title: Multiple sclerosis: Pregnancy and women's health issues.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The course of multiple sclerosis (MS) is influenced by sex, pregnancy and hormonal factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the influence of the above factors in order to clarify the aetiopathogenic mechanisms involved in the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a comprehensive review of scientific publications in the PubMed database using a keyword search for 'multiple sclerosis', 'MS', 'EAE', 'pregnancy', 'hormonal factors', 'treatment', and related terms. We reviewed the advances presented at the meeting held by the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in March 2013 in London, as well as recommendations by international experts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We provide recommendations for counselling and treating women with MS prior to and during pregnancy and after delivery. Current findings on the effects of treatment on the mother, fetus, and newborn are also presented. We issue recommendations for future research in order to address knowledge gaps and clarify any inconsistencies in currently available data.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Baracaldo, España. Electronic address: marmendibebilbao@osakidetza.eus.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendibe Bilbao
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Baracaldo, España.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boyero Durán
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Cruces, Baracaldo, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bárcena Llona
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurología, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Antigüedad
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Embarazo; Esclerosis múltiple; Hormonas; Hormones; Multiple sclerosis; Pathophysiology; Patofisiología; Pregnancy; Sex; Sexo; Tratamiento; Treatment