title: Increased risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy among women with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal condition and is most prevalent in women of reproductive age. We investigated the effects of IBS on risk for adverse outcomes from pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cohort study by using the United Kingdom General Practice Research Database. The study cohort consisted of 100,000 women selected by stratified random sampling from all women with a diagnosis of pregnancy from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2008. Those with a recorded diagnosis of IBS before pregnancy were identified (n = 26,543). Outcome measures were spontaneous miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia, and stillbirth. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between IBS and pregnancy outcomes were estimated by using logistic regression adjusted for several potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of women diagnosed with IBS before pregnancy, 6578 (7%) had a spontaneous miscarriage, 741 (0.74%) had an ectopic pregnancy, 425 (0.43%) developed preeclampsia, and 217 (0.22%) had a stillbirth. Maternal IBS was associated with a moderately increased risk of miscarriage (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13-1.30) and ectopic pregnancy (OR, 1.28%; 95% CI, 1.06-1.55). There did not appear to be an association between IBS and preeclampsia (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.85-1.39) or stillbirth (OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.69-1.44).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IBS, a common disorder in women of reproductive age, appears to increase the risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. These findings indicate the importance of prenatal care for women with IBS.
authors.affiliation: Anu Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ali S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Khashan
authors.forename: Eamonn M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: Roseanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McNamee
authors.forename: Fergus P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Fergus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shanahan
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult