Overcome Fear & Misinformation: Solutions for Women with Inflammatory Arthritis Considering Pregnancy

According to Dr. Birru Talabi, patient-centered medical care means rheumatologists should center on the patients’ goals and preferences related to reproduction. In some cases, this approach may mean a patient may choose pregnancy during a time of active inflammatory arthritis.⁵

“We have to be able to meet patients where they are,” says Dr. Birru Talabi.

Dr. Birru Talabi concludes that although some of the findings from the study may be concerning, her research identified factors that—with intentional and patient-centered choices—can be improved.

“We have so much to do in terms of gaining patient trust about medication safety,” says Dr. Birru Talabi. “What excites me as a clinician and a researcher is that we can change this.”

References

1. Talabi MB, Eudy AM, Jayasundra M, et al. Tough choices: Exploring medication decision-making during pregnancy and lactation among women with inflammatory arthritis. ACR Open Rheumatol. 2021 Jul;3(7):475–483.
2. Desai RJ, Huybrechts KF, Bateman BT, et al. Brief report: Patterns and secular trends in use of immunomodulatory agents during pregnancy in women with rheumatologic conditions. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016 May;68(5):1183–1189.
3. Talabi MB, Clowse MEB. Antirheumatic medications in pregnancy and breastfeeding. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2020 May;32(3):238–246.
4. LR Sammaritano, BL Bermas, EE Chakravarty, et al. 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Reproductive Health in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020 Apr;72(4):529-556.
5. Talabi MB, Clowse MEB, Schwarz EB, et al. Family planning counseling for women with rheumatic diseases. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2018 Feb;70(2):169–174.