

Three out of four studies have shown no link between taking metronidazole during pregnancy and reduced birth weight in the baby. Can taking metronidazole in pregnancy cause my baby to be small at birth (low birth weight)? No increased chance of having a premature baby (born before 37 weeks) in mothers who had taken metronidazole during pregnancy was found in all of the three studies that have looked at this. Can taking metronidazole in pregnancy cause preterm birth? Because limited numbers of women taking metronidazole have been studied, more information is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. It is unclear whether this might have been due to the infections that the women were taking metronidazole to treat rather than to a specific effect of the medicine. While no increased chance of miscarriage in pregnant women who had taken metronidazole was identified in one study, one further study did identify a possible link between miscarriage and use of metronidazole in early pregnancy. Can taking metronidazole in pregnancy cause miscarriage? However, to confirm this, more studies of this type ideally need to be carried out. Taken together, the information from three studies that investigate the chance of specific birth defects following exposure in the womb to metronidazole does not provide convincing evidence of any links. No increased chance of birth defects overall was shown in seven of eight large studies of children exposed to metronidazole in the womb. It is mainly during this time that some medicines are known to cause birth defects.

Can taking metronidazole in pregnancy cause my baby to be born with birth defects?Ī baby’s body and most internal organs are formed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. If you have taken any medicines it is always a good idea to let your doctor know that you are pregnant so that you can decide together whether you still need the medicines that you are on and to make sure that you are taking the lowest dose that works. What if I have already taken metronidazole during pregnancy? Your doctor is the best person to help you decide what is right for you and your baby. When deciding whether or not to take metronidazole during pregnancy it is important to weigh up how necessary this is to your health against the possible risks to you or your baby, some of which will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are. Additionally, some untreated vaginal infections during pregnancy may increase a woman’s chance of going into premature labour. The timely and correct treatment of potentially severe bacterial infections during pregnancy may be crucial to the health of both mother and baby. Is it safe to use metronidazole in pregnancy?
#Trigan medicine skin#
Metronidazole (Flagyl®) is an antimicrobial medicine commonly prescribed to treat vaginal infections, skin and dental infections, and Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium that is linked to stomach ulcers. UKTIS has been providing scientific information to health care providers since 1983 on the effects that medicines, recreational drugs and chemicals may have on the developing baby during pregnancy. UKTIS is a not-for-profit organisation funded by Public Health England on behalf of UK Health Departments. This factsheet has been written for members of the public by the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS).
