Can I Use Elestrin During Pregnancy?
Elestrin™ (estradiol gel) is a prescription estrogen medication approved only for use in menopausal women. Pregnant women should not intentionally use Elestrin, as there is no accepted medical reason for pregnant women to use the estrogen drug (and the risks are not fully known).
Elestrin and Pregnancy Category X
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a pregnancy category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category X is given to medications that should not be used during pregnancy, usually due to serious problems that could occur (such as miscarriages or severe birth defects). For Category X medications, the possible risks always outweigh the potential benefits in pregnant women.
Even though Elestrin is classified as a Category X medication, it does not appear to increase the risk of birth defects or other problems. However, because there is no accepted, legitimate medical reason for pregnant women to use Elestrin, and because the risks are not fully understood, it should not be used during pregnancy. It is very important to understand that estrogen medications (including Elestrin) are not effective for preventing miscarriages or any other problems in pregnancy.
Elestrin and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts
Elestrin is not approved for any use in pregnant women. If you inadvertently used Elestrin for a while before you realized you were pregnant, it will probably not cause any problems (although you should discuss this with your healthcare provider). If you think you may be pregnant, you should contact your healthcare provider for further instructions.
