A pregnant woman with a life-threatening condition must take medication that can cause harm to her fetus. What is the pregnancy category that this medication most likely represents?

Question

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Answer 1

4

Rationale 1: Category A carries the lowest risk to the fetus and mother.
Rationale 2: Category B drugs have not shown a risk to the fetus in animal studies, or if they have, studies of women have not confirmed this risk.
Rationale 3: Category C drugs have shown a risk in animal studies, but controlled studies have not been performed in women.
Rationale 4: Drugs from category D can cause harm to the fetus but could provide benefit to the mother in a life-threatening situation or when a safer therapy is not available.

Global Rationale: Drugs from category D can cause harm to the fetus but could provide benefit to the mother in a life-threatening situation or when a safer therapy is not available. Category A carries the lowest risk to the fetus and mother. Category B drugs have not shown a risk to the fetus in animal studies, or if they have, studies of women have not confirmed this risk. Category C drugs have shown a risk in animal studies, but controlled studies have not been performed in women.