Crohn disease and pregnancy

W. P. Homan and B. Thorbjarnarson

Seventy-eight women with Crohn disease, each having the physical capability and opportunity to bear children, were admitted to the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center during a 20-year period. Forty-two pregnancies occurred. Results are suggestive of overall decreased fertility with no significant difference according to site of disease. The outcome of the pregnancies was not unlike that of the general population. Pregnancy did not exert an adverse effect on the disease itself, but termination of pregnancy was associated with relapse of Crohn disease 24% of the time.