An Australian study suggests that babies conceived with assisted reproductive technologies, such as the popular fertility medication Clomid, have an increased risk for birth defects. Product liability lawyers are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Clomid lawsuits against the drug’s pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The Australian study looked at records from over 300,000 spontaneous pregnancies and over 6,000 pregnancies resulting from fertility treatments between 1986 and 2002. The records included stillbirths and early pregnancy terminations, and tracked birth defects diagnosed in children 5 years old and younger. The study included all conception techniques, including spontaneous conception, in vitro fertilization, sperm injection, gamete intrafallopian transfer, and pregnancies achieved using fresh and frozen embryos.

The study concluded that overall, babies conceived with fertility treatments had a 28 percent greater risk of developing birth defects. This includes heart, muscle, gastrointestinal, and urogenital defects as well as cerebral palsy. The study noted that within each specific fertility technique the risk of developing birth defects varied and was affected by numerous factors, with some techniques and variations involving greater risks than others.

Clomid Fertility Treatments

Clomid is a fertility treatment that causes a woman’s pituitary glands to release the hormones necessary to stimulate ovulation. Clomid is a popular fertility treatment and is often used by women with various medical conditions, including those suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome. Clomid can be prescribed by a medical professional or bought online without a prescription.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has labeled Clomid a Category X drug due to evidence suggesting the medication can harm a fetus. When Clomid is taken under the supervision of a medical professional, the doctor can regulate the time and dosage to stimulate ovulation but ensure the medication is cleared from the body prior to conception. This timing is more difficult without medical supervision.

One study performed on women who used Clomid, or other clomiphene based fertility treatments, found that women who used the fertility treatment without medical supervision were 300 percent more likely to have a baby born with birth defects. Birth defects potentially associated with Clomid include anencephaly (a baby born without parts of the brain or skill), coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of the aorta), crainosyntosis (premature fusion of an infants skull), septal heart defects, and many other serious side effects.

Lawsuits brought against Clomid’s manufacturer will likely allege that the company violated consumer protection laws, and failed to warn the medical community and consumers about dangerous risks associated with taking the medication. Awards and settlements from these lawsuits will help victims pay past and future medical bills, as well as compensate them for the pain and suffering they have endured.