Pregnancy in Women Receiving Maintenance Dialysis

Abstract

Women with kidney failure experience pathophysiological changes that frequently result in disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Because of these hormonal disturbances, women with kidney disease often experience oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, sexual dysfunction, and infertility. Preconception counseling, partnered with the early identification and optimal management of risk factors, such as hypertension and discontinuation of teratogenic medications, should be pursued for females contemplating conception. Pregnancy in women receiving maintenance dialysis is associated with a high risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes and should be managed by a multidisciplinary team of providers. In this review article, we discuss pregnancy incidence, pregnancy outcomes, and management of pregnancy among women receiving maintenance dialysis.