Cystic Fibrosis and Fertility: What You Need to Know

When you have cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system. Also known as CF, it changes how your body makes mucus, sweat, and digestive fluids. But many people don’t realize it also deeply affects fertility, the ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy. For men with CF, over 95% are infertile because they’re born without the vas deferens—the tube that carries sperm. For women, thicker cervical mucus and hormonal imbalances can make it harder to get pregnant, though many still can conceive naturally or with help.

It’s not a dead end. Advances in reproductive health, medical care focused on helping people conceive mean more people with CF are becoming parents. Techniques like IVF with ICSI (injecting sperm directly into an egg) work well for men with CF. Women may need ovulation tracking, fertility drugs, or IVF if mucus blocks sperm. And if you’re planning a family, genetic counseling is key—CF is inherited, and knowing your partner’s carrier status helps you understand risks to future children.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides that break down how CF impacts reproductive choices, what treatments actually work, and how to navigate the emotional and medical side of building a family with this condition. These aren’t theory pieces—they’re based on what patients and doctors are doing right now to make parenthood possible.