Can you be on cholesterol medication while pregnant?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that statins are not recommended for pregnant women. They are rated as “Pregnancy Category X” drugs, which signifies that studies have shown they may cause birth defects and that the risks clearly outweigh any benefit.
What happens if you get pregnant while on statins?
Statins are contraindicated in pregnancy; however, as women delay pregnancy and statin use increases the risk of statin exposure in pregnancy is likely to rise. In contrast to some early reports that statins are teratogenic, more recent observational studies have called into question the teratogenic risk of statins.
Does cholesterol medicine cause birth defects?
A study that reviewed data from thousands of women, approximately half of whom took statins during their first trimester of pregnancy, showed that babies were not at increased risk of birth defects due to statin use. However, patients who did take statins in the first trimester had a higher rate of miscarriages.
How is high cholesterol treated during pregnancy?
If you’ve been diagnosed with high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe statins, a medicine used to lower LDL cholesterol. Your doctor may also suggest changes to your diet and exercise routine. Dietary changes could include foods particularly good for lowering cholesterol.
Can high cholesterol cause problems in pregnancy?
High cholesterol during pregnancy can lead to pregnancy-induced hypertension, which can threaten the life of both the mother and child. Low cholesterol can lead to premature labor and low birth weight.
Does cholesterol medicine affect fertility?
Statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs, are also effective against a common condition that harms women’s fertility, according to a clinical trial that compared them with a drug often used to treat the condition.
Does cholesterol affect pregnancy?
Can pregnancy make your cholesterol high?
The elevated maternal oestrogen concentration in pregnancy causes an increase in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. LDL found in maternal serum during pregnancy is atherogenic, small and dense. As well as LDL, apoB levels are elevated in pregnancy.
Does high cholesterol affect getting pregnant?
Couples with highest cholesterol took longest to achieve pregnancy. High cholesterol levels may impair fertility in couples trying to achieve a pregnancy, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, the University at Buffalo (New York), and Emory University in Atlanta.
Does high cholesterol cause infertility?
High cholesterol levels may impair fertility in couples trying to achieve a pregnancy, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, the University at Buffalo (New York), and Emory University in Atlanta.
Can my doctor prescribe medication to lower my cholesterol during pregnancy?
During pregnancy your doctor probably won’t prescribe medication to lower your cholesterol, but if your levels stay high postbaby, you may be given medication and be told to follow a heart-smart diet (low in saturated fat, high in fiber and including plenty of fruits and vegetables). What can I do to prevent high cholesterol?
What is high cholesterol during pregnancy?
How having high cholesterol during pregnancy can affect you and baby — and what you can do about it. What is high cholesterol during pregnancy? Also known as hypercholesterolemia, high blood cholesterol means you have too much cholesterol (you guessed it) in your blood.
Is it safe to take atorvastatin during pregnancy?
However, some women do experience high cholesterol during pregnancy. Atorvastatin, also called Lipitor, is one of the more common medications prescribed to help manage high cholesterol. It is valid to question the safety of using atorvastatin during pregnancy.
Can I take statins while pregnant?
While statins are proven to save lives, women who want to become pregnant must consider certain risks regarding statin use. Statin use during the first trimester has been associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss.