Unplanned pregnancy in a woman with Crohn disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and bowel resection might experience reduced effectiveness from oral contraceptive agents. We report a case of a woman with Crohn disease who became pregnant while compliant with her combined oral contraceptive pill (OCP) regimen. Patients with Crohn disease have a greater risk of contraceptive failure because the diseased bowel causes increased passage of stool and malabsorption. This report describes some of the special needs and pitfalls surrounding contraception for patients with IBD. Family physicians routinely oversee their patients’ contraceptive needs, and it is important to understand that patients with IBD require additional attention.