PCOS Messages for March, 2001: Re: aldactone and birth defects

Re: aldactone and birth defects

From: Celeste (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 5 Mar 2001 14:07:26 -0600 (CST)

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At Sat, 3 Mar 2001, Sonnet wrote: >

Hmm, my reply didn't come through so I'll try again... I'm on Spiro and the fact sheet said that because it is an androgen blocker (ie keeps testosterone from acting on your female tissues to produce masculine results), you should not get pregnant on it because it can block the testosterone in a baby boy's tissue and cause their gonads not to develop correctly. I'm guessing they would be too small, or missing parts entirely. I figure that if I can't ovulate on fertility drugs, then taking bcps with my Spiro has me covered against this possibility. Also being on bcp gives me a period, which I wouldn't have otherwise, and if it didn't come I could get a home pregnancy test and find out for sure to quit taking it long before the drug had time to do any damage. I see the danger in taking Spiro but no bcps, because then I could go a long time with no period, write it off to my PCOS, and actually be pregnant and still on Spiro. I hope this makes sense! I have no link to actual data, but the sheet said not to use it if you are ttc, so I don't worry beyond that.

Spiro would be a very mild choice for someone with high blood pressure who wants to control it. It is a mild diuretic, and sometimes just having a smaller blood volume from fluid loss is enough to lower bp in some people.

Hope this helps!!!!

>I just posted a note on this not too long ago... I asked my father
>about it, who has been a pharmacist for over 20 years and a pharmacy
>manager for quite some time as well. According to him, yes there is a
>risk of birth defects, but from all he knows the risk is actually
>relatively small. Aldactone (Spiro) is actually a diuretic, and is
>prescribed for some people with (let me try to remember now) heart
>problems??? if they can't take potassium. BUT it also has some
>anti-androgen effects, meaning it can be good for controlling facial
>hair and acne in women. The risk is there but if you are aware of it
>and take care to not become pregnant while on it, it's cool. I am sorry
>I don't have any statistics on what happens if you DO get pregnant while
>on it - if I can find any out, I will post them here.
>
>At Fri, 2 Mar 2001, k wrote:
>>
>>Hi there -
>>
>>I'm just curious. I'm currently on Aldactone and Mircette.
>>
>>I'm curious to know if there have ever been any actual reports of Birth
>>Defects from Aldactone?
>>
>>Of course we're all very careful, but things can happen and I want to
>>know what the actual risk is.
>>
>>I've heard that the risk is large and the effects tragic, and I've heard
>>that the risk is minimal if you stop it right away at least. But I've
>>never seen any actual data.
>>
>>I guess it's good if there is none and it wouldn't mean there's still no
>>risk. I wouldn't want to be the first stat.
>>
>>I'm just really curious.
>>
>>I read a post from a woman on a different board a while back and she
>>accidently got pregnant while on Aldactone. I've always wondered if
>>things went well for her or not.
>>
>>I hope this came across okay. I don't want to sound like I don't take
>>the risk seriously or anything.
>>
>>Thanks ~k
>
>--
>Email always welcome to: sonnet_fitz@hotmail.com
>

--
Celeste

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