[Pregnancy in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (author's transl)]

Between 1967 and 1973 15 women with ulcerative colitis had 20 pregnancies. 14 ended with normal deliveries, 4 with spontaneous abortions, and 2 with therapeutic abortions. Fertility was normal. Malformations in the children were not observed. In the case of conception during remission or a latent phase of the disease in general a normal pregnancy is to be expected (12 out of 14). On the other hand conception during an active phase can lead to an unpredictable threat to the life of mother and child. Therapeutic abortion should be seriously considered when ulcerative colitis and pregnancy begin simultaneously. In the same period of time in 15 comparable patients with Crohn's disease (12 with ileo-colitis and 3 with terminal ileitis) who were not taking ovulation inhibitors 4 pregnancies were observed. Fertility is not significantly reduced in terminal ileitis whereas in ileo-colitis it is highly significantly reduced (bilateral tubal irritation). As in ulcerative colitis a normal pregnancy can be expected after conception in an inactive phase (2 out of 4).