Prenatal Exposure to SSRIs Can Adversely Affect Certain Delivery Outcomes

In utero SSRI exposure was associated with excess risk for preterm delivery and related complications but not for lower birth weight or smaller head circumference.

SSRIs have been prescribed for pregnant women with depression since the 1990s, although prenatal exposure to these agents is not without risks (JW Womens Health Oct 1 2009, JW Womens Health Jun 27 2007). In a prospective population-based study, Danish investigators evaluated delivery outcomes of 57,000 pregnancies from August 1989 through November 2006. Women were categorized into three cohorts: those who received at least one SSRI during pregnancy (329); those with histories of psychiatric illness who did not receive SSRIs during pregnancy (4902); and those who reported no histories of psychiatric illness (51,770).

Adjusted analysis showed that risk for preterm delivery in women treated with SSRIs was twice that of untreated women with hist…

Reviewing Author

Wendy S. Biggs, MD

Prenatal Exposure to SSRIs Can Adversely Affect Certain Delivery Outcomes

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Reviewing Author