New guidelines for pregnancy in multiple sclerosis
New guidelines for pregnancy care in multiple sclerosis, drawn up by a panel of UK experts, have been published this week.
They aim to reduce uncertainty about treatments that are safe and appropriate for pregnant and breastfeeding women with MS, and for couples affected by MS who are planning a pregnancy.
MS is usually diagnosed among 20-40 year olds, two thirds of whom are women. Around this age, both men and women might be planning to have children. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that disease modifying drugs (DMDs) should be started as early as possible. Delaying DMD treatment until after having a family can lead to irreversible disability in the long term. For this reason, it makes sense to start discussing family planning and pregnancy early after diagnosis, alongside discussions about DMDs, if appropriate.
However, there is limited evidence available to guide these discussions, and so the MS Trust and a group of very experienced health professionals set out to develop a set of consensus guidelines to bring clarity to this area. The guidelines have been endorsed by the Association of British Neurologists, and have been reviewed by a panel of MS specialist nurses, neurologists, obstetricians, midwives and people with MS as part of the development process.
The guidelines bring together evidence from drug specific pregnancy registers as well as published peer reviewed research. They cover pre-pregnancy counselling and DMDs for men and women, MS management during pregnancy, delivery and anaesthetic options. The guidelines also give advice for the period after birth, for breastfeeding and for the use of DMDs after the birth.
We hope that the publication of these guidelines will enable health professionals to provide more informed guidance, support and care to people with MS when they are planning a family as well as during pregnancy and the post-natal period.
- Megan Roberts, Health Professionals Programme Manager, MS Trust
References
- Practical Neurology 2019;19:106-114. Full article UK consensus on pregnancy in multiple sclerosis: ‘Association of British Neurologists’ guidelines


Pregnancy and MS
For most women, MS does not make any significant difference to their pregnancy. Find out how to manage MS throughout your pregnancy.
DMT use in fathers to be
3 June 2014
A study examining the outcomes of pregnancies fathered by a man with multiple sclerosis taking a disease modifying drug.


Disease modifying drugs (DMDs)
DMDs are a group of treatments for people with relapsing MS which reduce the number and severity of any relapses you might experience.


Ozanimod (Zeposia) approved for relapsing remitting MS in Scotland
8 Feb 2021 - 00:00
The MS Trust is delighted that ozanimod (Zeposia) has been approved in Scotland for people with active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.


Exercise is good for your brain
3 Feb 2021 - 00:00
There is more to exercise than physical fitness. This review looks at recent research which shows how exercise has a direct beneficial effect on brain repair processes.


Covid-19 vaccines and MS: Part two
29 Jan 2021 - 00:00
Following our last interview on the subject of the Covid-19 vaccine and people with MS, we received a lot of follow up questions. To answer some of these, we spoke once again to Professor Alasdair Coles, Consultant Neurologist at Addenbrooke’s hospital.

Sign up to our emails
Get the latest news and research sent straight to your inbox. Find out first about the latest developments in MS treatments, plus updates on the work of the MS Trust.