Number of births, interpregnancy interval, and subsequent pregnancy rate after a diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic disease in Norwegian women

Objective. To study female reproduction, i.e., number of births, subsequent pregnancy rate, and interpregnancy interval after diagnosis of inflammator y rheumatic disease. Methods. In a national population based cohort study, reproduction in mothe rs with rheumatic disease, registered with the Medical Birth Registry of No rway 1967-1995, were compared to mothers without such diagnoses. Results. After diagnosis, women with rheumatic disease had a statistically significant lower mean number of births, a shorter time span of reproductio n, longer interpregnancy intervals, and a reduced subsequent pregnancy rate . Conclusion. Altered reproduction observed in women with a rheumatic disease might reflect various mechanisms not accounted for in this study, but poss ibly related to the disease process, functional impairment, or medical trea tment.