Pregnancy Decision-making for Women with Multiple Sclerosis (P4.159)

BACKGROUND The reasons women with MS do not become pregnant are not fully elucidated. Observational data from real-world MS clinical practice of parous (having born a child) and nulliparous (not having born a child) women may demonstrate pregnancy decision-making is based on other factors not related to having MS as well as concerns of being a parent with MS. OBJECTIVE Investigate factors which influence pregnancy decision-making for women with MS. METHODS Analysis was based on 207 responses to a reproductive events study questionnaire distributed to 450 eligible female patients with clinically-defined MS (CDMS) of the New York State MS Consortium registry database. RESULTS The mean age 31.1 (SD 9.1) at time of MS symptom onset and mean baseline disability Kurtzke Expanded Disability Severity Score (EDSS 2.6 (SD 1.9)) did not differ between parous and nulliparous women. 18.4% of the sample was nulliparous. The reasons for not bearing children included only 15.9% due to concerns of raising a child as a parent with MS. Reasons not due to having MS included 28.9% attributed to not wanting children, 23.7% to attempting pregnancy without success, 18.4% to not having a spouse, 2.6% having adopted, 5.3% contemplating pregnancy, and 5.2% other conditions. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that pregnancy decision-making for nulliparous women with CDMS includes reasons not related to having MS and that the 15.9% due to concerns of raising children as a parent with MS warrants further elucidation. Disclosure: Dr. Teter has received research support from Biogen Idec, EMD Serono, Novartis, and Genzyme Corp. Dr. Kavak has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zakalik has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kolb has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, Biogen Idec and EMD Serono as a speaker and scientific advisory board member. Dr. Coyle has received personal compensation for activities with Acorda, Accordant, Bayer, Biogen Idec, Merck Serono/Pfizer, Genzyme/Sanofi Aventis, Mylan, Novartis, Genentech/Roche, and Teva Neuroscience. Dr. Coyle has received research support from Actelion, Novartis, and Opexa. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, EMD Serono, Pfizer, Novartis, Genzyme, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Mylan, and Acorda Therapeutics. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman has received research support from Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, EMD Serono, Pfizer Inc, Novartis, Acorda, ITN, Questcor, Shire, Genzyme, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the National Institutes of Health and Aspreva-Roche.