Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis occur equally as often in males and females and is most commonly diagnosed for the first time in people between the ages of 15 and 35. This tends to coincide with the time in life when people are becoming sexually active or are thinking about starting a family. Thus, it's only natural that many questions and concerns might arise about the possible impact of IBD - and its treatment with medications and/or surgery - on the ability to become pregnant and deliver a healthy baby.

It is important to know at the outset that most people with IBD are able to have children and raise a family just like everyone else in the general population, although there can be a few additional challenges. The single most important element to achieving a successful pregnancy and delivery is to have your IBD under control, ideally before you attempt to become pregnant and also throughout the pregnancy.

Because each case of IBD is highly individual and the specific needs of a person with IBD may change during the course of the disease, it's always a good idea to raise any questions or concerns you may have with your clinical team, including your gynaecologist. Medical and surgical treatment can be tailored to suit your own personal circumstances at a given time, including times when you're starting or adding to your family.

Generally speaking, IBD has no direct effect on fertility in either males or females. But there are instances where the medications or surgery used to treat IBD, or where the impact of IBD on a person's general health, can cause a temporary but usually reversible reduction in fertility.

Most women with IBD have normal pregnancies and normal deliveries, in proportions similar to women in the general population. Problems during pregnancy are most likely to occur in women with active Crohn's disease who may experience a greater risk of spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), premature delivery or stillbirth. If the symptoms of Crohn's disease become severe enough to require surgery during pregnancy, the risk to the foetus may be even greater. It is important to remember, however, that these complications of pregnancy are uncommon and that the majority of women with Crohn's disease experience normal healthy pregnancies, especially if their disease is in remission at the time of conception.

The above is an excerpt from "The Inside Story: A Toolkit for Living Well with IBD". The entire article can be found in the Member's Only section of the website.