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IBD and Pregnancy Risks: Few Women Discuss Contraception With Their IBD Specialist
Pregnancy planning and contraception are important for people with IBD because active disease at conception is linked to worse pregnancy outcomes. The article shows many women with IBD are unsure about how contraception or pregnancy affect their disease and often do not discuss this with their IBD specialist.
Adult women with IBD (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), caregivers, IBD nurses, gastroenterologists, and primary care clinicians involved in reproductive counseling.
What To Know
Many women with IBD in this UK questionnaire-based study reported low use of long-acting reversible contraception and limited discussion about contraception with their IBD specialist.
The survey (N=338) found most participants were unsure whether hormonal contraception or pregnancy would worsen IBD, and only 25% had discussed contraceptives with their IBD specialist. Use of biologics, 5-ASAs, immunomodulators, steroids, and tofacitinib were reported by participants; 15% used no IBD medication.
The study authors emphasize that contraceptive counseling should be part of preconception care for people with IBD and that multidisciplinary discussion (IBD nurse, GP, IBD doctor) is preferred by patients.
The report notes limitations including self-reported outcomes and potential recall bias, and that the research was supported by Galapagos Pharmaceuticals. If you want the original study details and disclosures, see the cited Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis paper listed in the article.
This report summarizes a cross-sectional, self-reported questionnaire study from two UK sites with usual limitations of survey research (recall bias, selection bias). It does not change clinical recommendations directly but highlights gaps in counseling and patient education. The original JCC paper should be consulted for full methods, results, and disclosures.
