ABSTRACT
Objective:
Behçet’s disease (BD) is an inflammatory disease that also affects women of reproductive age, with mucocutaneous findings and systemic organ involvement. Like other inflammatory diseases, BH is likely to have effects on fertility. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of BH on fertility, pregnancy and birth processes in women diagnosed with BD.
Methods:
Marriage, fertility and pregnancy histories of 274 female Behçet’s patients were evaluated retrospectively. Data of 563 pregnancies before (n=450) and after (n=113) diagnosis were analyzed.
Results:
The mean age of the patients included in the study was 39.8 years. Infertility rate was determined as 2.3% (n=5). The pregnancy rate with assisted reproductive techniques was 1.4% (n=3). The number of patients who had 3 and ≥4 pregnancies after the diagnosis of BD was statistically significantly less (p<0.001). The miscarriage rate, which was 24.8% before the diagnosis of BD, was 17.4% in the pregnancies after the diagnosis, the difference was not statistically significant. Intrauterine death (6.2% vs. 2.2%, p=0.027) and low birth weight infant rate (8.8% vs. 3.8%, p=0.024) were statistically significantly higher in pregnancies after BD diagnosis. Intrauterine death and fetal complications were associated with pre-pregnancy steroid use. The rate of cesarean section was found to be statistically significantly higher in pregnancies after diagnosis (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
In women with BD, it seems that the disease has no effect on fertility, but there is an increased risk for maternal and fetal complications.