Expert: Libby Bonner - 10/17/2004

Question
My psychiatrist that I saw for the first time last week wants me to start lithium. I've heard from a friend that it can shrink your fallopian tubes and can make you not be able to get pregnant.Also my other friend use to be on lithium and she can't get pregnant and we both want to know if this is true.I can't find anything online about this question and it's really important to me.If it is true I think that it's really messed up that doctors don't tell people about it before they start taking it.

sincerely,
          Regina Harley

Answer
I looked this up in the medical database that doctors use; I used to be a clinical librarian and used to do this in my job, so I definitely know how the database works.

I find absolutely no reports of any damage to fallopian tubes in humans or animals.

You are always welcome to write me, but I hope you will make a good effort to speak freely to your doctor about meds, and side effects, and any concerns that you have.

A very few patients on lithium may develop impaired thyroid function - in which case they are put on thyroid supplement or taken off lithium.  I imagine, since thyroid hormone interacts w/ many other hormones, that there could be slightly decreased fertility until the problem was discovered and thyroid supplement was begun.  [You will probably have your thyroid function tested regularly, a simple lab test, so there would be no way for years to pass w/ this undiscovered.]  That would be a very good question for your doctor....to see if I am correct.