Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jan;17(1):114-120.
doi: 10.2215/CJN.14100820. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Post-Transplant Pregnancy and Contraception

Christina L Klein  1 , Michelle A Josephson  2
Affiliations

Post-Transplant Pregnancy and Contraception

Christina L Klein et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Placed in a historical context, this overview focuses on post-transpant pregnancy, fatherhood, and contraception in women and men. The critical importance of early reproductive counseling because of improved sexual function and the early return of ovulation and menses post-transplant is emphasized. We explain the decision making regarding contraception choices. The available data on the safety of immunosuppressive drugs in pregnancy, and for men desiring fatherhood, are detailed. The risk of maternal ingestion of mycophenolate products on the in utero fetus is considered and contrasted with the lack of concern for their use by men fathering children. Pregnancy risks to the allograft, baby, and mother are discussed. An infant's exposure to specific immunosuppressant medications through breastfeeding is reviewed. The ethics and realities of post-transplant parenthood are explored.

Keywords: Kidney Transplantation Series; contraception; post-transplant; pregnancy.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

    1. Murray JE, Reid DE, Harrison JH, Merrill JP: Successful pregnancies after human renal transplantation. N Engl J Med 269: 341–343, 1963 - PubMed
    1. Murray JE: Edith Helm (April 29, 1935–April 4, 2011): The world’s longest surviving transplant recipient. Am J Transplant 11: 1545–1546, 2011 - PubMed
    1. Ohler L, Coscia L, Armenti V: Milestones in transplantation. Prog Transplant 18: 63–64, 2008 - PubMed
    1. McKay DB, Josephson MA, Armenti VT, August P, Coscia LA, Davis CL, Davison JM, Easterling T, Friedman JE, Hou S, Karlix J, Lake KD, Lindheimer M, Matas AJ, Moritz MJ, Riely CA, Ross LF, Scott JR, Wagoner LE, Wrenshall L, Adams PL, Bumgardner GL, Fine RN, Goral S, Krams SM, Martinez OM, Tolkoff-Rubin N, Pavlakis M, Scantlebury V; Women’s Health Committee of the American Society of Transplantation : Reproduction and transplantation: Report on the AST consensus conference on reproductive issues and transplantation. Am J Transplant 5: 1592–1599, 2005 - PubMed
    1. Cabiddu G, Spotti D, Gernone G, Santoro D, Moroni G, Gregorini G, Giacchino F, Attini R, Limardo M, Gammaro L, Todros T, Piccoli GB; Kidney and Pregnancy Study Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology : A best-practice position statement on pregnancy after kidney transplantation: Focusing on the unsolved questions [published correction appears in J Nephrol 31: 683, 2018 10.1007/s40620-018-0510-6]. J Nephrol 31: 665–681, 2018 - DOI - PMC - PubMed