For decades, an MS diagnosis came with outdated advice and significant uncertainty regarding starting a family. Today, the conversation has shifted from "Is it possible?" to "How do we optimize the journey?" This week, we're taking a deep dive into the essential considerations for family planning, managing MS during pregnancy, and the crucial postpartum period.

We're joined by Dr. Riley Bove, an Associate Professor of Neurology at UCSF and a leading expert in hormonal influences on MS. Dr. Bove brings her extensive research background and clinical expertise to help us understand how to navigate disease-modifying therapies while planning a family, the biological shifts that occur during pregnancy, and how to build a robust support system for the "fourth trimester."

We're also sharing study results that provide some optimistic news for people experiencing MS-related depression.

We'll tell you about a study that explains the actual changes in the immune system that occur when someone with MS exercises.

If you get your health insurance on the Affordable Care Act online marketplace, we'll explain why health economists feel certain that your premiums will be going up again next year.

And we're also sharing some sobering research that highlights systemic inequities that prevent people with MS who rely on Medicaid from accessing high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies.

We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??!

This Week: MS and family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum :22

STUDY: High-efficacy disease-modifying therapies are not available to all Medicaid recipients 1:08

Millions have failed to renew their ACA individual health insurance plans 5:05

STUDY: Cognitive-behavioral therapy improves MS-related depression 9:32

STUDY: Researchers identify the biological mechanisms that are impacted when people with MS exercise 11:29

Dr. Riley Bove discusses family planning, pregnancy, and postpartum issues that affect women with MS 14:48

Share this episode 35:31

Next week 35:50

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LINKS

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STUDY: Access to High-Efficacy Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis Under Medicaid: Variation in Coverage and Utilization Across States https://aan.com/msa/Public/Events/AbstractDetails/61520

STUDY: Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2026/04170/effectivess_of_cognitive_behavioral_therapy_for.27.aspx

STUDY: Physical Exercise Modulates T Cell Activity and Mitigates Synaptic Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis Through Vagus Nerve Engagement https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159126002710

UCSF Clinical Trials: Pregnancy Registry, Infants, Serum/Milk Analysis (PRISMA) https://clinicaltrials.ucsf.edu/trial/NCT06940323

AbleNOW https://ablenow.com

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RealTalk MS Episode 453 Guest: Dr. Riley Bove

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