Interferon beta
What is it?
Interferon beta is mainly used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS).
Benefits
What are the benefits of using interferon beta in pregnancy?
Interferon beta is an effective treatment for many people with MS. It reduces the inflammation that damages nerves. The symptoms of MS can be extremely difficult, sometimes affecting your ability to cope with daily living. It is therefore important that MS is as well-controlled as possible during pregnancy and whilst looking after a baby.
Risks
What are the risks of using interferon beta in pregnancy?
There are currently no concerns that interferon beta use in early pregnancy causes birth defects, miscarriage, or low infant birth weight. Some studies have shown that women taking interferon beta might be more likely to have a preterm delivery. However, this is thought to be due to women with MS opting to have their baby delivered early, rather than a direct effect of interferon beta.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to using interferon beta in pregnancy?
Some women with MS find that their symptoms improve when they are pregnant. If this occurs, your specialist may advise that your medicine(s) can be altered. You should not, however, make changes to your treatment without speaking to your doctor first.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to take medicines to treat multiple sclerosis?
Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when necessary and will be happy to talk to you about any concerns. It is important to take any medicines prescribed for MS during pregnancy to avoid a flare-up of symptoms and to help prevent damage to the nerves. You can feel reassured that interferon beta is often used in pregnancy with no known effects on the unborn baby.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
As part of routine antenatal care, most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to check the baby’s wellbeing. Use of interferon beta is not expected to cause problems that would require specialist scans, although extra growth scans may be needed in women with MS.
Are there any risks to my baby if the father has used interferon beta?
A small number of pregnancies in which the father used interferon beta around the time of conception have been studied. There is currently no evidence that interferon beta used by the father can harm the baby through effects on the sperm, and most experts agree that this is unlikely.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.