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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Pregnancy

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Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionally impacts women during their childbearing years. Thus, issues regarding birth control, fertility, pregnancy, and nursing commonly arise in the care of young women with SLE. For many years, contraceptive choices for SLE patients were limited due to concerns that hormone-containing contraceptives would increase disease activity. Pregnancy itself was thought to exacerbate disease activity, and patients were often counseled that they should avoid becoming pregnant. Medication use during pregnancy and nursing was likewise thought to be limited which further complicated the management of the pregnant lupus patient. Fortunately, the past two decades have brought us a better understanding of how SLE disease activity responds to pregnancy. Newer treatment regimens have improved disease outcome and enabled more patients to contemplate pregnancy and parenthood. This chapter will discuss contraception, fertility, pregnancy, and nursing in women with SLE.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Lupus and Antiphospholipid Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Bonnie L. Bermas M.D. (Director)

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Bonnie L. Bermas M.D. (Director)

Authors
  1. Bonnie L. Bermas M.D.
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Correspondence to Bonnie L. Bermas M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Div. of Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy, Francis Street 75, Boston, 02115, USA

    Peter H. Schur

  2. Div. of Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Lupus Center, Francis Street 75, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Elena M. Massarotti

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Bermas, B.L. (2012). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Pregnancy. In: Schur, P., Massarotti, E. (eds) Lupus Erythematosus. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1189-5_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1189-5_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-1188-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-1189-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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