Join Dr. Catherine Sims from Duke University as she walks you through the phases of reproduction from to birth control to pregnancy, and ultimately menopause. Learn how to discuss with your doctors how to properly time pregnancy to minimize complications, what birth control is safe for to take, and how to manage menopause. This presentation is supplemented by printable handouts from lupuspregnancy.org that patients can bring with them to clinic visits to discuss what you learn with your doctors.

About the Presenter

Dr. Catherine Sims is a rheumatologist at Duke University working under the mentorship of reproductive rheumatologist Dr. Megan Clowse. Her research initiatives include quantitative and qualitative pregnancy outcomes in systemic vasculitides, creation of a pregnancy planning scoring system for women with systemic lupus erythematosus, and the utility of serum biomarkers to differentiate between preeclampsia and episodes of lupus nephritis during pregnancy. Working closely with national advocacy groups and patient representatives she has created patient centered, easily accessible information detailing the importance of birth control, intentional pregnancy, and family planning for people with vasculitis. Through novel research efforts, education of providers, and streamlined communication with patients her hope is to improve the reproductive experience for women with autoimmune diseases.