← Issue №5/ week of Aug 2, 2026/IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease and risk of perineal injury in primiparous vaginal births: a retrospective cohort study.

From GI Signals issue №5: what this paper found, what it changes, and where it sits against the current standard of care, reviewed by Simon Mathews, MD.

IBD retrospective · n=45,250 · Aug 1, 2026 · Inflamm Bowel Dis · IF 4.5

Inflammatory bowel disease and risk of perineal injury in primiparous vaginal births: a retrospective cohort study.

New evidenceperianal diseaseepidemiology
Clinical takeawayCounsel women with IBD without active perianal disease that vaginal delivery is appropriate and does not increase perineal injury risk compared to women without IBD.
What it foundIBD without active perianal disease did not increase perineal injury risk in primiparous vaginal births (84.0% vs. 85.4%, P=0.553; OASI 0.4% vs. 0.9%, P=0.728; aOR 0.82, 95% CI 0.56-1.19, P=0.288).
ContextConfirms prior evidence that IBD without active perianal disease does not increase perineal injury risk, supporting standard vaginal-delivery counseling in this population.
Reinforcessuggested applicable standard· ACG Clinical Guideline Update: Ulcerative Colitis in Adults, Am J Gastroenterol 2025;120(6):1187-1224; AGA Living Guideline on Pharmacological Management of Moderate-to-Severe UC, Gastroenterology 2024 (panel review March 2026, no changes)

Decision at stakewhether IBD without active perianal disease increases the risk of perineal injury during vaginal birth

No single passage of this standard matched the paper closely enough to quote, so none is shown. The standard is cited above.

Our full summary of this standard

Confirm ulcerative colitis with endoscopy showing continuous colonic inflammation from the rectum plus histology, after excluding infection with two-step CDI testing. Treat mild-moderate disease with 5-ASA by route and extent (suppository for proctitis, enema for left-sided, oral plus rectal for extensive); if 5-ASA fails, treat as moderate-to-severe rather than stepping up gradually. Position advanced therapy by EFFICACY TIER, not by an anti-TNF-first rule. Advanced-therapy-naive, higher efficacy: infliximab, vedolizumab, ozanimod, etrasimod, upadacitinib, risankizumab, guselkumab; intermediate: golimumab, ustekinumab, tofacitinib, filgotinib, mirikizumab; lower: adalimumab. PREVIOUSLY TNF-EXPOSED, higher efficacy: tofacitinib, upadacitinib, ustekinumab; lower: adalimumab, vedolizumab, ozanimod, etrasimod - S1P modulators are weakest in exactly this group. Do not cycle within the anti-TNF class after primary non-response; switch mechanism. Apply treat-to-target (STRIDE-II) to endoscopic improvement (MES 0-1). Screen for acute severe UC by Truelove-Witts and admit for IV steroids. Begin CRC surveillance 8-10 years after DIAGNOSIS for extensive or left-sided disease; isolated proctitis follows average-risk screening.

ACG Clinical Guideline Update: Ulcerative Colitis in Adults, Am J Gastroenterol 2025;120(6):1187-1224; AGA Living Guideline on Pharmacological Management of Moderate-to-Severe UC, Gastroenterology 2024 (panel review March 2026, no changes) ↗
Gilboa I … Baruch Y · Inflammatory Bowel Diseases · IF 4.5 · PubMed ↗Permalink
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