Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that more commonly affects
women, including many women during the childbearing years. This can make management
challenging for practitioners involved in the care of these patients. This review
article will discuss the available data and expert recommendations pertaining to women
with RA who are pregnant or planning pregnancy. Herein, we will consider pregnancy
complications associated with RA, the benefits of maintaining low disease activity
prior to conception and throughout pregnancy, flare management during pregnancy, ensuring
pregnancy-compatible medications to treat RA, and the reduced rates of fertility in
patients with RA. While research in this area has greatly expanded over the past decade,
it continues to be an area where more research is needed to best support women with
RA as they navigate pregnancy.
Keywords
rheumatoid arthritis - pregnancy - infertility
