Pharmaceutical Agents and Pregnancy in Urology Practice

Many pregnant women require drug therapy because of pregnancy-induced conditions. As a general rule, because fetal safety is a major concern, effective drugs that have been in use for long periods are preferable to new, less studied alternatives. To minimize fetal risk, drug doses at the lower end of the therapeutic range should be prescribed first during pregnancy, and doses should be increased only when clinically needed. Over-the-counter drugs should not be taken without counseling, because many factors, including the stage of pregnancy, can influence the risk to the fetus. In addition to the risk associated with fetal exposure to teratogenic drugs, there is a risk associated with misinformation regarding the teratogenicity of drugs, which can lead to unnecessary abortions or the avoidance of needed therapy. Health care providers should make a concerted effort to protect women and their unborn babies from both risks.