MS and pregnancy

[skarey]

Okay so I've heard that many women with MS feel much better during pregnancy.  So, this question/comment may sound stupid but why don't they treat women with hormones/contraceptives to trick the body into thinking it is pregnant?  Is this possible?  I've always wondered about that and I'm sure it's much more complex than what I am thinking.  But....  Just a thought...
  Does anyone have any idea/comment on this???
  skarey

[jed9999]

Hi, Ladies---I had similar thoughts when I was in perimenopause around age 43 (I'm 60 now.) My MS (usually the pain aspect) was always worse around my periods and I just reasoned that without periods I would have a more EVEN month. I heartily requested I be able to go on Prempro to my GYN. He had me do the standard hormone therapy first, then allowed the Prempro. I was on it for over ten years and I felt it was very positive for my MS not to have periods! Then came the big Prempro crash and controversy. I stayed on it anyway for several more years without insidence then the pedulum swung back and some people have resumed its use again.

The main point to me is I am pretty sure hormones have some HUGE part in MS and I so urge the drug companies to try to find out just what part they play! As pregnancy shows, something is being missed!

I believe woman can work with their GYN's and find alternatives now which could lessen the effects of hormones on our bodies. It's not generally done, however, so it will be a matter of working something out individually. good luck! Jane, MS for 36+ years

[Heather3418]

What I have heard over the years that has to do with pregnancy and MS, is that the woman's body will shut off part of her immune system to allow her body to carry the "foreign being," inside of her body.  Otherwise the pregnancy would be attacked by the immune system and destroyed.

This lasts until about 3-6 months after delivery.  Usually about 3 months.

So scientists are trying to figure out how the immune system "shuts off" to allow the pregnancy to continue.  I am sure there is massive research into this.  I find it fascinating and promising.  I do wonder if only women will be able to take "the fix" and what it would do to a man's body, since we have different hormones.  (except for different amounts of testosterone.)  Good old testosterone gives us part our sex drive.  

Skarey, you bring up a very interesting and exciting subject.  Just think, this may hold a treatment to MS that stops it totally in it's tracks.

I am anxious to hear how other's comment.

Thank Skarey, dearheart....

Heather