On occasion of the 8th of March, WAidid suggests the article State of the art: Reproduction and pregnancy in rheumatic diseases published on Autoimmunity Reviews (May 2015).

SUMMARY:
Throughout the last decade, increasing awareness has been raised on issues related to reproduction in chronic diseases. Rheumatic diseases can affect quality of life and reproduction in both genders. Hormones, fertility, pregnancy, and management of high-risk pregnancy are important topics for patients and their doctors alike. In this article the authors give a concise overview of current basic and clinical research presented at the VIII International Conference on Reproduction and Pregnancy and the rheumatic diseases 25–27, 2014 September in Trondheim, Norway.
Take-home messages:
- Reduced numbers of children in rheumatic diseases can be due to autoimmunity or disease related fertility problems
- In women with rheumatic diseases and infertility advanced techniques in assisted reproduction make it possible to have children
- Maternal and fetal problems are frequent in rheumatic diseases and relate to specific serology, disease severity and disease activity at conception
- Abnormal placentation may result in miscarriage, preterm birth, preeclampsia and intra-uterine growth restriction depending on severity and maternal constitutional factors
- Several biologic drugs are available for managing inflammatory arthritis, systemic lupus and vasculitis before and during pregnancy
- Comprehensive counseling in regard to family planning includes risk assessment, advice on contraception, and adjustment of therapy in support of planned pregnancies

AUTHORS: Østensen M, Andreoli L, Brucato A, Cetin I, Chambers C, Clowse ME, Costedoat-Chalumeau N, Cutolo M, Dolhain R, Fenstad MH, Förger F,Wahren-Herlenius M, Ruiz-Irastorza G, Koksvik H, Nelson-Piercy C, Shoenfeld Y, Tincani A, Villiger PM, Wallenius M, von Wolff M