title: Multiple sclerosis and motherhood choice: an observational study in Portuguese women patients.
abstract: INTRODUCTION. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling disease occurring mainly in women of childbearing age. MS may interfere with family planning and motherhood decision. AIM. To study the influence of MS diagnosis and course of the disease on motherhood decision. PATIENTS AND METHODS. The cohort of 35 to 45-year-old female patients diagnosed with MS for at least ten years was selected from six Portuguese MS centers. A structured questionnaire was applied to all patients in consecutive consultation days. Clinical records were reviewed to characterize and collect information about the disease and pregnancies. RESULTS. One hundred women were included; mean age at MS diagnosis was 26.3 ± 5.0 years; 90% of the participants presented with a relapsing-remitting MS; 57% had no pregnancies after the diagnosis. MS type and number of relapses were not significantly different between women with or without pregnancies after the diagnosis (p = 0.39 and p = 0.50, respectively). Seventy-seven percent of the patients did not have the intended number of pregnancies. Main reasons given were fear of future disability and the possibility of having relapses. Forty-three women considered that pregnancy might worsen MS. CONCLUSION. In our population, motherhood choice was unrelated to the MS type and the number of relapses. However, a relevant number of women had fewer pregnancies than those intended before MS diagnosis and believed that pregnancy could worsen the disease. An effort to better inform the patients should be made to minimize the impact of MS diagnosis on motherhood decision.
authors.forename: Ana T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veiga
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morgado
authors.affiliation: Hospital Prof Dr. Fernando da Fonseca, Amadora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tojal
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sa
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Timoteo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003469:Culture; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011174:Portugal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires