What Are Sperm Abnormalities?

S perm abnormalities are the result of gonadal dysfunction (testicles) characterized by inability to either produce sperm or to produce viable sperm or mobile sperm which results in prohibiting fertilization of the female ovum.

Q: How are sperm normally produced?

A: There are two testicles, or testes, that are oblong, egg shapes about 2 inches long and an inch wide and enclosed in a protective sac called the scrotum which hangs outside the body. The testes have these functions:

• Produce and store millions of sperm cells called spermatozoa.
• Produce hormones, including testosterone which stimulate the production of sperm.

What Are Sperm Abnormalities In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

What Are Obstetrical Complications?

O bstetrical complications are reproductive disorders during pregnancy, labor and delivery that endanger the mother and unborn infant.

Complications may result from prolonged constipation, malnutriton, hormonal imbalance, infection, systemic disease such as diabetes, obesity, tumors of the uterus, medication adverse effects, drug abuse, smoking, and alcohol abuse.

What Are Obstetrical Complications In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

What Is Infertility in Males?

I nfertility in males is characterized by inability to either produce sperm or to produce viable sperm or mobile sperm resulting in prohibiting fertilization of the female ovum (egg).

To the left is a false-colour scanning electron micrograph of seminiferous tubules in the human testis (cross section), the site of production and maturation of sperm.

Round undifferentiated cells lining the tubule wall (brown, pink) become sperm by halving their chromosome number, and transforming in a process which takes about two months. During this time the cells move toward the centre of the tubule and develop tails (orange). Mature sperm migrate up the cavity of the tubule and are stored in the epididymis. 200-300 million sperm are released in an average ejaculation. Courtesy of Professor P. Motta, Dept.of Anatomy, University of Rome Science Photo Library.

Male androgen hormones control the development and maintenance of male sex organs and masculine secondary sex characteristics and are required for health, especially bone health.

Testosterone is the major andogen hormone. While most of this steroid is produced by the testes, some is also produced by the adrenal glands.

What Is Infertility In Males In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

What Is Impotence?

I mpotence is an erectile dysfunction disorder in males characterized by the distressing inability to achieve or maintain an erection satisfactory for coitus.

What Is Impotence In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

What Is Primary Dyspareunia (Painful Intercourse)?

D yspareunia is a distressing female genital disorder characterized by pain during or after coitus involving the labia, vagina or pelvis.

There are two types of dyspareunia: primary which affect the vagina itself in the abscence of pelvic pathology and secondary which involves problems in the pelvis other than the vagina.¹

• Causes of primary dyspareunia include hormone changes in menopause, Sjogrens syndrome, diabetes, psychological conditions, and nutritional deficiencies.
• Causes of secondary dyspareunia include problems with uterus, bowel disease, urinary tract infection, uterine prolapse, and pelvic disease such as endometriosis and cancer.

Q: How common is dypareunia?

A: Dyspareunia is the most common cause of pelvic pain in women.²

What Is Dyspareunia In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

1. Osayande AS, Mehulic S. Diagnosis and initial management of dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Mar 1;89(5):341-6. [↩]
2. Osayande AS, Mehulic S. Diagnosis and initial management of dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Mar 1;89(5):341-6. [↩]

What Is PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)?

P remenstrual syndrome is a menstrual disorder that occurs regularly during the last week of the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and starts to subside a few days before menstruation begins and is absent the week following menstruation. It is characterized by distressing mental, emotional, and physical features.

Symptoms must occur most months in the year previous to diagnosis. Currently, the American Psychiatric Association terms this disorder “premenstrual dysphoric disorder” (PMDD).

What Is Premenstrual Syndrome In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

What Is Late Menarche?

L ate menarche is a menstrual disorder in girls characterized by abnormal delay of menstruation, with or without breast development. The menarche is the first menstrual period or the start of menstruation. It should start within 3 years of breast development which usually starts after 10 years of age.

Q: How does the delay of menstruation differ from the normal start?

A:  In temperate climates such as the United States, the  menarche starts at an average of thirteen and one half years or between 10 to 15 years. Conversely, late menarche means the start is abnormally delayed past 15 years.

Causes of late menarche include stress, excessive physical activity such as athletic competitions, chronic diseases such as anemia, autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, diabetes and thyroiditis, and nutritional deficiencies.

What Is Late Menarche In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

What Is Early Menopause?

E arly menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation in females before the age of 40 years characterized by vasomotor instability (hot flashes/cold episodes), psychologic and emotional symptoms and profound changes in the lower genital tract.

The most severe forms present with absent pubertal development and primary amenorrhea termed primary ovarian failure (50% of these cases due to ovarian dysgenesis), whereas forms with post-pubertal onset are termed secondary ovarian failure and are characterized by disappearance of menstrual cycles associated with premature follicular depletion.¹

Q: What is ovarian failure?

A: Ovarian failure is dysfunction of the ovaries to continue developing its eggs until about 51 years of age and to produce female hormones which results in infertility.  Ovarian failure  is  diagnosed by  this criteria:

• High levels in the blood of follicle stimulating hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, and
• Low levels of estrogen secreted by the ovaries.

The hypothalamus located in the brain is continually monitoring blood levels of estrogen so that when levels are low, it stimulates the nearby pituitary, or master gland, to secrete follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH in turn stimulates the ovaries in females to produce estrogen. In ovarian failure, the ovaries do not respond to FSH. 

Some causes in the general population of women include cigarette smoking, viral infections, surgical removal of ovaries, chemotherapy, and autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease, Addison’s disease, hypoparathyroidism, diabetes mellitus, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia.

Who is Affected in the General Population? This heterogeneous disorder affects approximately 1% of women.²

What Is Early Menopause in Celiac Disease?

1. Beck-Peccoz P, Persani L. Premature ovarian failure. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2006 Apr 6;1:9. [↩]
2. Beck-Peccoz P, Persani L. Premature ovarian failure. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2006 Apr 6;1:9. [↩]

What Is Infertility In Females?

I nfertility in females is characterized by failure to conceive after one year of intercourse.

This condition can be frustrating and emotionally upsetting to the parents trying to conceive.

What Is Infertility In Females In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

What Is A Bladder Infection?

B ladder infection, or cystitis, is a urinary disorder characterized by pyuria (pus in urine) and dysuria (impaired urination).

Cystitis is often simply called a UTI, although UTI (urinary tract infection) can affect any part of the urinary system.

Q: Is urine sterile?

A: Yes. While urine normally consists of 95% water, salts (eg. sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium), and waste products (eg. urea, uric acid, ammonia) it should not contain microbes (germs).

The usual cause of bladder infection is microbial invasion that may be bacteria, fungi or virus entering from the urethra. Infection results from microbe colonization of the lining and growth in the bladder. Most infections are caused by bacteria that live in the colon.

Who is at Risk in the General Population? UTI is the second most common type of infection in the body. Women are most prone with a lifetime risk of 50%. Everyone has some risk, but those with highest risk to develop cystitis include:

• Persons who have trouble emptying the bladder.
• Persons with a problem that obstructs urine flow, like enlarged prostate.
• Persons with diabetes.
• Persons with a debilitating condition, like stroke or heart disease.
• Persons with spinal cord injury.
• Persons with malnutrition like celiac disease or poor defenses against infection like anemia or cancer. 

What Is Bladder Infection In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?