An estimated 6 million women in the United States suffer from infertility and seek medical help in order to become pregnant. One of the most common fertility treatments is to prescribe Clomid, an effective drug that is used to stimulate ovulation and is effective 15-20 percent of the time. However, recent studies show that the use of Clomid may result in life-threatening birth defects like heart and skull deformities due to fetal exposure of the medication.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women who took the fertility drug in order to become pregnant had a 300 percent higher risk for developing Clomid birth defects as compared to non-users. A Clomid lawsuit investigation has been launched to examine the claims of numerous women who allege the infertility drugs that helped them become pregnant placed their child at a higher risk for birth defects.

Clomid Birth Defects

The fertility drug Clomid is an ovulatory stimulant that allows egg release from an ovary, which may increase the chances of pregnancy. However, research studies have discovered that Clomid can remain in the system for several weeks which may result in inadvertent fetal exposure in the beginning weeks of pregnancy.

The FDA has labeled Clomid (clomiphene citrate) as a pregnancy category X drug because it is known to produce birth defects in both animals and humans. Studies show in addition to Clomid birth defects, the fertility drug contains a spontaneous abortion rate of up to 22 percent.

Commonly reported Clomid birth defects include:

• Down’s syndrome
• Club foot
• Cleft palate
• Congenital heart abnormalities
• Conjoined twins
• Anencephaly (absence of parts of the brain or skull)
• Septal heart defects (hole in the heart)
• Omphalocele (organs outside of the body)
• Esophageal atresia (closed esophagus)
• Craniosyntosis (the premature fusion of an infant’s skull sutures)
• Spina bifida
• Stillbirths

Clomid use has also been linked to having a higher chance of multiple pregnancies. Studies show that women taking the fertility medication had a 10 percent chance of conceiving twins – which carries its own complications.

The fertility medication may be prescribed for other uses, including male infertility, menstrual irregularities and longer breast milk production. Clomid is not FDA approved for these uses.

Experts claim that timing is everything with this fertility treatment. While Clomid helps with conception, it should only be used for a short amount of time and only under physician supervision. Many women purchase Clomid online without a prescription and without medical monitoring which may increase the chances for numerous Clomid birth defects.

Clomid Birth Defects Lawsuits

A number of women throughout the United States are filing Clomid birth defect lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturer with claims of failure to warn and negligence about the birth defect risks associated with taking the medication. Plaintiffs hope to recover the medical costs along with pain and suffering compensation due to taking this fertility medication.

If you took Clomid in order to become pregnant and later had a child born with any of these serious birth defects, you may have a legal claim.