1. To understand the pathophysiology of auto-immune diseases and the mechanisms by which they injure the human organs as well as pregnancies through "inflammation", "thrombosis" etc.
2. To explain the female predominance of high immune reactions present in auto-immune diseases due to the additional stimulation caused by "estrogens" which results to "idiopathic infertility", longer TTP, "recurrent spontaneous abortions" (Reproductive Immune Failure Syndrome) but also pregnancy related complications and long term negative impact on the offsprings' health.
3. To present the contraceptive method indicated for each specific auto-immune condition as well as the cases where contraceptives (as well as assisted reproduction) are contraindicated due to the increased risk of thrombosis.
Sammaritano LR et al: Therapy insight:Guidelines for selection of contraception in women with Rheumatic diseases. Nat.Clin. Pract. Rheumatol. (2007);3(5):273-281
Kwak-Kim J. et al: Recurrent pregnancy loss: a disease of inflammation and coagulation. J. Obst. Gynaecol. Res. (2009);35:609-622
Haller-Kikkatalo K. et al: Review on Autoimmune reactions in female infertility:Antibodies to FSH. Clinical & develpmental Immunol.(2012), Article ID 762541, (15 pages).
Twig G. et al: Pathogenesis of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss in thyroid auto-immunity. J. Autoimmunity (2012);38:275-281
Ostensen M. et al: State of the art:Reproduction and pregnancy in rheumatic diseases. Autoimmunity Reviews (2015);14:376-386
Ackerman I N. et al:A systematic review of interventions to improve knowledge and self-management skills concerning contraception, pregnancy and breastfeeding in people with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Clin. Rheumatol.(2016);35:33-41
He H. et al: Effect of thyroid auto-immunity per se on assisted reproduction treatment outcomes: a meta-analysis. Taiwan J. Obstet. Gynecol. (2016);55:159-165
Oktem Oz. et al: Reproductive aspects of Systemic Lupus Erethymatosus. J.Reprod.Immunol.(2016);117:57-65
Deroux Alb. et al: Female infertility and serum auto-antibodies:A systematic review. Clin. Rev. Allerg. Immunol.(2017);53(1):78-86
Brouwer J. et al: Subfertility in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis and the outcome of fertility assessments. Arthritis Care & Research (2017);69:1142-1149
Lourenco B. et al: Contracepcao para adolescentes com doencas rheumaticas cronicas. Revista Brasileira de Rheumatologia (2017);57(1):73-81