A correlation has been noted between Clomiphene, a fertility medication commonly known by its brand names Clomid and Serophene, and certain birth defects, including congenital birth defects affecting the brain and the upper body. Parents and families of affected children may be eligible to file a Georgia Clomid lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Georgia today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Clomiphene?
Clomiphene is a fertility medication used to treat ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic ovary syndrome and stimulate ovulation. Although Clomiphene has been used for more than 40 years to induce ovulation, a number of side effects and risks have been associated with the medication. Clomiphene risks and side effects include nausea, multiple pregnancies, birth defects, abnormal vaginal bleeding, breast discomfort, and hot flashes.
How Does Clomiphene Work?
Clomiphene is a commonly prescribed fertility medication used to stimulate ovulation in women who are unable to produce eggs but wish to become pregnant. It works similarly to estrogen, a female hormone that causes eggs to develop in the ovaries and be released. Clomiphene is also prescribed as an off-label medication to men to treat secondary hypogonadism (a condition where the body doesn’t produce enough testosterone). “Off-label” means that the drug has been neither tested nor approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose.
Clomiphene Birth Defect Risks
A study reported on by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS), notes a correlation between clomiphene use and serious birth defects, including septal heart defects and muscular ventricular septal defect. According to the CDC report, mothers of children with the following birth defects said they used clomiphene more often than mothers of children without birth defects:
- Anencephaly: abnormal development of the brain and the bones of the skull
- Septal heart defects: a congenital heart defect in which an abnormal connection between the heart’s lower chambers develops, resulting in a hole in the heart
- Coarctation of the aorta: a congenital narrowing of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body that carries oxygen-rich blood to the body
- Esophageal atresia: a rare birth defect in which the baby is born without part of the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach
- Craniosynostosis: one or more of the joints between the bones of a baby’s skull close prematurely
- Omphalocele: a birth defect in which the intestines or abdominal organs are located outside of the body due to a hole in the navel area
The CDC also reported that clomiphene was also correlated (in a very small number of cases) with the following birth defects:
- Dandy-Walker malformation: a congenital brain malformation of the cerebellum and the fluid-filled spaces around it
- Muscular ventricular septal defect: a congenital heart defect in which there is a hole in the wall (ventricular septum) that separates the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart
- Cloacal extrophy: a rare congenital malformation of the large intestine, bladder, and genitalia
Fertility Drugs and Autism
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, in a study conducted in 2010, reported a correlation between ovulation inducing drugs and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). They concluded that the use of such medications should be considered in future studies as potential risk factors for ASD. A separate article published in Time magazine also reported on the study, connecting the extended use of fertility drugs such as Clomid and autism.
Other Clomid Side Effects
The following side effects have also been reportedly associated with ovulation induction therapies such as Clomid by the FDA:
- Cleft palate
- Visual disorders
- Club foot
- Harelip
- Multiple pregnancy
- Down syndrome
- Spina bifida
How a Georgia Clomid Lawsuit Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Clomid may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Clomid, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Clomid, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of a Georgia Clomid lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us For More Information.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Georgia. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Georgia today.
