Achieving and maintaining remission of inflammatory bowel disease should be prioritised in women before conceiving and during pregnancy, according to new guidance.

Methotrexate, allopurinol and tofacitinib treatment for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease should also be ceased prior to conception to avoid the potential risk of teratogenic effects.

Clinicians led by Sydney gastroenterologists Dr Robyn Laube and Dr Rupert Leong from Macquarie University said the Australian-first consensus statements provide up-to-date recommendations for managing patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during pregnancy.

“This will enable a high standard of care for patients with IBD across all clinical settings,” they wrote in Gut.