Adverse Effects of Oral Contraceptives on a Fetus
- A female born to a woman taking oral contraceptives while pregnant may be born a hermaphrodite, with both male and female reproductive organs, although the female organs are predominant. This is because the fetus is exposed to high levels of synthetic progestogens such as norethidrone and hydroxyprogesterone. Boys are not usually born with pseudohermaphrodotism because the levels of estrogen used in oral contraceptives are much lower than the levels of progestogen. The odds of a female child being born a hermaphrodite are .03%.
- Oral contraceptives may cause liver damage to fetuses exposed to them during development. Tests have shown that some babies have increased levels of the bilirubin in their blood. Bilirubin is a waste product created by red blood cells. After it is excreted from the cells, it travels to the liver where it is added to the bile, made water soluble and is excreted. High levels of bilirubin may indicate that the liver is not correctly absorbing this byproduct. The baby also may be jaundiced at birth.
- Some doctors believe that continued use of oral contraceptives throughout pregnancy may lead to a condition known as preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a condition in which the blood pressure rises and can, in turn, affect the health of both the mother and the fetus. While preeclampsia is not uncommon, oral contraceptives have been linked to an increase in blood pressure in nonpregnant women as well. Some doctors believe that oral contraceptives taken during pregnancy can trigger or increase the possibility of preeclampsia, although no long-term formal studies have been conducted to prove or reject this theory.
- In rare cases, prolonged use of oral contraceptives may cause the fetus to develop abnormally, causing problems with the heart, esophagus, kidney, anus and limbs. Doctors are unsure why the hormones in oral contraceptives cause these development issues.
- If you find out you are pregnant you should stop taking oral contraceptives immediately. If you did not know you were pregnant and continued to take your pills, seek the advice of your physician or obstetrician immediately. She will be able to help you determine what, if any, effects the pills had on your fetus, and will be able to monitor your baby's development closely throughout pregnancy.
