Autoimmune Disease and IVF: How Immune Health Affects Fertility

When your autoimmune disease, a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. Also known as immune-mediated disorder, it can interfere with ovulation, embryo implantation, and pregnancy maintenance. Many women trying to conceive don’t realize their immune system is working against them—instead of protecting, it’s targeting eggs, embryos, or the uterine lining. This isn’t rare. Studies show up to 1 in 5 women with unexplained infertility have some form of autoimmune activity. It’s not about being "sick"—it’s about your body’s internal signals being out of sync.

Autoimmune disease doesn’t just mean lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. It includes thyroid disorders like Hashimoto’s, which affect hormone levels critical for ovulation. It includes antiphospholipid syndrome, where blood clots form in tiny vessels around the placenta. It even includes chronic inflammation from conditions like PCOS or endometriosis, which aren’t always labeled autoimmune but behave like them. These aren’t separate problems—they’re all part of the same system. When inflammation runs high, fertility takes a hit. Medications that calm the immune system, like low-dose steroids or intralipids, are now used in IVF clinics to improve outcomes. But you can’t just take a pill and hope. You need to know what’s happening inside.

What you’ll find in these articles isn’t just theory. You’ll see real connections: how folic acid deficiency, a common issue in women with inflammatory bowel disease worsens immune imbalance; how inflammation, the hidden driver behind acne, eczema, and psoriasis also blocks implantation; how medication interactions, like how grapefruit affects hormone drugs can throw off your treatment. These aren’t random topics—they’re pieces of the same puzzle. If you’ve had failed IVF cycles, unexplained miscarriages, or high natural killer cell counts, this collection gives you the practical link between immune health and getting pregnant.

There’s no magic cure, but there’s a path. It starts with understanding what your immune system is doing—and what you can do about it. The articles below show you exactly how to connect the dots between your diagnosis, your meds, your diet, and your chances of success. No fluff. Just what works.