Antihistamines during 2WW?

[Solly-44]

Hiya,

I’ve googled whether antihistamines during pregnancy are ok and it seems pretty vague. A lot of “it seems to be ok” which isn’t too reassuring 😕

I’ve emailed my clinic but in the meantime… Has anyone been given a definite yay or nay to taking allergy pills during their 2WW?

Xx

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Maybe you should try to limit the use of antihistamines as much as possible unless symptoms are severe until you hear back from your clinicGood luck for your OTD

Janet

[Solly-44 in reply to JA-fnuk]

Thank you. Not severe, just annoying so I’ll hold off! X

[Hidden]

Hey lovely. I was told to ditch all antihistamines during IVF and/or pregnancy. Sorry!!! x

[Solly-44 in reply to Hidden]

Eurgh, trout pout lips it is then 😂 Thanks love xx

[Purpledoggy]

Loratadine is safe to take in pregnancy (limited to essential use) but as histamine is needed for implantation it is not a good idea to take in TWW. Having said this, I took some loratadine during TWW when my hayfever was really bad and immediately after taking it remembered about the histamine-implantation thing and had a complete and utter melt down. That was my positive round so the one loratadine did not affect things, but I would absolutely not repeat it intentionally! xx

[IVFat40 in reply to Purpledoggy]

This is so interesting, thank you. I've been taking Loratadine throughout all my IVF, had no idea. Frustratingly asked my clinic about Loratadine/antihistamines right at the start of my whole journey and they didn't mention anything about histamines being involved in implantation. Do you mind if I ask how you came to know about this?

So grateful for your post, at least I know to stop now.

[Purpledoggy in reply to IVFat40]

I did a crazy amount of reading original research papers while I was going through IVF, mainly on things affecting hormonal control but also implantation (I have a PhD in immunology and also work on veterinary clinical research so reading papers on fertility-related things became a bit of an obsession!). There are vast amounts of basic scientific research that don’t get translated into clinical guidelines for loads of reasons. Any clinical link between taking antihistamines and reduced fertility is sketchy at best but these are looking at pregnancy rates in ‘normal’ people who do or don’t take antihistamines. No one has looked at fertility rates in IVF with and without antihistamines so there is technically no paper out there telling you not to do it. What there are are a number of papers exploring and demonstrating the role of histamine in implantation, so to me avoiding antihistamines seems prudent unless needed to control a specific allergy. If you are taking them under medical advice please don’t stop without talking to your doctor-my ramblings are definitely not a substitute for advice from your healthcare practitioners!! Xx

[IVFat40 in reply to Purpledoggy]

I really appreciate your thoughts and knowledge hun, thank you so much. I don't have your science background but have also found myself reading a lot of research during this process, sadly in my experience the IVF Drs don't always seem to have read the latest research themselves.

I'm also inclined to err on the side of caution, for those of us experiencing infertility I feel like any little thing I can do that may possibly improve my chances is worth it.

Thank you!

[Solly-44]

Oh I had no idea histamine was involved in implantation! I’ll definitely give them a miss them. The 2ww crazies have already set in so I don’t need something else to freak out about 😂 congratulations on your pregnancy, I hope it’s going smoothly xx

[Purpledoggy in reply to Solly-44]

I think the loratadine meltdown was probably one of the most over the top meltdowns I have ever had 😂 Best of luck to you xx