Web Site Tracks the Effect of Drugs on Pregnancy

Women are generally discouraged from taking prescription drugs while pregnant, but some must do so to protect their health. Now they can take comfort in knowing they may be able to help others coming after them.

The FDA’s Office of Women’s Health earlier this month launched a Web site to help women locate studies, called pregnancy registries, designed to determine the risks posed by various medications to their unborn babies’ health and development.

Pregnant women selected as study participants periodically provide researchers with details about their health. After delivery, they also provide information about the health of their children. The more women these studies can recruit and monitor, the more they’ll be able to help women weigh the potential risk of medications on the fetus. Although most women try to minimize the number of medications they take during pregnancy, the reality is that stopping certain medicines could jeopardize their own health and possibly the health of the fetus.

Surveillance studies are underway for pregnant women taking medications for asthma, epilepsy and seizures, herpes, chickenpox, HIV, genital warts, migraines, pain, depression and arthritis.

Each of the pregnancy registries operates differently: Some require enrollment through a health care provider; others enroll women directly. Participation typically requires confidential interviews during the pregnancy and after delivery.

To contact the various pregnancy registries or to learn more about taking medicines while pregnant, go to: www.fda.gov/womens/registries/default.htm.