CLOMID DANGERS

According to a study published in the online journal Human Reproduction there is significant relation between Clomid, a fertility drug, and nine types of birth defects. The study was conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and involved women who reported Clomid use in the period of two months before conception and the first month of pregnancy. The birth defects associated with Clomid are serious, and some are life threatening. The terrible irony is that the very drug supposed to help women have babies can lead to crippling birth defects.

CLOMID INJURIES

Serious birth defects seen in the CDC study include

  • Anencephaly (open cranium with the absence of a brain)
  • Esophageal atresia (closed esophagus)
  • Omphalocele (protrusion of part of the intestine through the abdominal wall)
  • Craniosynostosis (premature fusion of the skull bones)
  • Three different types of heart defects
  • Dandy Walker malformation (defect of the brain)
  • Cloacal extrophy (involves multiple abnormalities of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts)

A 2003 study (Reefhuis, et al) also linked Clomid to birth defects and found that mothers who took Clomid had ten times the risk of giving birth to an infant with spina bifida.

In 2010, the Harvard School of Public Health reported that the use of ovulatory stimulants like Clomid almost doubled the risk of autism spectrum disorder in children. A 2006 study (Wu, et al) indicated an astonishing 508% increased risk of penoscrotal hypospadias (irregularly placed or missing urethra) for sons of women who took Clomid before or during pregnancy.

Another study conducted on 2,339 Clomid-assisted pregnancies found about 2.4% of cases experienced Clomid birth defects and reproductive complications including spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. While the percentage seems low, the severity of the defects, including life-long disability and fatality, makes this a very serious issue. Additional defects that were found by this study to correlate with Clomid usage:

  • Down’s Syndrome
  • Club foot
  • Cleft lip and/or cleft palate
  • Undescended testes in males
  • Blindness
  • Hernia
  • Malformations

These statistics are particularly devastating to the women and their families who had struggled to become pregnant, and have finally given birth only to find that the fertility drug they were given caused their baby to suffer from a severe or deadly birth defect.

HISTORY OF CLOMID

Clomid was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1967 to help women who were suffering from infertility to conceive. Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is the most commonly prescribed fertility drug. It works by inducing ovulation (the production of an egg) in women who do not produce eggs. This class of drugs is called ovulatory stimulants.

Clomiphene is assigned to Pregnancy Category X, which is the highest level of pregnancy risk that can be assigned to a drug. This indicates clomiphene should not be used during pregnancy. Animal testing has shown evidence of fetotoxicity, (injury to the fetus). Post marketing surveillance has supported these results in human data. The FDA recommends women who are or could be pregnant should not take this drug.

Have you or a loved one suffered Clomid side effects?

At The Oshman Firm, our experienced Clomid attorneys will provide you with aggressive representation in the handling of your case. If your infant suffered birth defects that may have been caused by Clomid, call or contact us to represent your interests in a Clomid lawsuit. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation with a Clomid lawyer so you can learn more about your legal rights and options.

Free Case Evaluation

Complete this form to learn about your legal rights. All information is held in the strictest of confidence.