An increasing number of birth defects have been attributed to infants born to mothers who used Clomid to aid in getting pregnant or during their pregnancy.

A review of some of the medical literature addressing these concerns indicates that women who used Clomid are at significantly higher risk of having infants with defects than women who did not use fertility drugs.

Among the Clomid birth defects reported are several types of heart defects, brain defects, autism, Down’s Syndrome, club foot, cleft lip or palate, open cranium, closed esophagus, intestinal protrusion and spina bifida.

What is Clomid?

Clomid, one of the most popular fertility drugs, is one of a class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators. Also known as clomiphene citrate, this fertility drug has been around since 1967.

It is a non-steroidal tablet taken orally. Initially, it was useful for women who had irregular periods, but today it is widely used as a treatment for women who have frequent anovulatory cycles.

Anovulation occurs when an egg is not released during a menstrual cycle. This condition is a frequent cause of infertility. Clomiphene citrate stimulates the release of the hormones that encourage the release of an egg.

Since it was approved by the FDA in 1967, Clomid has become the most prescribed fertility drug. However, Clomid warnings do not caution parents about the increased risk of autism or Clomid birth defects.

Clomid Risks

Clomid is listed by the FDA as a Pregnancy Category X drug for its potential connection to infant birth defects. This category signifies that the drug, in either data gathered from adverse reactions to marketing and investigation or laboratory studies, has demonstrated itself to be a risk to normal fetal development.

Recent studies suggest that some risks are not adequately warned against, creating the opportunity for a Clomid lawsuit. A 2006 study conducted by the University of California at San Francisco evaluated similar fertility treatments in addition to Clomid.

Results showed that male children of users face a 58 percent greater risk of Clomid birth defects including a misplaced or missing urethra, a condition known as penoscrotal hypospadias.

A 2010 study conducted by the Harvard School of Health also considered other fertility drugs in addition to a Clomid treatment. This study found that clomiphene side effects nearly doubled the risk of giving birth to an autistic child. There was no meaningful correlation found between a woman’s age and this result.

It is unknown whether the fertility drug can pass into breast milk, as no studies have been conducted as of yet.

Clomid Lawsuits

Clomid is a popular fertility drug that has been linked to a number of alarming and life-threatening birth defects when taken immediately before or during pregnancy. Clomid birth defect lawsuits are helping families who have children born with birth defects after the mother took Clomid.

If you took Clomid to assist you in getting pregnant or during pregnancy and gave birth to a child with a serious birth defect, you may be entitled to compensation in a Clomid birth defect lawsuit.