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Fertility treatments work well for women with inflammatory bowel disease — but the method matters a lot. A prospective study found that 73% of IBD patients achieved pregnancy with assisted reproductive technology, with embryo transfer (IVF) dramatically outperforming intrauterine insemination. Experts now say clinicians should consider moving straight to IVF, especially for patients with prior pelvic surgery.
Women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who want to become pregnant have good reason for optimism — as long as they choose the right fertility treatment. A prospective cohort study from the WIsDoM (Women with IBD and Motherhood) study, presented at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting, found that 73% of IBD patients who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART) achieved pregnancy. The catch? Success varied dramatically by method.
Embryo transfer (IVF) was the clear winner, with an 85% pregnancy success rate compared to just 10–38% for intrauterine insemination (IUI). After adjusting for confounders, women undergoing embryo transfer had 44 times higher odds of conceiving than those using IUI. Crucially, neither active disease nor prior IBD-related pelvic surgery appeared to diminish IVF success — a finding researchers called "striking."
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: IBD can reduce fertility through scarring and adhesions — barriers that IVF can physically bypass. These findings give clinicians a clear signal: don't delay IVF referrals for IBD patients, particularly those with a history of pelvic surgery.
