Reproduction and Contraception Health with Lupus

Pregnancy and contraception health often become crucial questions for young women with lupus. With proper medical care, you can decrease the risks associated with pregnancy and deliver a normal, healthy baby. Not all of the problems of pregnancy with lupus have been solved, but pregnancies are possible, and normal children are the rule.

Learn more about reproduction and contraception health with lupus

Read Dr. Lisa Sammaritano’s answers to your questions about reproduction and contraception health with lupus

Lupus Now: The many ways people with lupus complete their families

Read research summaries about pregnancy & reproductive issues

Contraceptive Counseling and Use Among Women With Lupus

From our latest Research Update Newsletter:
Lupus is most common in women of reproductive age and, therefore, issues surrounding pregnancy and contraception are of importance to most lupus patients. Since it is best to plan pregnancy when lupus is adequately controlled, it is important that women with lupus have access to adequate methods of contraception. This study examined the value of contraceptive counseling for women with lupus. The researchers also hoped to learn whether contraceptive counseling had effects on the frequency of use of contraceptives among women with lupus.
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Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Lupus Nephritis

From our latest Research Update Newsletter:
Lupus primarily affects women during their reproductive years and it has been reported that women having more active disease are at greater risk of flares during pregnancy. The researchers hoped to determine the specific effects of active lupus-related kidney disease (lupus nephritis or LN) on pregnancy outcomes, as well as complications that might occur in the mothers or babies.

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Factors That Influence Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Lupus

Although women with lupus used to be advised to avoid getting pregnant, out of fear of complications for the mother, the baby, or both, a better understanding of the complications of lupus and improved management of lupus pregnancies have resulted in improved outcomes.

Today at least 85 percent of lupus pregnancies result in live births.

However, doctors still advise women who have active lupus kidney disease (lupus nephritis, or LN) not to get pregnant until their disease has been inactive for at least six months.

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