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Metformin and Pregnancy
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Short Description: insulin-dependent diabetes during pregnancy. Diabetes Res. Clin Pract 1:281-7. ... pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome appears ...
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Metformin and Pregnancy
This sheet talks about the risks that exposure to metformin can have during pregnancy. With each pregnancy, all women have a 3% to 5% chance of having a baby with a birth defect. This information should not take the place of medical care and advice from your health care provider.
What is metformin? Metformin is an oral medication used to lower blood sugar (glucose). It has been used for the treatment of type II diabetes (noninsulin dependent diabetes) and insulin resistance, which is common in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Other names for this medication include Glucophage®, ® ® Diformin and Glycon . Metformin can be found in combination with other medications to lower blood sugar. I use metformin for the treatment of type II diabetes. What should I do during pregnancy? Metformin has been prescribed to some women with type II diabetes for use during pregnancy. Oral drugs, however, do not control blood sugar levels well enough in some women during pregnancy. When this occurs, insulin is usually the medication of choice. Consult your physician about which medication is appropriate for you. I use metformin to treat PCOS. Should I stop taking the medication before or after I get pregnant? Recent studies suggest that women with PCOS who are treated with metformin have a higher chance of getting pregnant. Other studies have suggested that continuing metformin after becoming pregnant may decrease the chance of first-trimester
miscarriage when compared to women with PCOS who did not take metformin. Women with PCOS who are planning a pregnancy or who become pregnant should not discontinue metformin unless directed to do so by a doctor. Does metformin cause birth defects? Metformin use during pregnancy has been evaluated in a number of small studies and has not been shown to increase the risk of birth defects. While these studies are reassuring, further studies are needed to confirm that metformin does not cause a small increase in the risk for birth defects. If I use metformin throughout pregnancy will it affect the baby? One study reported that treatment of diabetic women with metformin during pregnancy was associated with an increased chance of developing serious pregnancy complications including pre-eclampsia (which includes dangerously high blood pressure) and stillbirth. More studies are needed to determine if there is a cause-and-effect relationship between metformin and these outcomes. This same study did not find an increased risk of other pregnancy complications such as pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, fetal growth retardation, early placenta detachment or C-section. Some infants have been reported to have jaundice because of exposure to
