Question Title: Prednisone Use and Sterility of Eggs Etc.

After 12 cycles without conceiving, I asked my mother if there was anything I should know. She said that when they started giving me prednisone at age 5 (which continued through college) they were told that the two long term side effects to worry about were joint problems and sterility. (I do have joint problems.)

Now that I've stopped crying, I would like to know how this works in females. I show all signs of ovulation by the predictor kits and temp charts, but is it possible that I can appear to be ovulating without actually having any eggs to release, or that the eggs don't release, or that the eggs are simply infertile?

The other possibilities I have thought of include physical abnormalities (besides in the egg itself, I mean), and a failure of the pituitary gland, which I understand plays an important role in conception.

Are any or all of the these more or less likely than the others? I have started to search Medline but can't seem to find any specific information.

Thank you,
Rhonda

Dear Rhonda:
I am not aware of a "sterility" effect from long-term use of corticosteroids. I am not finding any references suggesting this. Certainly, growth of bones and osteoporosis are issues with long term use in children. In children who do not make cortisone effectively, we provide it to them all of their life with the expectation that they will have normal development and normal fertility.
In the absence of any confirming data, assume that 30 years ago there were concerns that did not prove to be true.

Keywords: prednisone, sterility

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