MDTV on Pregnancy and Rheumatoid Arthritis Dr. Clowse: Recent Studies Over Half of Women with RA had Fewer Children Than They had Hoped
Studies have shown that over half of women with Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA, had fewer children than they had originally hoped. Megan E.B. Clowse, MD, MPH, Duke University Rheumatologist and Researcher, discusses why this may be on this MDTV Learning Module (2).
By MDTV
Megan E.B. Clowse, MD, MPH, Duke University Rheumatologist and Researcher, discussed one of her recent studies with MDTV. Her study showed that over half of women with Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA, had fewer children than they had originally hoped. She said these findings are not entirely new or surprising, as in the 1950s women with RA were more likely to become spinsters. As fars as the participants in her study are concerned, many cited personal choice as the reason due to the challenges of living with their disease. However, about 40% of women cited infertility as the cause. It is yet unknown as to whether the disease or any medications could have affected the women's fertility, which means there is more research to be done.
