A young woman who has been taking immunosuppressant therapy says, "I'll be glad to be off these drugs. My husband and I would like to start a family." How should the nurse respond?

Question

Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. "Be sure to wait until you are off the medication to stop using birth control."
2. "Don't plan on breast-feeding, because use of this drug makes your success unlikely."
3. "You should wait at least 4 months after taking this medication before you try to get pregnant."
4. "You may not be able to get pregnant after taking this medication."
5. "You may wish to consider adoption because taking this medication raises the risk of having a baby with congenital defects."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1,3
Rationale 1: Immunosuppressive medications can cause birth defects.
Rationale 2: Immunosuppressant drugs have no effect on future breast-feeding.
Rationale 3: The client should not get pregnant for 4 months after taking these medications.
Rationale 4: There is no evidence that immunosuppressant medications cause sterility.
Rationale 5: There is no evidence that future children would be affected.
Global Rationale: Pregnancy should be avoided during and for up to 4 months after discontinuing immunosuppressive therapy. Immunosuppressant drugs have no effect on future breast-feeding, do not cause sterility, and do not affect future children.