CDC: Clomid (clomiphene citrate) linked to serious birth defects
Recently, a fertility drug marketed under the brand name Clomid (clomiphene citrate) manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis, has been associated with a dramatically increased risk for a range of serious birth defects. The main empirical support for this claim comes from a 2010 study curated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but other papers demonstrating the link between fetal harm and Clomid continue to be published.
That landmark CDC study was published in November 2010 in the medical journal Human Reproduction, and is readily available online. Titled “Use of clomiphene citrate and birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997–2005,” this study compared the birth outcomes of 94 children whose mothers used Clomid (clomiphene citrate) during pregnancy with over 5,000 children whose mothers had not used the drug during pregnancy, and found a clear, strong, statistically significant link between in utero exposure to clomiphene citrate and congenital malformations.
Here is a list of the congenital malformations found to be associated with in utero Clomid exposure:
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Anencephaly (2.3-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
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Dandy–Walker malformation (4.4-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
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Septal heart defects (1.6-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
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Muscular ventricular septal defect (4.9-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
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Coarctation of aorta (1.8-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
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Esophageal atresia (2.3-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
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Cloacal exstrophy (5.4-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
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Craniosynostosis (1.9-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
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Omphalocele (2.2-fold increased risk with Clomid exposure)
Though the total number of children born to mothers who used Clomid was only 94, a relatively small sample set, the methodology and statistics used by the researchers are solid and the sample size is large enough to show that Clomid is truly associated with birth defects, the results of this study are not an anomaly.
Thankfully, Clomid has been given the rating Pregnancy Category X: “Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.”
Clomid Lawsuits
Due to the fact that a number of women used Clomid during pregnancy but were not made aware of the risks for birth defects associated with Clomid, a number of Clomid lawsuits are currently being filed. If you or a loved one used Clomid during pregnancy and your child was born with a congenital malformation, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. For more information or a free, no-obligation case consultation, do not hesitate to contact our team of Clomid lawyers at your earliest convenience. We have the experience, resources, and skills required to win the justice you deserve.
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