Medical management of the pregnant patient with inflammatory bowel disease.

Gastroenterologists are not infrequently faced with questions regarding pregnancy when advising or treating their patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To advise patients effectively, the following factors must be considered: (1) the inheritance patterns of IBD for accurate counseling and family planning; (2) the effects of active IBD versus medications or surgery on fertility; (3) the effects of pregnancy on the course of IBD; (4) the effects and potential risks of active IBD versus those of diagnostic tests, medical treatments, and surgical treatments on the developing fetus; (5) approach to delivery; and (6) the risks of breast-feeding while receiving treatment for IBD.