Abstract
| Disease-related pregnancy concerns and reproductive planning in women with inflammatory bowel diseases Gawron LM1, Goldberger AR2, Gawron AJ3, Hammond C4, Keefer L5. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care. 2015 Apr 22. pii: jfprhc-2014-101000. doi: 10.1136/jfprhc-2014-101000. [Epub ahead of print] |
| Author information 1Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 2Medical Student, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. 3Assistant Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. 4Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. 5Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. Abstract BACKGROUND: Women with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) endorse disease-related pregnancy concerns that influence parity. Improvements in IBD management have potentially altered reproductive planning. Additionally, the proportion of American women who choose not to have children is increasing. AIM: To explore the effect of disease-related pregnancy concerns on parity and reproductive planning in a subset of women with IBD. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional qualitative phone survey in an academic gastroenterology practice. METHODS: Questions included demographics, medical and reproductive history, future pregnancy plans, and if IBD affected pregnancy decision-making. Qualitative data were coded and frequencies and proportions calculated. RESULTS: The 129 female participants (31% response rate) were predominately white (85%), had at least some college education (97%) and a mean age of 34.3 years [standard deviation 6.2]. Some 60% had Crohn's disease and 30% had undergone IBD-related surgery. Half were nulliparae, 53% reported IBD-related pregnancy concerns and 57% desired future pregnancy. Women who desired a future pregnancy and had IBD-related concerns had higher parity than those without concerns (p=0.02). Women desiring a future pregnancy and those with Crohn's disease had increased IBD-related concerns. Only four (3.1%) women identified IBD-related concerns that led to a smaller family size than desired. CONCLUSIONS: IBD-related concerns appear to be less likely to affect a woman's planned family size than previously reported. Concern about adverse pregnancy outcomes is more common in women with Crohn's disease and those desiring future pregnancy, suggesting a need for targeted counselling to moderate risk perception. |
© Copyright 2013-2025 GI Health Foundation. All rights reserved.
This site is maintained as an educational resource for US healthcare providers only.
Use of this website is governed by the GIHF terms of use and privacy statement.
