Inflammatory bowel disease and pregnancy: an update

Abstract

Women with inflammatory bowel disease have similar rates of conception to the general population unless they have had pelvic surgery. Once pregnant, regardless of disease activity, they have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcome and should be followed as high-risk obstetric patients. Most medications are compatible with pregnancy and lactation, as described in this article. Ideally, women should discuss their plans for pregnancy with their physician prior to conception so that risks and benefits can be reviewed, medications adjusted and healthcare maintenance updated. Once pregnant, a multidisciplinary team of gastroenterologists, obstetricians and pediatricians should help to ensure the best care for the mother and child.

Keywords::

• adalimumab
• certolizumab
• Crohn’s disease
• inflammatory bowel disease
• infliximab
• pregnancy
• ulcerative colitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Uma Mahadevan serves as a consultant for Abbott, Centocor, UCB, Elan, and Proctor and Gamble. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.