Hormonal Pregnancy Tests and Congenital Malformation

Spermicides, hormonal contraception and congenital malformations

“…No significant increase was seen in a United Kingdom study by Laurence et al [51], whose study population was larger than that of Gal et al [50]. Other large negative case-control studies include those of Bracken et al [11] in Conneticut (Table 1) and Lammer and Cordero [43] in Georgia (Table 4).…”

“…The original claim was that of Gal et al [50], a 1967 case-control study in which 19 of 100 women delivered of infants with myelomeningocele or hydrocephalus recollected receiving hormdnes (estradiol plus ethisterone or norethisterone) for pregnancy diagnosis. Only 4 of 100 controls recalled hormone exposure (p<0.01).…”

Relationship between congenital anomalies and contraception

“…A United Kingdom study was that of Laurence et al [40], who showed no significant increase in a sample much larger than that of Gal et al [39]. Another large negative case study is that of Bracken et al [26].…”

“…Using a case control design, Gal et al [39] reported that 19 of 100 women delivered of infants with myelomenigocele or hydrocephalus received hormones (estradiol plus ethisterone or norethisterone) for pregnahcy diagnosis; only 4 of 100 controls recalled hormone exposure (p~0.01). Unfortunately ignored in this study was prior pregnancy history, especially relevant because in the United Kingdom NTD recurrence risk is 5%.…”

Techniques for assessing teratogenic effects: epidemiology.

“…Mothers are questioned about their occupation before and during pregnancy, their residence at conception, any illnesses, and any drugs taken during pregnancy. When the interviews began in 1970, Gal et al, also using a case-control study, had reported an association between the use of hormonal tests for pregnancy and the later birth of infants with defects of the central nervous system (28). As part of the Atlanta interview we included a question about the hormonal pregnancy test.…”