WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for February, 1999: Re: Questions about taking Danazol during pregnancy

Re: Questions about taking Danazol during pregnancy

From: Kelly Shanahan, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 28 Feb 1999 19:46:29 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: Maria: "Questions about taking Danazol during pregnancy"

At Sat, 27 Feb 1999, Maria wrote: >
>Hello,
>
>My daughter had an abortion several years ago during her first pregnancy
>because of the medical condition during
>the pregnancy. She became infertility for several years. Recently her
>doctor diagnosed her with endometriosis.
>
>She recently took Danazol from 4 days prior to ovulation until 30 days
>after ovulation...., then found
>herself pregnant. Her doctor believed that Danazol might have side
>effects to the fetus (producing female pseudohermaphroditism in the
>female fetus). However, in the city where we live (a small city in
>China) doctors have difficulties find new information on drugs so the
>doctor said he was not sure.

Isn't it nice you can come here to get such information?

However he suggested an abortion. >
>My daughter desperately wants to have a healthy baby. Here are our
>questions:
>
>(1) Does Danazol have side effects to the fetus during such an early
>stage of pregnancy? What will happen if the fetus is male?

According to the PDR and Briggs' classic book, Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation, Danazol is a Category X drug, meaning it absolutely should not be taken during pregnancy. It has been associated with female pseudohermaphroditism (a female baby having ambigous or frankly male appearing genitalia); no adverse effects have been noted in male fetuses. No cases of female pseudohermaphroditism have been observed if Danazol was only taken very early in pregnancy (before 8 weeks). No other major birth defects have been noted.

If your daughter only took the Danazol for 30 days postovulation (approximately 45 days from her last period), then there should be no adverse effects on hte baby, female or male.

>
>(2) If she perform an abortion again, will she suffer endometriosis
>again or even infertility?

The course of her endometriosis will not be changed by an abortion. Infertility rates do not increase unless here are multiple (usually more than 4) abortions or there are complications such as infection. >
>Thank you very much for your input.
>
>---- A worried mother.

-- M. Kelly Shanahan, MD, FACOG S. Lake Tahoe, CA

Replies are for educational purposes only and do not construe any doctor-patient relationship; they do not take the place of a face-to-face consultation with your own doctor. Sorry, but personal e-mails will not be answered, due to time constraits and the desire to spend as much free time as possible with my husband and baby daughter

Next message: Kelly Shanahan, MD: "Re: trying to concieve"
Previous message: Judy: "Removal of Norplant implant"
In reply to: Maria: "Questions about taking Danazol during pregnancy"

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