MAINTENANCE. Taking ibuprofen during pregnancy poses a risk to the child’s future genital and reproductive system. Better not to take it.
Ibuprofen is believed to have an impact on the development of the fetus during pregnancy. An Inserm study published in Scientific reports shows that this anti-inflammatory can disrupt the hormonal system in the fetal testis, which can cause abnormalities in the male urogenital tract.
These serious side effects would be reported from the first weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, researchers recommend using this drug with the utmost caution. Accessible without a prescription, ibuprofen is believed to be consumed by at least a third of pregnant women.
For Professor Bernard Hédon, gynecologist-obstetrician at the Montpellier University Hospital (Hérault) and former president of the National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians (CNGOF), this work confirms the effects of these molecules during pregnancy. He reminds that this medication should be avoided during these 9 months and that the best alternative is the absence of medication.
Why should i avoid ibuprofen during pregnancy?
Prof. Bernard Hédon: All nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but especially ibuprofen, have side effects during pregnancy. This has been known for a long time. It is first of all a hindrance to fetal development. We are not talking about malformations although there are strong suspicions for some of them such as the non-closure of the cleft palate and at the end of pregnancy, at 3th trimester, the non-closure of the ductus arteriosus, which makes it difficult for the baby to adapt to air life.
There are therefore strong recommendations to absolutely avoid ibuprofen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at 3th trimester of pregnancy. For the 1er and 2eme quarter, there was a recommendation to avoid it to the extent, in particular in the event that there was no pathology that would justify their prescription. Moreover, this is a general rule: when a drug is not useful to treat a disease, it should not be taken, and this is particularly true for anti-inflammatory drugs.
The Inserm study is therefore a useful study because it reminds us of what we knew, but perhaps not in such a strong and characterized way as what the study highlights.
What are the alternatives to ibuprofen during pregnancy?
Prof. Bernard Hédon : First, the alternative is not to take unnecessary medication. Let us take a very classic example during pregnancy: sciatica or low back pain linked to the spontaneous position taken by the pregnant woman due to her displacement of the center of gravity forwards. It tends to worsen lumbar lordosis, which can lead to low back pain and even sciatica. The recommendation is to try to treat with postures, gentle physiotherapy rather than using anti-inflammatory drugs which are the treatment usually recommended in non-pregnant patients.
From a medicinal point of view, if anti-inflammatory drugs are to be used, there are two possibilities. Simply aspirin, although in anti-inflammatory doses, a contraindication appears there too. Or the corticosteroids. These steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are highly effective and do not have the dangerousness of non-steroidal drugs during pregnancy.
Can we use paracetamol?
Prof. Bernard Hédon : Paracetamol is an analgesic. It is therefore different from an anti-inflammatory and it does not have the same contraindications at all. The fears that one can have with paracetamol have nothing to do with the proven and proven fears of anti-inflammatory drugs.
But again, you have to be reasonable and avoid any medication that might be unnecessary and that you might do without during pregnancy. Green light to take paracetamol but not in massive doses and in a prolonged manner.
However, I do not want to arouse fear in patients excessively because when you have a headache, for example, taking paracetamol relieves and you should not deprive yourself of it. But it should not be taken in high doses or for a long time.
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