Clomid is one of the most popular infertility treatment drugs available on the market, prescribed to hundreds of women daily. However, mounting evidence shows that this drug may increase the risk of birth defects in unborn children.

These studies have also shown that other infertility treatments such as Clomid may carry a higher risk for birth defects. Scientists have yet to confirm the reason for these occurrences.

In 2012, a large scale study was conducted that observed hundreds of thousands of pregnant women who were either using fertility treatments of some kind, or had become pregnant through traditional fertilization.

The study examined couples who had received assisted reproductive technology (ART), and had faced an increased risk, especially when taking Clomid. The study, which is published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is one of the largest inquiries conducted to observe the relationship between fertility treatments and birth defects.

This study observed data that had spanned across 16 years, from 1986 to 2002 with more than 300,000 births and 18,000 of those born with birth defects, from fertility clinics from two clinics in southern Australia.

Overall, the study found that the risk of birth defects occurring with fertility treatments was 8 percent, compared to a 6 percent risk with women who conceived naturally. The lead researcher, Dr. Michael Davies, did not specifically name the birth defects, stating that the focus should be on furthering research on this possible association.

Additionally, this research showed that if there was a possibility of birth defects occurring with Clomid or other fertility drugs, it was very low. Lastly, there are various factors that could attribute to the cause of birth defects, including genetic history and environmental conditions.

“Although the large majority of births resulting from assisted conception were free of birth defects, treatment with assisted reproductive technology was associated with an increased risk of birth defects, including cerebral palsy, as compared with spontaneous conception,” the researchers concluded.

“Although we cannot rule out the possibility that other patient factors contribute to or explain the observed associations, our findings can help provide guidance in counseling patients who are considering treatment for infertility.”

Even with these results, the researchers noted that Clomid had the highest risk of birth defects, out of all the fertility treatment methods. Experts explain that Clomid stops the growth of the baby’s blood vessels, which can lead to devastating side effects for the developing fetus. In fact, the FDA has stated that Clomid should not be used during pregnancy.

Healthcare providers explain that women who are desperate to become pregnant but do not wish to go through the trouble of getting a prescription, often order Clomid online. Women who used Clomid without medical assistance in the study had a 300 percent increased risk of birth defects when compared to naturally-conceived couples.

Even with regulated dose control from physicians, Clomid seemed to carry an increased likelihood of problems especially when the mothers were found to be self-dosing themselves with the drug. Healthcare providers explain that Clomid should be completely clear of the woman’s biological system before she becomes pregnant, to prevent any ill side effects.

Bottom Line: Is Clomid Safe?

Clomid is a popular fertility medication, which stimulates egg production and ovulation in women. However, Clomid has been accused of causing numerous severe birth defects in unborn fetuses including:

• Anencephaly (unfinished brain and skull)
• Coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of the aorta)
• Craniosyntosis (premature fusion of the infant’s skull sutures)
• Esophageal Atresia (baby born without part of the esophagus)
• Omphalocele (abdominal organs are outside of the body)
• Septal heart defect (hole in the wall of the heart)

Women taking Clomid should speak to their doctors if they are concerned about potential Clomid birth defects.