Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 4, 2025

Visualization of Estrogen Receptors in Colons of Mice with TNBS-Induced Crohn's Disease using Immunofluorescence
Published on: March 12, 2020
Pregnancy in women with inflammatory bowel disease: a French nationwide study 2010-2018
Antoine Meyer1,2,3, Jérôme Drouin1, Alain Weill1
1GIS-EPIPHARE, Épidémiologie des produits de santé, ANSM-CNAM, Saint Denis, France.
Background:
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) most commonly occurs in young adults, including women of child-bearing age.
Aim:
To describe pregnancy in women with IBD in the age of widespread use of biologics METHODS: Using French national health data system (SNDS) data, we identified all pregnancies ending between 1 April 2010 and 31 December 2018 in patients with and without IBD in France. Pregnancy and IBD characteristics were described. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between IBD and non-IBD pregnancies using multivariable logistic regression models.
Results:
We included 36 654 IBD and 8 595 562 non-IBD pregnancies. Among IBD pregnancies, 75.6% ended in live births and 0.4% in stillbirths. Pregnancies in women with IBD vs those without IBD more frequently resulted in preterm birth (8.0% vs 5.5%, aOR 1.51; 95% CI: 1.45-1.58), small for gestational age birth (11.1% vs 9.8%, aOR 1.15; 95% CI: 1.10-1.20) and caesarean section (26.1% vs 20.0%, aOR 1.39; 95% CI: 1.35-1.42). Active IBD before and during pregnancy was associated with particularly marked increases in the rates of prematurity and small for gestational age as compared to non-IBD pregnancies. Active IBD during pregnancy was associated with more stillbirths than non-IBD pregnancies (aOR 1.43 95% CI: 1.09-1.86). Crohn's disease activity decreased during pregnancy, while ulcerative colitis activity did not change.
Conclusions:
Pregnancies in women with IBD are associated with increased risks of prematurity, small for gestational age and caesarean section, especially among women with active IBD. Disease activity decreased during pregnancy in women with Crohn's disease, but was unchanged in women with ulcerative colitis.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Pharmacological Management
Pharmacologic...
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:

