Fertility and pregnancy in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

The peak incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is late adolescence and early adulthood. This simple fact highlights the importance of fertility and pregnancy in the management of the ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) patient. In fact, about 25% of females with IBD conceive for the first time after their disease is diagnosed [1]. During pregnancy, the patient's focus often shifts from her own health to the consequences of her disease and medications on her pregnancy and unborn child. This chapter aims to summarize our current understanding of the issues surrounding fertility and pregnancy in UC and CD patients.