Does Regestrone Taken During Periconceptional Period Affect Fetal Growth?

Posted on Fri, 22 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 Answered on

Mon, 7 Mar 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am 29 years old. I took regestrone 5 mg for 5 days from 5th XXXXXXX 2016 to 9th XXXXXXX 2016(one tablet per day) in order to delay the periods. But it didn't come till 21st XXXXXXX Then I did pregnancy test which is positive (I took the tablets unknowingly during pregnancy). Now the baby is 5 weeks 3 days old as of 21st Jan(heart is also beating). EP scan report is normal. Now if I continue the pregnancy, are there any chances that my baby can have abnormalities at any stage(recognized after birth or earlier) Will it effect my baby's growth in any way. Should I think about termination or continue with pregnancy. Please help.

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can continue the pregnancy

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
You have taken Regestrone in the periconceptional period, around the time of fertilization.
Regestrone is norethisterone which is rarely known to increase the risk of genitourinary anomalies in the fetus, if taken in first trimester of pregnancy.
However, the chances are extremely low.
It does not affects the growth of the fetus.
I will suggest you to continue with the pregnancy, if feasible, and get a detailed anomaly ultrasound at18-20 weeks of pregnancy to rule out any congenital anomalies.
Be optimistic and positive.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
OBGYN
Maternal and fetal medicine specialist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Deepti Verma (4 hours later)

Thank you doctor, I am relieved. I want you to know that my last period date was 10th Dec 2015. And I was expecting it on 10th XXXXXXX 2016. But I took regestrone to delay it. And when it didn't come till 14th, I started eating papaya, took hot turmeric milk having ginger, jaggery and spices, walked upstairs till 10th floor and downstairs, kept hot water bag near the lower abdomen, ate all such natural items like jaggery, til which would generate heat in the body. I tried everything to bring the periods naturally till 2-3 days.Also I might have done so many things unknowing ly such as lifting heavy objects etc. I hope it shouldn't have effected the baby. And also wouldn't 18-20 weeks be too late to take a decision based on anomaly scan in case of any abnormalities. Can we go for termination after 18-20 weeks too in case if required.

Answered by Dr. Deepti Verma (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Termination possible till 20 weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
All the methods you had adopted would have done abortion.
If the fetal cardiac activity is present, that means that there was no effect of these heat producing methods on your body or any adverse effect on the fetus.
You can go for termination of pregnancy till 20 weeks, if any major congenital anomaly is found in fetus.
Termination of pregnancy till 20 weeks is legal in XXXXXXX
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar