An Overview of Estraderm and Pregnancy
Pregnant women should not use
Estraderm® (estradiol patch), since there is no accepted medical reason for them to use the medication. It is important to understand that estrogens (such as Estraderm) are not effective for preventing miscarriages or any other problems in pregnancy.
Estraderm 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 birth defects or miscarriages). A Category X rating is the most severe pregnancy rating that can be given to a medication.
Although Estraderm is 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 Estraderm, and because the risks are not fully understood, it should not be used during pregnancy.
Estraderm and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts
Estraderm is not approved for any use in pregnant women, and there are no legitimate
off-label (unapproved) uses for Estraderm in pregnant women. If you inadvertently used Estraderm 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.
