Achalasia and pregnancy

Forty-one women with achalasia diagnosed between the ages of 18 and 45 years were interviewed and 37 of them who had been married at some time were asked to provide details of their fertility and reproductive histories. Thirty-six agreed to do so and were compared with 36 healthy age-matched women. The mean age at the time of study was 44 and the women had been married, on average, for 21 years. The disease developed at a mean age of 27 years and was diagnosed and treated at a mean age of 32 years. For a mean period of 5 years the disease was untreated. There were no significant differences in the number of conceptions or live births before or after the onset of symptoms or during the period when the disease was untreated. In only three of the 20 women who became pregnant after the onset of disease did symptoms become worse. Achalasia during pregnancy is probably best managed by endoscopic dilatation and there is no reason to consider termination.