Does aspirin improve fertility?

Aspirin has a range of medicinal properties including acting as an anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory agent. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the role of aspirin in promoting pregnancy and decreasing the risk of miscarriage.

A 1997 study found that 100 mg of aspirin improved uterine blood flow.

For treatment of women who have antiphospholipid antibodies (something your doctor would typically diagnose after one or more miscarriages), combination of heparin and aspirin has been shown to improve outcome. However, three trials with aspirin alone failed to reduce pregnancy loss. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease that causes problems with blood coagulation. As a result, small blot clots can form and result in recurrent miscarriage.

The majority of studies involving aspirin in women without diagnosed APS have been carried out in women undergoing IVF. Unfortunately, much of the data is conflicting. However, since there is some evidence that aspirin may increase the odds of pregnancy in IVF and potential side-effects are mild, it is recommended that aspirin continues to be used daily during this treatment.

In order to determine whether aspirin can improve the odds of conception and decrease miscarriage rate, a study is currently underway at several sites in the US. The “Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction trial“, or EAGeR, will last for 5 years and study 1600 women who will receive either 80 mg of aspirin or a placebo daily. Stay tuned for results of this important study…

Note: All studies have been performed with baby aspirin, approximately 81-100 mg per day. Regular aspirin dose is 300 mg, so if you are going to take aspirin while trying to conceive, make sure that you take only baby aspirin.