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Contraception for Women with Gastrointestinal Disorders

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Contraception for the Medically Challenging Patient

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Abstract

Women with gastrointestinal (GI) disease processes are living longer into their reproductive years and their quality of life is improving. Many of the GI disorders can mimic problems in pregnancy and can be associated with poor perinatal outcomes. Women are encouraged to optimize their GI conditions prior to conception for best perinatal outcome. Planned pregnancy after health optimization and maintenance of appropriate therapies is best for both the mother and her intended family. Unplanned pregnancy during an active disease flare, use of teratogenic medications, or need for multiple procedures for untreated disease can exacerbate problems in pregnancy. Contraception is encouraged while undergoing active treatments to allow for return of safer conditions for family building. Most methods of contraception are safe, effective, and acceptable in GI disease with relatively few potential complications. In addition most treatments for GI disease are compatible with pregnancy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Aparna Sridhar M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.O.G.

  2. Division of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Wendy Ho M.D., M.P.H.

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Transplant, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Tram T. Tran M.D.

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, UCLA Health System, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Angela Chen M.D., M.P.H.

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Anish Vinit Patel M.D.

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  1. Aparna Sridhar M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.O.G.
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  2. Wendy Ho M.D., M.P.H.
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  3. Tram T. Tran M.D.
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  4. Angela Chen M.D., M.P.H.
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  5. Anish Vinit Patel M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aparna Sridhar M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.O.G. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

    Rebecca H. Allen

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Carrie A. Cwiak

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Sridhar, A., Ho, W., Tran, T.T., Chen, A., Patel, A.V. (2014). Contraception for Women with Gastrointestinal Disorders. In: Allen, R., Cwiak, C. (eds) Contraception for the Medically Challenging Patient. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1233-9_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1233-9_18

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