Association between Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Miscarriage in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are gastrointestinal (GI)
disorders that may influence pregnancy outcomes. Miscarriage, defined as the loss of a pregnancy before viability,
has not been clearly associated with either condition. Objective: This study aims to investigate the association
between IBD and IBS and the risk of miscarriage among Saudi women. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional
study was conducted between July and December 2024 across multiple regions in Saudi Arabia. The sample
included women aged 18–45 years with prior pregnancies, diagnosed with either IBS or IBD. Fifty women with
IBD diagnosed during pregnancy or within 1-year postpartum were included from a general hospital. Data were
collected through questionnaire. Results: Among 268 participants, 82% had no GI disease, 16% had IBS, and 1.5%
had IBD. Approximately half of all women reported a miscarriage. Neither IBS nor IBD was significantly associated
with increased miscarriage risk. Sociodemographic factors did not predict GI disease presence. Conclusion: In this
Saudi cohort, IBS and IBD were not significantly associated with miscarriage. These findings provide reassurance
that GI conditions may not independently increase the risk of early pregnancy loss.