Asthma Strategy which aims to increase the number of patients with a management plan, focussing on long acting treatments, rather than reliever medications.

Dr Jonathan Burdon AM, Chair of the National Asthma Council and respiratory physician said "We know by optimising asthma diagnosis and management, significant gains can be achieved in a patient’s quality of life."