European Crohn’s and Colitis Guidelines on Sexuality, Fertility, Pregnancy, and Lactation

Inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] has a high incidence and prevalence in young individuals, affecting people in their reproductive years.1,2 The diagnosis of IBD raises many questions; these include concerns about sexuality, disease heritability, and the impact of medications and disease activity on fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and lactation.3,4 Uncertainty about the health of the offspring may influence patients’ choices in family planning. Therefore, the management of patients who wish to conceive or who are pregnant requires specialised counselling and appropriate management. This involves a multidisciplinary approach and close involvement of the prospective parents under a shared decision-making model. These updated consensus guidelines address these issues and aim to optimise and harmonise pre-conceptional, pregnancy, and post-pregnancy IBD management and counselling.