A survey of pregnant women using isotretinoin

✍ Scribed by Julia Robertson; Janine E. Polifka; Marina Avner; Christina Chambers; George Delevan; Gideon Koren; Sharon Voyer Lavigne; Lynn P. Martinez; Richard K. Miller; John C. Carey

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 95 KB
• Volume: 73
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1542-0752
• DOI: 10.1002/bdra.20197

✦ Synopsis

BACKGROUND:

Isotretinoin is a known human teratogen, causing birth defects and/or subnormal cognitive performance in prenatally-exposed children. METHODS: A survey was conducted among women who called teratology information services throughout North America. Using a structured questionnaire, women with an isotretinoin-exposed pregnancy were prospectively interviewed before the outcome of the pregnancy was known. RESULTS: Almost 1/4 of the women surveyed (24%; 8/34) did not recall having contraception counseling before starting their medications. Once therapy was initiated, 62% (21/34) recalled using a birth control method, but only 29% (6/21) recalled using 2 forms of birth control, as specified by the voluntary pregnancy prevention programs. Monthly pregnancy tests were not always conducted during treatment, as recalled by the surveyed women (56%; 19/34). As many as 24% (8/34) of the women surveyed recalled that they were not screened using 2 pregnancy tests before receiving a prescription, another recommendation of the programs. Only a small number of the women (30%; 6/20) in the United States recalled being enrolled in any manufacturers' voluntary pregnancy prevention survey. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that essential components of voluntary pregnancy prevention programs were not consistently followed, which resulted in fetal exposures.