New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Oral antifungal drug used to treat yeast infections linked to higher rates of miscarriage

Date:
February 19, 2019
Source:
Canadian Medical Association Journal
Summary:
A commonly used medication, fluconazole, used to treat vaginal yeast infections, is linked to higher rates of miscarriage if used during pregnancy, found new research.
Share:
FULL STORY

A commonly used medication, fluconazole, used to treat vaginal yeast infections, is linked to higher rates of miscarriage if used during pregnancy, found new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

While topical treatments are first line for pregnant women with fungal infections, oral fluconazole is often used during pregnancy.

Researchers looked at data on 441 949 pregnancies from the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort between 1998 and 2015, linking to filled prescriptions listed in the Quebec Prescription Drug Insurance database. They found that taking oral fluconazole was linked to adverse outcomes.

"Our study shows that taking any dose of oral fluconazole while pregnant may be associated with a higher chance of miscarriage," says Dr. Anick Bérard, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec. "Taking higher doses of fluconazole over 150 mg in early pregnancy may be linked to a higher chance of a newborn with a heart defect."

The study is consistent with other studies, although more research is needed as the study sizes are still small.

In a related commentary, Drs. Vanessa Paquette and Chelsea Elwood, British Columbia Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, write, "The study re-emphasizes safe prescribing practices in pregnancy, which include confirming the correct diagnosis and then choosing the safest medication with the largest body of data in pregnancy at the lowest appropriate doses."


Story Source:

Materials provided by Canadian Medical Association Journal. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal References:

  1. Anick Bérard, Odile Sheehy, Jin-Ping Zhao, Jessica Gorgui, Sasha Bernatsky, Cristiano Soares de Moura, Michal Abrahamowicz. Associations between low- and high-dose oral fluconazole and pregnancy outcomes: 3 nested case–control studies. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2019; 191 (7): E179 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.180963
  2. Vanessa Cristine Paquette, Chelsea Elwood. The safety of oral fluconazole therapy in pregnancy. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2019; 191 (7): E177 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.190079

Cite This Page:

Canadian Medical Association Journal. "Oral antifungal drug used to treat yeast infections linked to higher rates of miscarriage." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 February 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190219080751.htm>.
Canadian Medical Association Journal. (2019, February 19). Oral antifungal drug used to treat yeast infections linked to higher rates of miscarriage. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 3, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190219080751.htm
Canadian Medical Association Journal. "Oral antifungal drug used to treat yeast infections linked to higher rates of miscarriage." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190219080751.htm (accessed December 3, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES