Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) disproportionately affects women of childbearing age and often leads to impairments in patients’ health-related quality of life. Women with HS face unique challenges related to menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation that require additional management considerations. This chapter reviews the hormonal theory of HS pathogenesis and how hormonal changes during the female life course may influence disease progression and severity. Management of the pregnant HS patient is reviewed. Further investigation is needed to characterize the efficacy and safety of HS treatments in pregnant and lactating women.
