Medicines and prescriptions
What Does Teratogenic Mean? Medicines and Pregnancy
Teratogenic · say it: teh-RAT-oh-JEN-ikAlso written: teratogen, teratogenicity, causes birth defects
Short answer
Teratogenic describes something, such as a medicine, that can harm a developing baby and cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy.
What it means
A teratogen is something that can disturb how a baby develops in the womb, leading to birth defects or other problems. Some medicines, alcohol, certain infections and radiation can be teratogenic. The risk often depends on the dose and on when in pregnancy the exposure happens, with the early weeks being an especially sensitive time.
Labels for medicines known to be teratogenic, such as some acne, epilepsy, blood-thinning and cancer medicines, carry strong warnings. Some require pregnancy tests or reliable contraception before and during treatment, and some have special prescribing programmes. The warning is telling you to talk to your doctor before trying for a baby, and to seek advice straight away if you become pregnant, rather than stopping on your own, because stopping some medicines can also be risky.
Teratogenic is closely related to 'fetal toxicity' and 'congenital malformations'. Fetal toxicity is a broader term for harm to the unborn baby at any stage, while teratogenic usually refers to effects on how the baby forms.
Where you may see it
- Pregnancy sections and boxed warnings of medicine labels
- Medication Guides about pregnancy prevention
- Pharmacy counselling leaflets
📄 How it looks on a report
This medicine is teratogenic. Women of childbearing potential must use effective contraception during treatment.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It does not mean every pregnancy exposed to the medicine will be affected.
- It does not mean you should stop a medicine suddenly if you find out you are pregnant; contact your doctor urgently first.
- A medicine not listed as teratogenic is not automatically suitable in pregnancy; always check.
🎯 Check yourself
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🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
🧾 Reports where you will see “Teratogenic”
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💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Teratogenic”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Acyclovir
An antiviral medicine of the nucleoside analogue type, used against herpesviruses
- Ivermectin
An antiparasitic medicine, sometimes called a worm-killing medicine (anthelmintic), that the FDA lists as an antiparasitic and pediculicide
- Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
A progestin hormone. The label describes it as a derivative of progesterone. The FDA pharmacologic class is not listed.
- Phenytoin
An anti-epileptic (seizure) medicine. The label describes it as related to barbiturates in chemical structure, and it belongs to the hydantoin group of medicines.
- Prednisone
a corticosteroid, a type of steroid medicine that works like the adrenocortical (adrenal gland) steroids the body makes naturally
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Teratogenic” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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