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Rheumatic Disease Does Not Preclude Pregnancy
Preconception planning is essential to help women with autoimmune disease have optimal pregnancy outcomes. Unplanned pregnancy can also negatively impact disease course in some patients. Yet many rheumatologic patients of childbearing age do not receive adequate contraception or prepregnancy education and counseling. Rheumatologists must work collaboratively with other healthcare providers to make sure rheumatic patients…
A Better Family Plan
How to minimize the risks of pregnancy for women with SLE
Improved Family Planning Counseling Needed
In the U.S. today, approximately 45% of pregnancies are unintended or unplanned.1 Although this rate is considerably lower than in the past, women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or inflammatory myopathies tend to have better pregnancy outcomes if their disease is well controlled when they conceive. In addition, women taking certain medications…
Rheumatologists Should Discuss with Patients Use of Immunomodulatory Agents During Pregnancy
The decision to continue or discontinue immunomodulatory medications during pregnancy is a difficult one for both patients and physicians. On the one hand, when left untreated, rheumatic conditions can cause harm to an unborn child, as well as to the pregnant mother. On the other hand, medications can be harmful to a developing fetus. In…