Project paper on risk of Congenital Limb Reduction Defects Associated with in Utero Exposure to Oral Contraceptives
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2014-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Oral contraceptives are widely used and are generally safe and effective for many women. Oral
contraceptives are known also as the Pill, POP, COCPs, OCs, BCs, BC tablets, or birth control
pills. This medicine usually contains two types of hormones, estrogens and progestins and,
when taken properly, prevents pregnancy.
The aim of this project is to review and present the teratogenic effects of Oral contraceptives
on the limb development.
Allegations that inadvertent pregnancies occurring in users of contraception are associated with
congenital anomalies are common. Fortunately, there is little to no scientific basis for such
claims. Evaluating these claims requires consideration of the two general mechanisms
responsible for human malformation: teratogenesis and mutagenesis.
Some study indicate that there is a possibility of a sevenfold (7X) increase in risk of limb
reduction defects, Other authors concluded that, exposure to sex hormones during pregnancy
doubled the risk for some specific diagnoses, including certain limb defects, but these increases
were not statistically significant.
Inbred normal adult SWR mice were used to investigate the possible teratogenic effect of
Microginon 30 (0.15mg leronogestrel (L) + 0.03mg EE), as an oral contraceptive on fetuses of
females receiving doses from day 7 to day 12 of pregnancy. External malformations including
abnormal hind limb, abnormal tail and exencephaly have been induced in low frequencies by
the doses 0.48L + 0.96E and 1.20L +0.24E mg/kg.
An analysis of available epidemiologic data leads the present reviewer to conclude that the use
of exogenous hormones during human pregnancy has not been proved to cause developmental
abnormality in non-genital organs and tissues. If there are increased risks of non-genital
malformations associated with the administration of certain sex steroids, the risks are very
small, may not be causal, and are substantially below the spontaneous risk of malformations.
Key words: Oral contraceptive, congenital limb reduction defects, pregnancy
Description
Keywords
Oral contraceptive; Congenital limb reduction defects; pregnancy