Mpox (Monkeypox) in Pregnancy Updates

Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease caused by the monkeypox virus, with potential for significant morbidity across all population groups, including pregnant individuals and neonates. Pregnancy represents an immunologically vulnerable state, rendering affected mothers more susceptible to severe disease progression.

To provide obstetricians and maternal-fetal medicine specialists with an updated synthesis of the clinical presentation, adverse outcomes, and evidence-based management strategies for Mpox infection during pregnancy.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple electronic databases-Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, SAGE, Springer, and Google Scholar-for peer-reviewed studies addressing Mpox infection in pregnancy. Additionally, international guidelines and consensus statements were reviewed, including those from the World Health Organization (WHO), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Mpox infection during pregnancy is associated with a spectrum of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pregnant individuals are at increased risk for disease exacerbation, necessitating hospitalization and intensive care. Documented perinatal complications include spontaneous miscarriage, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM), preterm birth, intrauterine fetal demise, congenital Mpox infection, low birth weight, and neurodevelopmental delays.

Pregnant individuals diagnosed with Mpox should be prioritized for hospital admission, isolation, antiviral therapy, and continuous monitoring of maternal and fetal well-being. Multidisciplinary coordination is essential to mitigate risks and optimize outcomes.