New research shows that women with cystic fibrosis (CF) can safely participate in assisted reproductive technology (ART). CF can cause infertility and possibly the need for a lung transplant.

Study participants: 15 women whose partners lacked the CF gene mutation, normal fertility except for failing to conceive, aged between 24 and 36.
Outcome: 17 pregnancies in 13 of the 15 women, resulting in 12 live births, two ongoing pregnancies and three miscarriages. Only one of the women needed a caesarean section, but 50% of the study participants had diabetes during pregnancy. Researchers also observed a slight decline in lung function during …read more

“Two lungs are better than one – when it comes to lung transplantations,” thanks to a new study that looked at the long-term survival rates of patients who had lung transplants.
Lung transplantation may be an option for people with cystic fibrosis , emphysema, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis , or sarcoidosis , although there may be other illnesses in the group as well.
The study, done by researchers from Johns Hopkins, found that having both lung replaced by healthy lungs because if one lung is left behind, there may be some residual (left over) parts of the disease, which could end up causing …read more

Doctors have found that 80 per cent of Tasmanians with cystic fibrosis over the age of 18 have diabetes. Cystic fibrosis is a disease of the mucous and sweat glands. There is hopes that this discovery will increase life expectancy.
“They are now put on to insulin once or twice or four times a day and we are seeing benefits in their lung function, their weight is going back up and they are, we hope, going to do better for longer,” he said.
via ABS News