Subfertility is common in women with spondyloarthritis (SpA), with factors such as older age and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prior to conception associated with a longer time to pregnancy.

"Our findings underline the importance of preconceptional counseling in all patients who desire pregnancy and the need to reduce or cease NSAID intake in SpA patients struggling to conceive," the authors wrote.

This study was led by Sabrina Hamroun, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France, and was published online on November 29, 2024, in RMD Open.

The sample size was relatively small, which prevented subgroup analyses for different phenotypes of SpA. Missing data, particularly concerning disease activity, may have affected the power of analyses. This study also lacked data on the frequency and dose of NSAIDs received by women with SpA.

This study was supported by grants from multiple organizations including the French Society of Rheumatology, French National Society of Internal Medicine, and other sources, and an unrestricted grant from UCB. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.