What is teratogen in pregnancy?
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What is teratogen in pregnancy?
A teratogen is any agent that causes an abnormality following fetal exposure during pregnancy. Teratogens are usually discovered after an increased prevalence of a particular birth defect.
What is teratogen exposure?
“Teratogens” are exposures during pregnancy or breastfeeding that may harm your developing baby and may cause a higher risk of miscarriage or stillbirth, birth defects, pregnancy complications, and/or developmental problems over the background risk.
Which teratogenic effect is seen as a result of taking lithium during pregnancy?
The results of various studies including cohort, prospective, retrospective and small number case reports indicate that lithium is a “weak” teratogen in humans. The main effects attributable to lithium are, cardiac malformations and babies with increased birth weight.
What is teratogenic action?
Teratogens act via a specific mechanism on developing cells and tissues to initiate a cascade of altered developmental events. Teratogenic effects are dependent on the nature of the teratogen, including chemical properties of the chemical, route of exposure, maternal/fetal bioactivation, placental transport, etc.
What happens when a fetus is exposed to teratogens?
As a baby grows in the womb, teratogens may affect parts of the baby’s body as they are forming. For example, the neural tube closes in the first 3 to 5 weeks of the pregnancy. During this time, teratogens can cause neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
When are teratogens most harmful during pregnancy?
Time of exposure: Teratogens are most harmful early in pregnancy, starting about 10 to 14 days after conception to about 8 weeks into pregnancy. Genetics: Sometimes, the pregnant person’s or the baby’s unique genetics protect them or make them more vulnerable to certain teratogens.
Which medication is a teratogen that may cause masculinization of a female fetus?
Medroxyprogesterone Pregnancy Warnings Studies in animals have shown that progestogens, including this drug, may have an adverse effect on the developing fetus, including teratogenicity and fetotoxicity. Other animal studies have shown that high doses of progestogens can cause masculinization of the female fetus.
During which period of pregnancy do teratogens act in an all or nothing manner?
The first 2 weeks after conception are sometimes referred to as the “all-or-none” period, because toxic exposures during this time usually kill the embryo or produce no permanent effect if the embryo survives.
During which stage of fetal development is exposure to teratogens most damaging?
The embryonic period, during which organogenesis takes place, occurs between implantation at around 14 days to around 60 days postconception. This is usually the most sensitive period to teratogenesis when exposure to a teratogenic agent has the greatest likelihood of producing a malformation.
When a drug is teratogenic What is the risk for harm to the fetus?
Drugs reaching the fetus during this stage may cause a miscarriage, an obvious birth defect, or a permanent but subtle defect, that is noticed later in life. At 9th week the embryo is referred to as a fetus. Development during this time is primarily maturation and growth.
What is an example of teratogen?
A teratogen is any agent that disrupts a baby’s development when a person is exposed to it during pregnancy. Known teratogens include alcohol, smoking, toxic chemicals, radiation, viruses, some maternal health conditions, and certain prescription drugs.
Which drugs are teratogenic?
Teratogenic drugs and birth defects
- ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors.
- angiotensin II antagonist.
- isotretinoin (an acne drug)
- alcohol.
- cocaine.
- high doses of vitamin A.
- lithium.
- male hormones.
What can influence the damage a teratogen may do to a fetus?
During which period of prenatal development would exposure to teratogens?
What are three examples of teratogens?
Known teratogens include alcohol, smoking, toxic chemicals, radiation, viruses, some maternal health conditions, and certain prescription drugs. Amount: The amount of harm to a fetus increases the more the pregnant person consumes or is exposed to a teratogen.
In which trimester of pregnancy is the fetus the most vulnerable to teratogens?
It is important to avoid teratogens throughout your pregnancy, but the highest risk to a fetus is in the first trimester.
