Monkeypox in pregnancy: clinical recommendation by the World Association of Perinatal Medicine-WAPM and the Perinatal Medicine Foundation-PMF

Abstract

The World Health Organization in May 2022 declared the monkeypox virus (MPXV) a health emergency. Since then, over 45,355 cases have been reported, mostly from countries where the disease is not endemic. At the moment, most confirmed cases with travel history are reported to countries in Europe and North America, rather than West or Central Africa where the monkeypox virus is endemic. Its transmission depends on large respiratory droplets and skin-to-skin or skin-to-lesion close physical contact, including oral, anal, and vaginal intercourse therefore, women are also at risk of acquiring it. Given few data available, women’s and clinicians’ concerns about the uncertainty of the clinical course and management are more than understandable, especially so after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Lessons must be learnt from our prior mistakes and pregnant individuals should be included in international registries as well as any studies evaluating new treatments or vaccines. The following recommendation aims to provide the latest evidence about the effect of MPXV in pregnancy as well as recommendations for clinical management.