Pregnancy and multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Pregnancy is a major concern in multiple sclerosis (MS), because the typical patient is a young woman of childbearing age. This article reviews the impact of pregnancy on MS. Disease activity decreases, particularly during the last trimester. There is a temporary rebound of disease activity in the 3 months postpartum. Pregnancy and the postpartum period have many implications for counseling and for therapeutic decision making in MS.