A study presented at a major US gastroenterology conference has found that women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who use fertility treatment can reach high pregnancy rates overall, but success varied considerably depending on the type of treatment used. The researchers suggested that embryo transfer may offer notably better results than a simpler insemination procedure, particularly for women who have had pelvic surgery related to their IBD.
Background
IBD, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can sometimes make it harder for women to become pregnant. This is thought to be more likely when the condition is active or after pelvic surgery that involves the rectum, which can leave scarring around the fallopian tubes. Fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), where sperm is placed directly into the womb, and embryo transfer, a step in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) where an embryo created in a laboratory is placed into the womb, are both used to help women conceive. Until now, there has been limited research into how these treatments perform specifically in women with IBD.
What the study found
The findings come from the Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Motherhood study, which followed more than 400 women with IBD across the United States and Canada who were trying to conceive. Of these, 67 women underwent at least one fertility treatment attempt. According to the researchers, led by Eugenia Shmidt of the University of Minnesota, nearly three-quarters of the women who had fertility treatment eventually became pregnant.
Looking more closely at individual treatment attempts, the researchers reported that embryo transfer was far more likely to succeed than IUI. Around seven in ten embryo transfer attempts resulted in pregnancy, compared with roughly one in ten IUI attempts. Among a small group of women who had previously undergone pelvic surgery related to their IBD, everyone who had embryo transfer became pregnant, while none of those who tried IUI alone did. The research team noted that other factors, including how active a woman’s IBD was or her surgical history, did not appear to affect the chances of success once the type of treatment was taken into account.
Why this matters
These findings suggest that embryo transfer may help women with IBD overcome fertility challenges linked to their condition or previous surgery, including scarring that can physically block natural conception. Shmidt noted that embryo transfer success rates in this study were higher than typically seen in the general population, suggesting women with IBD may particularly benefit from this approach. The researchers proposed that doctors might consider referring women with IBD, especially those with a history of pelvic surgery, for IVF and embryo transfer earlier, rather than trying IUI for an extended period first.
What to keep in mind
- This was an observational study, meaning women were not randomly assigned to treatments, so other unmeasured factors could have influenced the results.
- The number of women studied, particularly those with prior pelvic surgery, was small, so larger studies are needed to confirm the findings.
- The results were presented at a medical conference and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, so they should be considered preliminary.
- Decisions about fertility treatment should always be made with a specialist who can consider individual circumstances.
Reference
Shmidt E, et al. Assisted reproductive technology outcomes in women with inflammatory bowel disease: results from the Women with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Motherhood (WIsDoM) study. Presented at: American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting; October 2026; Nashville, Tennessee.
This article is a journalistic summary for informational purposes only. It does not constitute clinical advice or a recommendation to alter treatment decisions.