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Can Exposure To Ecstasy Pills Before Conception Harmful To The Baby?
Question: Hi, I am an 34 year old man. We have just learned that my wife is pregnant (now 8 weeks). When we look at our calendar we see that the sexual relationship is at 8th XXXXXXX night which most possibly caused the pregnancy. Before she got pregnant I used ecstasy pills twice. One is 4 days ago and the other is 80 days ago (before the sexual relationship). To be specific these exposures are : 1) 19th march (2 ecstacy pills) (80 days to sexual relationship) 2) 4th XXXXXXX (2 ecstasy pills) (4 days to sexual relationship) My question is: Did the pills made any harm to my sperms and effect the babies health ? Can this situation give any harm to our baby ? Can there be any problem ? Can this cause any birth defect or any negative condition ? Thanks in advance.
When I made some search through internet, I found some articles saying that ecstasy (mdma) may cause some DNA defects on the sperm. Is that for only chronic use of that drug ? As I have mentioned I had two exposures (80 days and 4 days before sexual relationship)
Also do you have any suggestions for the pregnancy period about this issue ? (For example to get tests that may indicate some defects to our baby ?)
When I made some search through internet, I found some articles saying that ecstasy (mdma) may cause some DNA defects on the sperm. Is that for only chronic use of that drug ? As I have mentioned I had two exposures (80 days and 4 days before sexual relationship)
Also do you have any suggestions for the pregnancy period about this issue ? (For example to get tests that may indicate some defects to our baby ?)
Brief Answer:
If the exposure was before conception, there is no risk to the fetus
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I hope I can help you today.
MDMA has been studied for effects to a developing fetus during pregnancy, which can cause developmental delays and other problems, but any damage to your sperm from using the drug (which is unlikely in the first place given that you only used it twice in recent months) would affect the health of your sperm, but that would affect your sperm's ability to swim and fertilize an egg properly.
So any damage to your sperm from the drug would not put the baby at risk for any birth defects, it could just have reduced your number of healthy sperm, affecting your fertility. But if you and your wife were able to get pregnant in the first place, that shows that your sperm were healthy and that there is no residual effect from the MDMA. As long as she did not use MDMA herself while pregnant, there is no additional risk to the baby.
Your wife should have the regular screening ultrasound examinations and bloodwork used to test all women for birth defects, which is normally performed at around 10-13 weeks gestation and then again after 16 weeks. Your obstetrician will go over with you and your wife what is involved when she gets prenatal care, however, again, there is no additional risk to the fetus from your use of MDMA prior to conception.
I hope I was able to adequately answer your question today and that this information was reassuring. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes,
Dr. Brown
If the exposure was before conception, there is no risk to the fetus
Detailed Answer:
Hello, and I hope I can help you today.
MDMA has been studied for effects to a developing fetus during pregnancy, which can cause developmental delays and other problems, but any damage to your sperm from using the drug (which is unlikely in the first place given that you only used it twice in recent months) would affect the health of your sperm, but that would affect your sperm's ability to swim and fertilize an egg properly.
So any damage to your sperm from the drug would not put the baby at risk for any birth defects, it could just have reduced your number of healthy sperm, affecting your fertility. But if you and your wife were able to get pregnant in the first place, that shows that your sperm were healthy and that there is no residual effect from the MDMA. As long as she did not use MDMA herself while pregnant, there is no additional risk to the baby.
Your wife should have the regular screening ultrasound examinations and bloodwork used to test all women for birth defects, which is normally performed at around 10-13 weeks gestation and then again after 16 weeks. Your obstetrician will go over with you and your wife what is involved when she gets prenatal care, however, again, there is no additional risk to the fetus from your use of MDMA prior to conception.
I hope I was able to adequately answer your question today and that this information was reassuring. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best wishes,
Dr. Brown
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Hi Doctor Brown,
First of all thank you for your answer. I want to clearly state that my wife did NOT use any cigarettes, alcohol or drugs for her lifetime. Actually she hates them.
If you answer the folowing questions I will be so happy :
1) In your answer you stated that "MDMA has been studied for effects to a developing fetus during pregnancy, which can cause developmental delays and other problems". This statements is for the MOTHER using MDMA right ? Can you verify that it is not about the father ?
2) Some articles saying that ecstasy (mdma) may cause some DNA defects on the sperm. Is this for chronic long time usage? Or is this information not right may be not proven?
3) As a result if we sum up, occasional (in my case twice - 80 and 4 days before pregnancy) MDMA usage by father does NOT cause any harm or birth defect to baby. Am I right ?
Thanks in advance,
Best regards...
First of all thank you for your answer. I want to clearly state that my wife did NOT use any cigarettes, alcohol or drugs for her lifetime. Actually she hates them.
If you answer the folowing questions I will be so happy :
1) In your answer you stated that "MDMA has been studied for effects to a developing fetus during pregnancy, which can cause developmental delays and other problems". This statements is for the MOTHER using MDMA right ? Can you verify that it is not about the father ?
2) Some articles saying that ecstasy (mdma) may cause some DNA defects on the sperm. Is this for chronic long time usage? Or is this information not right may be not proven?
3) As a result if we sum up, occasional (in my case twice - 80 and 4 days before pregnancy) MDMA usage by father does NOT cause any harm or birth defect to baby. Am I right ?
Thanks in advance,
Best regards...
Brief Answer:
Yes sir your understanding of my answer is correct.
Detailed Answer:
All the potential problems that can exist for a fetus due to MDMA are only present if the MOTHER uses MDMA WHILE PREGNANT.
Regarding the effects of MDMA on sperm quality, the studies are all done by questionnaire so the amount of MDMA used by each patient was not recorded. However, the effects of MDMA on sperm affects the total motile sperm count... which can affect male fertility. Genetically abnormal sperm cannot swim well and frequently have more than one head and die. So MDMA use in men affects their overall healthy sperm QUANTITY, and there is NO evidence that any toxic substance can affect the genetics of a fetus that is successfully conceived.
So in summary, there is no evidence that MDMA (or any street drug for that matter) causes any harm or risks of birth defects through the sperm of the father. Only use by the mother during pregnancy can cause any harm to a developing fetus.
I hope this clarifies my answer and eases your concern.
Best of luck for you and your wife for the rest of the pregnancy,
Dr. Brown
Yes sir your understanding of my answer is correct.
Detailed Answer:
All the potential problems that can exist for a fetus due to MDMA are only present if the MOTHER uses MDMA WHILE PREGNANT.
Regarding the effects of MDMA on sperm quality, the studies are all done by questionnaire so the amount of MDMA used by each patient was not recorded. However, the effects of MDMA on sperm affects the total motile sperm count... which can affect male fertility. Genetically abnormal sperm cannot swim well and frequently have more than one head and die. So MDMA use in men affects their overall healthy sperm QUANTITY, and there is NO evidence that any toxic substance can affect the genetics of a fetus that is successfully conceived.
So in summary, there is no evidence that MDMA (or any street drug for that matter) causes any harm or risks of birth defects through the sperm of the father. Only use by the mother during pregnancy can cause any harm to a developing fetus.
I hope this clarifies my answer and eases your concern.
Best of luck for you and your wife for the rest of the pregnancy,
Dr. Brown
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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