title: Impact of myasthenia gravis on family planning: How do women with myasthenia gravis decide and why?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We analyzed the impact of myasthenia gravis (MG) on decision-making in family planning by women with the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional, anonymous survey, a standardized questionnaire was sent or handed out to 1,637 women with MG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 801 questionnaires were eligible for analysis. Over fifty percent of the patients had abstained from having children due to MG. The concern mentioned most often was the possible influence of MG medication on the unborn child (87.1%). Spouses/partners (91.8%) and MG treating physicians (82.9%) were the most important persons involved in the decision-making process. Higher age and personal experience of intensive-care treatment for MG were independently associated with the decision to abstain from having children. Lower level of knowledge was independently associated with the probability of discouraging other MG patients from having children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with MG need specific guidance about family planning issues, which may lead to lower rates of voluntary childlessness. On the basis of our data, more specific hypotheses can be generated that require prospective investigation.
authors.affiliation: NeuroCure Clinical Research Centre, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohlraun
authors.affiliation: NeuroCure Clinical Research Centre, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.|Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Centre, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: NeuroCure Clinical Research Centre, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.|Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Centre, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klehmet
authors.affiliation: NeuroCure Clinical Research Centre, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.|Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Centre, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohler
authors.affiliation: Centre for Stroke Research Berlin, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.|Department for Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grittner
authors.affiliation: Centre for Stroke Research Berlin, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.|Clinical Trial Center Würzburg, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Heuschmann
authors.affiliation: NeuroCure Clinical Research Centre, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.|Integrated Myasthenia Gravis Centre, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.|Centre for Stroke Research Berlin, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meisel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: decision-making; disease-related knowledge; family planning; myasthenia gravis; pregnancy