Exposure to certain chemicals on a regular basis during pregnancy has
been linked to increased rates of
Chemicals that may increase a woman's chance of
having a miscarriage include:
Medicines. Before conceiving, or as soon as you
become aware that you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about all of the
medicines you have been taking. For example, the use of the medicine isotretinoin for the treatment
of acne during pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of miscarriage and
to cause birth defects.1, 2
consumption, which can also cause birth defects and intellectual disabilities. There
is no known safe amount of alcohol intake during pregnancy. The safest course
is to avoid alcohol entirely while you are pregnant.
This information is produced and provided by the National
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National
Institute via the Internet web site at http://
.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
February 01, 2013
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this