Q: I am a 33 years old man suffering from gout since 5 years. Will it affect my fertility?

A:There are 2 points to note:

1. The diagnosis of gout is established by typical acute episode of sudden severe swelling, pain and redness at the base of the big toe at night. It is so severe that the patient cannot touch the swollen joint even with a piece of cloth; even if it gets touched by bed sheet there is unbearable pain. With this history, it is mandatory to demonstrate the presence of monosodium urate crystals in the joint fluid or in the tissue fluid from the overlying inflamed tissue. Usually for the establishment of the diagnosis of gout one needs to be evaluated by a rheumatologist. Therefore, it is my advice that you fix an appointment with a rheumatologist in your city and first, get your diagnosis confirmed. Then, you start a proper treatment under the guidance of the rheumatologist.
2. Even if your diagnosis gets confirmed as gout, there is absolutely no contraindication/bar on having children. Surely you can father children; there is nothing against it.