Can a woman get pregnant while taking methotrexate?
Women who become pregnant while taking methotrexate should stop taking methotrexate and contact a doctor as soon as possible. Partners should stop taking methotrexate at least 3 months before getting pregnant. People using methotrexate who are planning on becoming pregnant should speak with their doctor first.
What happens if you get pregnant right after methotrexate?
Limited evidence suggests that a person who is pregnant will have a chance of having a baby with methotrexate-related birth defects if the pregnancy is exposed to 10 mg or more of methotrexate per week between 6 and 8 weeks after conception (8 to 10 weeks after the first day of her last menstrual period).
Can you father a child on methotrexate?
Guidelines from the British Society of Rheumatology state that there is no need for men to stop methotrexate if they want to father a child. They stated that based on limited evidence, low dose methotrexate may be compatible with paternal exposure.
How long after taking methotrexate can I get pregnant?
Owing to concerns about MTX and its metabolites remaining in some organs and possibly affecting pregnancy or fetal development, manufacturers and several sources have arbitrarily recommended that women wait 3 to 6 months to become pregnant after stopping therapy.
How much methotrexate does it take to terminate a pregnancy?
Methotrexate and misoprostol used in combination are very effective in terminating pregnancy. A single dose of intramuscularly or oral methotrexate (50 mg per square meter of body-surface area) followed five to seven days later by 800mg of vaginal misoprostol resulted in complete abortion in 88–100% of women (Table 7).
How long should you be off methotrexate before getting pregnant?
Because its active metabolites have a long half-life, methotrexate must be discontinued at least 3 months before conception; compensatory treatment with folic acid should be continued during that period and throughout pregnancy.
Can methotrexate cause a miscarriage?
At high doses (50mg or more), methotrexate is known to cause miscarriage and is used medically to induce pregnancy loss. It is unclear whether lower doses (25-30mg or less) of methotrexate, as used in the treatment of autoimmune disease and in some types of chemotherapy, increase the risk of miscarriage.
Does methotrexate get into sperm?
MTX has not been measured in human sperm ejaculates; yet, the risk of a direct toxic effect on the fetus through MTX-contaminated seminal plasma seems negligible. Until now, 284 pregnancies with paternal MTX exposure have been reported.
Can you have a baby after methotrexate?
Will methotrexate cause a miscarriage?
Can oral methotrexate cause abortion?
Conclusion: This study indicates that for medical abortions induced with methotrexate and misoprostol it is possible to offer both the oral and injected routes of methotrexate without sacrificing efficacy and that about half of the women offered a choice will choose the oral route.
Is it safe to take methotrexate during pregnancy?
While methotrexate is a successful therapeutic agent, it also has potential deleterious effects, and methotrexate use is contraindicated during pregnancy. However, fetal exposure can occur, for example, as a result of the failed termination of a misdiagnosed ectopic pregnancy.
How is methotrexate used to treat ectopic pregnancy?
To treat ectopic pregnancy, methotrexate is typically given as an injection (a shot) into a muscle. This often takes place in a hospital emergency room. In some cases, a second or third injection is necessary in the weeks after the first injection. Most ectopic pregnancies occur in a fallopian tube.
How does methotrexate treatment affect male fertility?
The Influence of Methotrexate Treatment on Male Fertility and Pregnancy Outcome After Paternal Exposure This review reveals the lack of studies on the safety of MTX with regard to male reproduction. It is not clear whether MTX transiently influences male fertility and sperm DNA integrity, and more studies are needed.
When does a woman become exposed to methotrexate?
Approximately 0.06% (n=16/27,623) of case mothers and 0.04% (n=4/10,113) of control mothers reported exposure to methotrexate between three months prior to conception through the end of pregnancy.