Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis

Abstract

At any one time, there are around 20 000 women of childbearing age with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the UK who may be considering having children. Neurologists can be asked for information from both patients and obstetric colleagues on a range of topics related to pregnancy and MS that extend beyond the well-known implications for relapse risk. This article aims to provide a brief overview for the general neurologist of the most commonly encountered issues and questions including those occasionally related to pregnancy management. The take-home message is that pregnancy does not hold adverse risks for the majority of patients with MS, or vice versa.