The Rheumatologist highlights an informational webinar on reproductive health, pregnancy and parenting for patients with rheumatic disease, which included expert panelist Lisa R. Sammaritano, MD, rheumatologist at HSS.

Dr. Sammaritano explained, “Most women with rheumatic diseases can have successful pregnancies, and most people with rheumatic diseases can have children, if desired.” She underscored the importance for patients with rheumatic diseases who want to have a family to work with rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals on family planning.

“Our goal in thinking about family planning is to plan for well-controlled disease on pregnancy-compatible medication, with a pre-pregnancy evaluation to identify risks and make recommendations about monitoring and therapy. Family planning, in general, usually requires contraception and the safe use of some of our rheumatology medications,” she continued.

Dr. Sammaritano co-authored the 2020 American College of Rheumatology Guideline for the Management of Reproductive Health in Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases, which cited that most patients with rheumatic diseases underuse effective contraception and may experience unplanned pregnancies. This situation can increase exposure to risks, such as worsened disease activity, that can threaten maternal health and well-being and lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Read the full article at The-rheumatologist.org.