Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)

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Date: June 2025, Version 4.0

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Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is rarely used in pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage and birth defects in the baby.

What is it?

MMF (Mycophenolic acid, CellCept®, Ceptava®, Myfenax®, Myfortic®) is used to prevent the rejection of a transplanted organ.

Benefits

What are the benefits of taking MMF in pregnancy?

MMF can prevent the rejection of a transplanted organ. However, it is only used in pregnancy in very rare cases where there is no suitable alternative medicine to prevent transplant rejection.

Risks

What are the risks of using MMF in pregnancy?

MMF can cause miscarriage and severe birth defects in the baby. These include ear, eye and other facial defects, and heart malformations.

If you are taking MMF and could become pregnant, you should be enrolled in a pregnancy prevention programme. This involves using very reliable contraception during treatment and for six weeks after stopping.

Women who accidentally conceive while taking MMF should contact their doctor or specialist urgently so that their medication can be reviewed.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to using MMF in pregnancy?

Yes, in most cases other medicines can be used to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ.

If you are taking MMF and planning a pregnancy, it is important that you talk to your specialist about other treatment options.

If your doctor has suggested that you continue to take MMF during pregnancy, this is because there is a high risk of transplant rejection if your medicine is changed. Your doctor will talk with you about the risks to your baby from MMF treatment.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?

Your doctor will only prescribe medicines when necessary and will be happy to talk with you about any concerns that you might have. If your MMF treatment is stopped, it is very important that you take alternative anti-rejection drugs during pregnancy to avoid complications for both you and your baby.

Will my baby need extra monitoring?

As part of routine antenatal care, most women will be offered a very detailed scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to check the baby’s development. Women who have taken MMF in early pregnancy may be offered this scan slightly earlier, with more focussed scanning on the areas of the baby’s body that can be affected by MMF exposure.

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

There is currently no evidence that MMF used by the father can harm the baby through effects on the sperm. However, as a precaution, the manufacturer recommends that where the female partner is taking MMF, pregnancy should be avoided during treatment and for three months after the drug is stopped. When a pregnancy is being planned and the male partner takes MMF, he should speak to his specialist about whether changing medication is the best option.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions about 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.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.