Podophyllin

(Date: June 2015. Version: 2)

This factsheet has been written for members of the public by the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS). UKTIS is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on behalf of UK Health Departments. UKTIS has been providing scientific information to health care providers since 1983 on the effects that medicines, recreational drugs and chemicals may have on the developing baby during pregnancy.

What is it?

Podophyllin (Warticon®, Condyline®) is a medicine that is applied to the skin to treat genital warts. It is toxic at high doses and so your doctor’s or the manufacturer’s instructions must be followed closely regarding the size of the area of skin that can be treated at any one time.

Is it safe to use podophyllin in pregnancy?

There is no yes or no answer to this question. When deciding whether to use podophyllin during pregnancy it is important to weigh up how necessary podophyllin is to your health against any possible risks to you or your baby, some of which might depend on how many weeks pregnant you are. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide what is right for you and your baby.

This leaflet summarises the scientific studies relating to the effects of podophyllin on a baby in the womb.

What if I have already used podophyllin during pregnancy?

If you have taken or used any medicines it is always a good idea to let your doctor know that you are pregnant so that you can decide together whether you still need the medicines that you are on and to make sure that you are taking the lowest dose that works.

Can using podophyllin in pregnancy cause my baby to be born with birth defects?

A baby’s body and most internal organs are formed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It is mainly during this time that some medicines are known to cause birth defects.

No studies have investigated whether birth defects are more common in babies whose mothers used podophyllin in the first trimester of pregnancy.

There is a single case report of a malformed baby whose mother took herbal slimming tablets that contained podophyllin (among other ingredients) in the first trimester. It is unclear whether the baby’s malformations were caused by podophyllin or how this might relate to application of podophyllin to the skin.

Scientific studies of the possible effects of podophyllin use in pregnancy is therefore required.

Can using podophyllin in pregnancy cause miscarriage?

No studies have investigated rates of miscarriage following use of podophyllin in early pregnancy.

Can using podophyllin in pregnancy cause stillbirth?

No studies have investigated rates of stillbirth following use of podophyllin in pregnancy.

There is a single case report of a baby who was stillborn 10 days after the mother had experienced severe podophyllin poisoning after applying podophyllin to her skin. To avoid toxicity it is important to always follow your doctor’s and/or the manufacturer’s advice regarding the size of the area of skin that can be treated with podophyllin at any one time.

Can using podophyllin in pregnancy cause preterm birth or my baby to be small at birth (low birth weight)?

No studies have investigated rates of preterm birth or low birth weight in the baby following use of podophyllin in pregnancy.

Can using podophyllin in pregnancy cause learning and behavioural problems in the child?

A baby’s brain continues to develop right up until the end of pregnancy. It is therefore possible that taking certain medicines at any stage of pregnancy could have a lasting effect on a child’s learning or behaviour.

There is no known link between using podophyllin in pregnancy and learning or behavioural problems (such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder) in the child later on in life. There are, however, no scientific studies that have specifically investigated a link with these problems.

Will my baby need extra monitoring?

Most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to look for birth defects as part of their routine antenatal care. Using podophyllin in pregnancy as advised by the manufacturer is not expected to cause problems that would require extra monitoring of your baby.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has used podophyllin?

No studies have specifically investigated whether podophyllin used by the father can harm the baby through effects on the sperm, however most experts agree that this is very unlikely. More research on the effects of medicine use in men around the time of conception is needed.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.  

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General information 

Up to 1 out of every 5 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, and 1 in 40 babies are born with a birth defect. These are referred to as the background population risks.  They describe the chance of these events happening for any pregnancy before taking factors such as the mother’s health during pregnancy, her lifestyle, medicines she takes and the genetic make up of her and the baby’s father into account.

Medicines use in pregnancy

Most medicines used by the mother will cross the placenta and reach the baby. Sometimes this may have beneficial effects for the baby.  There are, however, some medicines that can harm a baby’s normal development.  How a medicine affects a baby may depend on the stage of pregnancy when the medicine is taken. If you are on regular medication you should discuss these effects with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please ensure the doctor or health care professional treating you is aware of your pregnancy.

When deciding whether or not to use a medicine in pregnancy you need to weigh up how the medicine might improve your and/or your unborn baby’s health against any possible problems that the drug may cause. Our bumps leaflets are written to provide you with a summary of what is known about use of a specific medicine in pregnancy so that you can decide together with your health care provider what is best for you and your baby.   

Every pregnancy is unique. The decision to start, stop, continue or change a prescribed medicine before or during pregnancy should be made in consultation with your health care provider. It is very helpful if you can record all your medication taken in pregnancy in your hand held maternity records.

   

www.medicinesinpregnancy.org

Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace the individual care and advice of your health care provider. New information is continually becoming available. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that this information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, we cannot cover every eventuality and the information providers cannot be held responsible for any adverse outcomes following decisions made on the basis of this information. We strongly advise that printouts should NOT be kept for any length of time, or for “future reference” as they can rapidly become out of date.

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