Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), frequently affect young women, resulting in many pregnancies during active disease. IBD can influence pregnancy outcomes and while most therapies are regarded as safe, some can carry significant risks. Limited knowledge, and anxiety highlight the need for education and communication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of IBD and its therapeutic management on pregnancy outcomes and to assess the potential prenatal and postnatal effects of both the disease and its treatment on offspring health. Furthermore, we aim to assess pregnancy-related knowledge among women with IBD. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted enrolling female IBD patients ≥18 years yrs between April and November of 2025. They completed a self-administered questionnaire online and at outpatient clinics. The survey covered demographics, disease characteristics, therapies, pregnancy history, family planning, and IBD-related knowledge. Primary outcomes were pregnancy characteristics and gestational age at birth in women before or after their IBD diagnosis at the time of the birth (pre-IBD and post-IBD). Secondary outcomes included offspring health, therapy use during pregnancy, patient knowledge and information preferences. Statistical analyses included two-sample t-tests, chi-squared tests, and Fisher’s exact tests. Results 221 patients completed the survey (mean age: 35.74 ± 7.06 yrs). Overall, 134 respondents had a confirmed pregnancy, with data available for 183 offspring (mean age 11.05 ± 8.38 yrs, ≤3 per respondent). 61 pregnancies (33.3%) occurred in the pre-IBD and 122 (66.7%) in the post-IBD group, with continuous IBD therapy maintained in 102 (83.6%) cases, including 27 (26.5%) with biologics. Patient knowledge was higher among women with previous pregnancies. Most expressed a need for more information, though preferred formats varied. Mean gestational age at birth was lower in the post-IBD group compared to the pre-IBD group (38.67 ± 1.75 vs. 39.41 ± 1.81 weeks w; p = 0.014). Within the post-IBD group, no difference was found between women on IBD therapy during pregnancy and no IBD therapy (38.68 ± 1.79 vs. 38.67 ± 1.65 w; p = 0.983). No association was found between birth defects/malformations and the presence of IBD (p = 0.205) or therapy (p = 0.373). Self-reported activity showed no impact on pregnancy or offspring outcomes. Severe infections needing hospitalisation in children ≤5 yrs were significantly linked to the presence of IBD (p = 0.005) and IBD therapy during pregnancy (p = 0.037). Conclusion Improved patient knowledge increased the number of pregnancies. Diagnosed IBD shortened the gestation. IBD and therapy are linked to offspring infections needing hospitalisation. Reference: With the exception of language editing, no AI-assisted technologies were used in the production of the submitted abstract. Conflict of interest: Dr. Pápista, Máté: No conflict of interest Farkas, Bernadett: No conflict of interest Gálfalvi, Noémi: No conflict of interest Ivány, Emese: No conflict of interest Bacsur, Péter: No conflict of interest Belovai, Martin: No conflict of interest Budai-Budácsik, Brigitta: No conflict of interest Huszka, László: No conflict of interest Rutka, Mariann: No conflict of interest Fábián, Anna: No conflict of interest Bősze, Zsófia: No conflict of interest Szepes, Zoltán: No conflict of interest Molnár, Tamás: Conflict of interest: Tamás Molnár has received speaker’s honoraria from MSD, AbbVie, Egis, Goodwill Pharma, Takeda, Pfizer, Janssen, Sandoz, Phytotec, Roche, Fresenius, Teva, Celltrion, Stada, BMS, Ferring, EwoPharma and SOBI Farkas, Klaudia: No conflict of interest
Pápista et al. (Thu,) studied this question.