Recent studies have found higher rates of birth defects in babies who were exposed to Clomid, a fertility drug that has been on the market since 1967.
Clomid and Birth Defects
Clomid is one of the oldest and most widely-used fertility medications on the market. It works by helping the body release a hormone that stimulates ovulation (release of an egg).
Clomid helps women get pregnant, but it is extremely dangerous to a fetus after pregnancy has occurred. The FDA classifies Clomid as a “Pregnancy Category X” drug — the most serious label the FDA can use to warn about birth defects.
In May 2012, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine linked Clomid to a 3X increased risk of birth defects. In November 2010, the CDC issued a warning about more evidence linking Clomid and the following birth defects:
- Anencephaly (2.3X risk)
- Dandy-Waker malformation (4.4X risk)
- Heart defects
- Muscular ventricular septal defect (4.9X risk)
- Septal heart defects (1.6X risk)
- Coarctation of the aorta (1.8X risk)
- Cloacal exstrophy (5.4X risk)
- Craniosynostosis (1.9X risk)
Conclusions were based on an analysis of data collected from 1997-2005 in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study and published in the journal Human Reproduction.