In principle, women with tuberculosis should refrain from marriage until the disease is fully cured, as tuberculosis is highly contagious. If a patient is already married and has active tuberculosis or contracts it after marriage, effective contraception should be used until the disease is completely cured and the condition is stable before attempting pregnancy.
If a woman with tuberculosis becomes pregnant before recovery, or develops tuberculosis shortly after conception, termination of pregnancy should be performed. This is because pregnancy in tuberculosis patients can impair recovery due to nutritional deficiencies caused by pregnancy-related reactions, while inadequate nutrition also hinders fetal growth and development.
Furthermore, tuberculosis patients require 1–1.5 years of treatment with isoniazid or streptomycin injections. Long-term use of these drugs can cause fetal malformations or stillbirths. For instance, streptomycin may result in congenital deafness in the fetus. Additionally, regular X-ray examinations or radiographs are necessary to monitor the progression of tuberculosis, and X-rays may cause fetal deformities.
Considering these factors, women with active tuberculosis should avoid pregnancy to safeguard maternal and fetal health. Pregnancy may be considered only after tuberculosis has been treated, absorbed, and stabilized—reaching a point where anti-tuberculosis drugs are no longer required. During pregnancy, attention to nutrition and early prenatal checkups are essential to ensure a safe gestation under medical supervision, protecting both mother and baby.