Family planning is very similar as it sounds. The process includes the decision on how many children you want and when you hope to get pregnant. It sounds just enough, but it is actually complex. Important factors such as contraception, fertility and postpartum care are part of the process, and as most of us know, life does not always go according to plan.
The health of the person wearing the child is the most important piece of the puzzle. And for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), the severity of the disease and symptoms from person to person vary. So there are unique considerations for family planning with MS, and there are no two plans the same.
It was not long since people with MS were held away from getting pregnant because it suspected that pregnancy worsened the disease. However, studies show that this is not the case – pregnancy itself has no negative impact on MS or worsens it. In fact, some people with MS can experience less inflammation and fewer relapses during pregnancy.
Read: How MS influences the body >>
Despite the fact that pregnancy is not harmful to people with MS, patients and health service providers (HCPS) still know a lot about care during and after pregnancy. These gaps include, such as disease -modifying therapies (DMTS), treated reproductive technologies (Art), breastfeeding and postpartum relapses.
“In patients with MS, it is common to obtain mixed messages from clinicians who may not be up to date with the latest state of the administrative guidelines, and this can influence their birth experience and their entire results,” said Carrie M. Hersh, MSC, Faan, director of the multiple sclerosis Health and Wellness program in the Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas.
Hersh said that an early, proactive approach to family planning, in which the entire nursing team (if possible) is involved, can help people make sound decisions about what is best for their health.
“One of the questions I ask during a new visit is whether the patient found a family, want to grow a family and whether it is considered when this could happen,” said Hersh. “A good understanding of the timing is particularly helpful if we think about a therapy that is modified by disease.”
Read: Questions that can ask your neurologist if you have MS >>
Concept and MS
The contraception enables the “planning” part of the family planning. For people with MS, some types of contraception can be more difficult to use depending on the symptoms of the disease (cervix, condom, etc.). In this case, long -effective reversible contraceptives (larcs) can be an option to prevent pregnancy.
Antababopfille can also be an option, but you can interact with certain MS medication. It is therefore important to talk to your HCP about your specific situation.
Fertility and MS
For many women and people who were assigned to women at birth (AFB), it is an unpredictable factor for family planning. However, investigations show that MS has no effect on fertility or the ability to become pregnant.
When it comes to infertility treatments, some small studies indicate that in vitro fertilization (IVF) can cause relapse in people with MS. However, a 2023 study did not result in any additional risk of relapse in connection with fertility treatments, including IVF. Hersh said it was best to consult a fertility specialist in order to check the general security and your health. “With regard to fertility treatment in MS, we don’t have as much data as we would like me to get further instructions. Overall, people with MS can use treatments to support fertility. ”
Medicines during pregnancy
Medicines and DMTS play a crucial role in the treatment of MS, but surprisingly, many people do not need medication during pregnancy. “MS symptoms are improved anecdotically during pregnancy, and MS is not a high risk state during pregnancy,” said Hersh.
However, taking certain medication before and during pregnancy can cause damage to the fetus. And there can be certain times to wait between taking the medication and pregnancy. For example, people should wait six months after they have hired the B-ZELL-SCHEBENGENGENCHATIONS, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Breastfeeding and beyond
Some DMTS and medication are not recommended if they breastfeed. It is therefore important to talk about breastfeeding early in the family planning process. This helps you to find out when it is best to take your DMT again when you have to stop.
For people with MS, breastfeeding can give an additional advantage: A meta -analysis of 24 studies showed that people who had silent, less postpartum relapses compared to people who did not breastfeed.
According to Hersh, there is indications that the number of DMTS that transfers to breast milk is very small, which means that some women can breastfeed at the same time in some cases and take their medication at the same time.
It is also easy to note that alternative medication such as antidepressants, anti-spasticity medication and bladder control medication can help at the symptoms of MS instead of DMT at short notice.
The key talks to your HCP and your care team about your family planning goals to ensure that everyone is on the same side. “If there is open communication and cooperation, this can only improve the long -term health of the mother and your baby,” said Hersh.
This educational resource was created with the support of Novartis, a healthy member of the corporate Advisory Council.
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