Many women diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) worry that pregnancy and hormones will worsen their symptoms. Sometimes, these women give into those concerns and choose not to have children, despite always having wanted a family. It’s a reality that one CU Anschutz neurologist wants to see changed.
With today’s research and advanced treatment strategies, doctors can better guide women with MS through all major reproductive stages, from menstruation and pregnancy to postpartum and menopause.
“If a woman doesn’t have a baby because she doesn’t want to have children, that’s great,” said Anna Shah, MD, an assistant professor of neurology at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine. “But if a woman doesn’t have children because she feels like she can’t because of her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, that’s not acceptable in today’s modern era of medicine.”
Shah’s passion fuels her work as a scientist, educator and doctor focused on women and family planning at the Rocky Mountain MS Center at CU Anschutz, a Center of Excellence. Women are diagnosed with MS at three times the rate of men between the ages of 18 and 45, their prime reproductive years.
Key points:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects women up to three times more often than men, typically between the ages of 18 and 45.
- Hormonal transitions during reproductive stages, such as menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, can influence MS symptoms.
- MS relapse rates can increase by up to 70% after childbirth.
- Focused treatment strategies before conception may reduce postpartum relapse risk.
“One of the hats that I wear, and that I wear the most proudly, is the mom hat,” said Shah, a mother of three little boys. “And I want to make sure that women can do whatever they want to do, however they want to do that. Hopefully, we're mitigating the risk of this disease getting in the way.”
Although there’s still no cure, treatment advancements have transformed care of MS, an autoimmune disease that attacks the protective coating around the nerves in the brain, eye and spinal cord. In the Q&A below, Shah talks about how MS affects her women patients during the different life stages and how medical guidance can improve care.
The interview was edited for length and clarity.