At RheumaPreg 2025, leading specialists convened to tackle the intricate challenges faced by women of childbearing age living with chronic inflammatory diseases. The congress underscored significant advancements in the field while highlighting the ongoing efforts required to provide comprehensive care, foster understanding, and ensure research inclusivity for these women.
Breaking Down Silos: A Collaborative Future
A central theme of the congress emphasized the necessity of integrating multidisciplinary approaches to manage rheumatic diseases during reproductive years. Experts advocated for collaboration among rheumatologists, obstetricians, neonatologists, researchers, and patients to replace traditional clinical silos. This strategy aims to include pregnant and breastfeeding women in clinical research, addressing historical exclusions and promoting inclusive studies.
Empowering Women’s Choices: UCB’s Commitment
UCB took a prominent role by sponsoring the symposium “Empowering Women’s Choices: Optimising Care for WoCBA with Chronic Inflammatory Diseases.” The session highlighted the urgent need to bridge data gaps and initiate early, informed discussions about treatment options. A poignant moment came from a patient panelist, Lynette, who shared her struggles with lupus and motherhood, emphasizing the emotional toll of uncertainty in managing chronic diseases during pregnancy.
– Acknowledging the emotional impact of chronic diseases on family planning
– Highlighting the necessity for standardized data definitions in pregnancy registries
– Emphasizing the importance of patient and healthcare provider education
– Advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance care quality
– Promoting the inclusion of women in clinical research to generate relevant data
The congress also featured discussions on the importance of patient perspectives in research, particularly regarding family planning and breastfeeding. A masterclass focused on the inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women in clinical studies, calling for enhanced education to support informed participation. Additionally, a roundtable addressed the challenge of harmonizing data definitions internationally to facilitate meaningful research comparisons.
Witnessing the shift from merely recognizing research gaps to actively implementing improvement strategies brings optimism. Over the past decade, the dialogue has moved towards practical solutions, with significant contributions from organizations like UCB. Their ongoing support aims to ensure that women with chronic diseases can approach pregnancy with clarity and confidence.
Future initiatives should continue to build on this momentum by developing standardized protocols, enhancing patient education programs, and fostering global collaborations. These steps are crucial for advancing the care and research inclusion of women of childbearing age with chronic inflammatory diseases, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and quality of life.
As the field progresses, sustained commitment from all stakeholders will be essential in bridging existing gaps and ensuring that women receive the tailored care and support they deserve throughout their reproductive years.
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