Clomiphene citrate, also known as clomifene and sold under the brand names Clomid and Serophene, has been associated with an increased risk of birth defects in mothers who took the drug just prior to and during pregnancy. Clomid risks include certain serious birth defects, including those affecting the child’s brain, gut and heart. Affected families may be eligible to pursue compensation with the help of a Clomid lawsuit attorney.
If you or a loved one took Clomid or Serophene before or during pregnancy and delivered a child with birth defects or other complications, contact Attorney Group for more information about your options. We can answer your questions in a free and confidential consultation. If you wish to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated Clomid attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Clomid Risks and Side Effects
According to the FDA, Clomid risks that have been reported following ovulation induction therapy with Clomid during clinical trials include:
- Birth defects
- Nausea
- Risk of multiple pregnancies
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Breast discomfort
- Ovarian enlargement
- Blurred vision
Other Clomid risks may include hot flashes, breast tenderness, pain in the pelvic area, headaches and fatigue.
Use of Clomiphene and Birth Defects
Clomiphene is a non-steriodal fertility medication used to stimulate ovulation in women who are unable to produce eggs but wish to become pregnant.
According to a study reported on by the Centers for Diease Control and Prevention, mothers of children with the following birth defects said they used clomiphene more often than mothers of children without birth defects:
- Septal heart defect: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a heart defect that is present at birth (congenital). As a baby develops in the womb, a wall (called the interatrial septum) forms that divides the upper chamber into a left and right atrium. An abnormal formation of this wall can result in a hole that remains after birth.
- Anencephaly: Anencephaly is a condition that prevents the normal development of the brain and the bones of the skull. This condition results when a structure called the neural tube fails to close during the first few weeks of embryonic development.
- Coarctation of the aorta: This is a narrowing of the aorta, the large blood vessel that branches off your heart and delivers oxygen-rich blood to your body. When this occurs, your heart must pump harder to force blood through the narrow part of your aorta. Coarctation of the aorta is generally present at birth (congenital). Coarctation of the aorta can range from mild to severe, and might not be detected until adulthood, depending on how narrowed the aorta is.
- Esophageal Atresia: Esophageal atresia is a rare birth defect in which a baby is born without part of the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). About 1 in 4,000 babies in the U.S. is born with esophageal atresia.
- Craniosynostosis: This is a birth defect in which one or more of the joints between the bones of a baby’s skull close prematurely, before your baby’s brain is fully formed. In some cases, craniosynostosis is associated with an underlying brain abnormality that prevents the brain from growing properly.
- Omphalocele: An omphalocele is a birth defect in which an infant’s intestine or other abdominal organs are outside of the body because of a hole in the belly button (navel) area. The intestines are covered only by a thin layer of tissue and can be easily seen.
The CDC also reported that clomiphene was also correlated (in a very small number of cases) with the following birth defects:
- Dandy-Walker malformation: Dandy-Walker Syndrome is a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum (an area at the back of the brain that controls movement) and the fluid-filled spaces around it. The key features of this syndrome are an enlargement of the fourth ventricle (a small channel that allows fluid to flow freely between the upper and lower areas of the brain and spinal cord), a partial or complete absence of the area of the brain between the two cerebellar hemispheres (cerebellar vermis), and cyst formation near the lowest part of the skull.
- Muscular ventricular septal defect: A ventricular septal defect is a birth defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the wall (ventricular septum) that separates the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. A ventricular septal defect happens during pregnancy if the wall that forms between the two ventricles does not fully develop, leaving a hole.
- Cloacal extrophy: Cloacal extrophy is a rare congenital malformation of the large intestine, bladder, and genitalia. About 1 in 400,000 babies is found to have cloacal extrophy.
Affected Families May Be Entitled to Compensation
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.
The parents of children who were born with birth defects linked to Clomid or Serophene may be entitled to compensation for damages, including the child’s:
- Medical expenses
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Scarring or physical deformities caused by the birth defect or treatment
If a child died due to birth defects linked to Clomid or Serophene, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of their child prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a child
- Funeral expenses
Affected families are encouraged to seek the advice of a Clomid lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information about Clomid risks, contact Attorney Group. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to 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.
