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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Taking Misoprostol During Pregnancy Cause Deformities In The Fetus?

Hi, I was told I had a missed miscarriage, and was given misoprostol. I only took 4 tablets but had a lot of cramping and passed a lot of blood. I had a follow up ultrasound to see if it had gone, but it then showed my baby had grown to 6 weeks and had a heart beat. My question is, is my baby at risk of deformities for taking those 4 pills ?
Fri, 21 Oct 2016
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Anesthesiologist,  's  Response
Hello,

I understand your concern. Being told that you have miscarried and prescribed misoprostol, only to be told afterwards that the baby is alive is heartbreaking.
However, Misoprostol is a drug that is never used alone for this purpose, but always in combination with Mifepristone. The latter helps the uterus dispose of the remains of the pregnancy.
Misoprostol can cause malformations in the fetus skull and limbs. However, this risk is small. A pregnant woman who has been exposed to Misoprostol is always given the option of abortion, even though, as I mentioned before, the risk of having a malformed baby is statistically small. So, it is up to you to decide whether you want to go ahead with the pregnancy with the awareness of the possibility of having a malformed baby, or you want to opt for abortion. The decision is yours. However, before making any decision, I would advise to talk to your doctor first and have a thorough check up in order to make an informed and right decision.

Wishing you all the best.
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Does Taking Misoprostol During Pregnancy Cause Deformities In The Fetus?

Hello, I understand your concern. Being told that you have miscarried and prescribed misoprostol, only to be told afterwards that the baby is alive is heartbreaking. However, Misoprostol is a drug that is never used alone for this purpose, but always in combination with Mifepristone. The latter helps the uterus dispose of the remains of the pregnancy. Misoprostol can cause malformations in the fetus skull and limbs. However, this risk is small. A pregnant woman who has been exposed to Misoprostol is always given the option of abortion, even though, as I mentioned before, the risk of having a malformed baby is statistically small. So, it is up to you to decide whether you want to go ahead with the pregnancy with the awareness of the possibility of having a malformed baby, or you want to opt for abortion. The decision is yours. However, before making any decision, I would advise to talk to your doctor first and have a thorough check up in order to make an informed and right decision. Wishing you all the best.