Oral contraceptives and pregnancy

[thechad]

---

Members do not see this ad.

What would happen if a female took oral contraceptives after becoming pregnant? My book just says it's contraindicated, but doesn't offer any explanation.

 

[Law2Doc]

What would happen if a female took oral contraceptives after becoming pregnant? My book just says it's contraindicated, but doesn't offer any explanation.

Too many sex hormones can end up with a kid with ambiguous or precocious genitalia, I suspect. But SDN is not an acceptable website for getting medical advice.

 

[spicedmanna]

I don't think it's a huge concern, but if there were any, it would be the fear of birth defects and/or a predisposition for other conditions, as evidenced by similar items in the past, vis-a-vis, DES (diethylsilbestrol) (1, 2). There are a number of women who have accidentally taken their OCP's while pregnant, because they weren't aware of their pregnancy status, yet, at least according to a few source easily obtainable on a google search, for example the FAQ from the Mayo Clinic, there hasn't been compelling evidence to link it with negative outcomes (2).

The bottom-line is that it should be avoided during pregnancy. Follow proper medical advice and the indications/contraindications of the medication.

 

[VCU07]

What would happen if a female took oral contraceptives after becoming pregnant? My book just says it's contraindicated, but doesn't offer any explanation.

can
Plan B is a high dose hormone and we know what that does.

 

[Law2Doc]

...
Plan B is a high dose hormone and we know what that does.

I think it doesn't do what you are suggesting after something like a 72 hour window?

 

[spicedmanna]

I think it doesn't do what you are suggesting after something like a 72 hour window?

Right. While some suggest a window as much as 120hrs, that's what I remember, too. However, in either case, we are talking about implantation. Once the embryo has implanted, it's a no-go for the use of Plan B and the like (such as high-dose OCP's) for the indication implied.

 

[thechad]

But SDN is not an acceptable website for getting medical advice.

Not looking for medical advice, I am a male and don't use oral contraceptives. I was looking for help with a pharmacology question because my book says it's contraindicated with no explanation. I did a google search and came across that Mayo website, and they said there was no evidence of negative consequences. I was hoping someone might be able to shed a little more light on the subject for me. Thanks

 

[spicedmanna]

Not looking for medical advice, I am a male and don't use oral contraceptives. I was look for help with a pharmacology question because my book says it's contraindicated with no explanation. I did a google search and came across that Mayo website, and they said there was no evidence of negative consequences. I was hoping someone might be able to shed a little more light on the subject for me. Thanks

Well, I think you should look to DES, which is a potent estrogen analogue. It has a whole host of negative effects. While no research supports negative consequences from incidental use of OCP's during pregnancy, nobody wants to push their luck, given what was experienced w/ DES. That would be what I think, anyway.

 

[VCU07]

I think it doesn't do what you are suggesting after something like a 72 hour window?

Yeah, usu. you want to take it within the 72 hr window. For further out dosing, remember that OC can raise BP, thus preecamplsia could be an issue.

 

[spicedmanna]

Yeah, usu. you want to take it within the 72 hr window. For further out dosing, remember that OC can raise BP, thus preecamplsia could be an issue.

Yup, and there's probably also, I imagine, an increased risk for clotting as well, especially given that pregnancy is already considered a hypercoaguable state.

 

[cpants]

It's contraindicated for a couple reasons. On the most basic front, it is contraindicated just because its indication has disappeared. Preventing pregnancy and regulating menstruation is impossible if you are already pregnant. In the same way, anti-hypertensives would be contraindicated if the person has normal or low blood pressure. You don't give medication if there is no possible benefit to it.

Secondly, hormonal control is very important during gestation. It helps to control development, making stuff develop correctly and at the right time. Risk of miscarriage and defects will be greater if you interfere with the hormones.

 

[spicedmanna]

It's contraindicated for a couple reasons. On the most basic front, it is contraindicated just because its indication has disappeared.

That's definitely true. Why would someone want to take OCP's during pregnancy, unless it was accidental? There's no indication for use during pregnancy.

 

[cpants]

Exactly, if something isn't indicated, it is contraindicated.

 

[WannaBaDoc]

It's contraindicated for a couple reasons. On the most basic front, it is contraindicated just because its indication has disappeared. Preventing pregnancy and regulating menstruation is impossible if you are already pregnant. In the same way, anti-hypertensives would be contraindicated if the person has normal or low blood pressure. You don't give medication if there is no possible benefit to it.

Secondly, hormonal control is very important during gestation. It helps to control development, making stuff develop correctly and at the right time. Risk of miscarriage and defects will be greater if you interfere with the hormones.

👍
What he said.

 

[thechad]

it is contraindicated just because its indication has disappeared.

Heh, makes sense. 🙂


I guess I was just wondering if it causes spontaneous abortions or was teratogenic or something. There is a show on Discovery (I think) about women who didn't know they were pregnant, and some of them probably took contracetpives during gestation. But since estrogen and progesterone are increased during pregnancy and are also what the pill contains, I was wondering what the physiologic outcome would be from having high levels of these hormones during gestation.

 

[cpants]

Heh, makes sense. 🙂


I guess I was just wondering if it causes spontaneous abortions or was teratogenic or something. There is a show on Discovery (I think) about women who didn't know they were pregnant, and some of them probably took contracetpives during gestation. But since estrogen and progesterone are increased during pregnancy and are also what the pill contains, I was wondering what the physiologic outcome would be from having high levels of these hormones during gestation.

It will probably have less effect than you would expect, because everything is feedback controlled. If the patient's levels are already high from OCP's, the body just won't release as much. I believe the major embryologic area in which these hormones have an effect is on development of genitalia. It's been a while since embryo, so I'm not sure what exactly the risk of extra estrogen would be...most likely feminization of a male embryo. In my book, possibility of ambiguous genitalia is a great reason for contraindication.

 

[thechad]

KK thanks guys.