“Taking opiod medications early in pregnancy can cause birth defects and serious problems for the infant and the mother,” CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, said. “Many women of reproductive age are taking these medicines and may not know they are pregnant and therefore may be unknowingly exposing their unborn child.”
Dr. Frieden urged healthcare providers to perform a thorough health assessment before prescribing opiod pain killers to women aged 15 to 44.
“Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should discuss with their healthcare professional the risks and benefits for any medication they are taking or considering,” said Coleen Boyle, PhD, director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. “This new information underscores the importance of responsible prescribing, especially of opioids, for women of childbearing age.”
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