Crohn's Disease and Getting Pregnant
Women with inactive
Crohn's disease do not seem to have fertility problems related to the disease. In one study, infertility in women with Crohn's disease was 12 percent. This is similar to infertility rates seen in the general population. Women who do appear to have increased infertility rates are those with active Crohn's disease who have had an ileoanal pouch anastomosis.
Research has shown that the course of pregnancy and delivery is usually not impaired in women with Crohn's disease.
Women who have inactive Crohn's disease at the time of conception are no more likely to have a flare-up of their disease during pregnancy than if they were not pregnant. Flare-ups are more likely to occur in the
first trimester and right after the baby is born.
However, women with active Crohn's disease at the time of conception may have an increased risk of a spontaneous abortion. In one study, the rate of spontaneous abortion in women with active Crohn's disease was 35 percent.
Most medications used for Crohn's disease (
see Crohn's Disease Medications) and other inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are safe or likely safe in pregnancy. Surgery, if necessary, is safest in the
second trimester.
Pre-term birth or early delivery appears to be two to three times more common in women with an IBD, although most children born to women with IBD are unaffected.
Women with Crohn's disease should discuss pregnancy issues with their doctor before becoming pregnant.
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