Cure8 research brief
Pregnant people with IBD and their clinicians often worry whether continuing IBD medications affects pregnancy or newborn outcomes. This review compiles available observational data and found no consistent links between several IBD drug classes and many adverse outcomes, though some results were uncertain.
Pregnant patients with IBD, people planning pregnancy, obstetric and IBD clinicians, and researchers studying medication safety in pregnancy.
The authors searched major databases through June 2025 and included 12 studies comparing pregnant people with IBD who were exposed to IBD drugs versus unexposed controls. Overall, biologic therapies as a group were not associated with increased risk of low birth weight or newborn infections.
Immunomodulators likewise showed no consistent association with spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, or newborn infections. Results for preterm birth and small for gestational age were heterogeneous across studies and should be interpreted cautiously. Findings for congenital malformations were unstable in sensitivity analysis.
What this does and does not show: The review summarizes available observational evidence but cannot prove causation. The authors note risk of confounding by indication, study heterogeneity, and limited study numbers. Decisions about medication use in pregnancy should continue to be individualized with clinicians.
Structured content depth: abstract — the brief summarizes the source-provided abstract and does not represent a full independent review of the underlying studies. The included evidence is observational with heterogeneity and potential confounding; interpret results cautiously.
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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