Study: Use of certain antibiotics during pregnancy increases birth defect risk

November 3, 9:48 AMDenver Family Health ExaminerMeredith Jameson

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A new study has shown that the use of certain antibiotics during early pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects.

The antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat urinary tract infections and the ones linked to increased birth defect risk belong to two classes: sulfonamide and nitrofurantoins. However, the antibiotics most commonly prescribed to pregnant women, penicillins and erythromycins, are still considered safe.

The study looked at six different classes of antibiotics in more than 13,000 women whose pregnancies were affected by at least one of 30 major birth defects, and close to another 5,000 who had babies free from birth defects.

About 30 percent of the women in each group used an antibiotic at some point in her pregnancy, or during the previous three months.

Around 14 percent of the birth defect group had used an antibiotic during the first three months of pregnancy, as had 13 percent of the control group.

Sulfonamides were linked to six different birth defects, while nitrofurantoins were linked to four. Other classes of antibiotics were associated with one or two birth defects.

The experts stress that there is a 3 percent chance of birth defects in any pregnancy, regardless of medication or infection.

Pregnant women who are suffering from any kind of infection should be treated by a physician. Concerned? Speak with your doctor.