How do painkillers affect pregnancy

Danish research suggests the drugs raise the risk of undescended testicles in male babies, a condition linked to infertility and cancer in later life. Doctors already advise pregnant women to avoid taking painkillers if possible to protect their unborn child. Experts said the Human Reproduction journal findings warranted further research "as a matter of priority".

But they reassured women that taking the occasional painkiller for a headache should not cause any harm. Current advice from the NHS is that women should avoid taking medicines while pregnant but that paracetamol is considered safe if used in small doses for short-term pain relief.

Yet more than half of pregnant women in Europe and the US report taking mild painkillers. In this latest investigation , researchers from Denmark, Finland and France studied more than 2, pregnant women and their babies. However, a recent study shows that the use of ibuprofen in the first trimester of pregnancy interferes with the development of the ovaries in female foetuses. So, the safest thing for men and women who plan pregnancy is to stay away from painkillers that contain ibuprofen.

Kristensen, D. Healthy Lifestyle Pregnancy week by week. Products and services. Free E-newsletter Subscribe to Housecall Our general interest e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now. Opioid use during pregnancy Understand the risks posed by opioid use during pregnancy and alternative therapies to help you manage your pain. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Committee Opinion No. Analgesics during pregnancy. Rochester, Minn. Chang G. Substance misuse in pregnant women. Accessed Oct. Opioid overdose. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If your health care provider suggests that you take opioids during pregnancy, you should first discuss the risks and benefits. Then if you both decide that you need to take the opioids, you should work together to try to minimize the risks. Some of the ways to do this include.

If you have been taking opioids and you become pregnant, contact your health care provider. You should not stop taking the opioids on your own. If you suddenly stop taking opioids, it could cause severe health problems for you or your baby. In some cases, stopping suddenly during pregnancy may be more harmful than taking the medicines. Many women who regularly take opioid medicines can breastfeed.

It depends on which medicine you are taking. Check with your health care provider before breastfeeding. There are some women who should not breastfeed, such as those who have HIV or take illegal drugs. If you are pregnant and have an opioid use disorder, do not stop taking opioids suddenly. Instead, see your health care provider so you can get help. The treatment for opioid use disorder is medication-assisted therapy MAT.