South Carolina Clomid Lawsuit

Mother and Child | South Carolina Clomid Lawsuit
monkeybusinessimages/iStock/Thinkstock

A South Carolina Clomid lawsuit or Serophene lawsuit may be an option for women who took the fertility drug and had a child with birth defects. Clomiphene, a commonly prescribed fertility drug sold under the brand names Clomid and Serophene, is often given to induce ovulation in women that cannot ovulate on their own. However, Clomiphene has been allegedly linked to certain birth defects, particularly those affecting the head, heart, and digestive system. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a lawsuit with the help of a South Carolina Clomid lawsuit attorney.

For more information, contact Attorney Group for South Carolina. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated South Carolina Clomid lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.

The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.Get Help Now.

What is Clomiphene?

Clomiphene is a prescription medication used to induce ovulation in women who are unable to become pregnant or who have certain medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Although the drug has been used as an effective treatment to induce ovulation, Clomiphene poses a number of risks, including enlargement of the ovaries, multiple pregnancies, abdominal pain or discomfort, blurred vision, nausea, and dizziness.

How Does Clomiphene Work?

Clomiphene works by acting on the estrogen receptors at the hypothalamus, an important hormone control center in the brain. The hypothalamus then releases follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are to stimulate the production of eggs.

In a similar way, Clomiphene has been prescribed to treat male infertility. While doctors may prescribe Clomiphene to treat such conditions, the drug is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is considered “off-label.”

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. Birth defects affecting those children include defects that affect the head, heart, and limbs of the child.

Findings of the study indicate that children of mothers who used Clomiphene experienced the following complications in greater numbers than children of mothers who did not use the drug:

  • Unusual brain and skull development known as anencephaly
  • Septal heart defects, or abnormal connection between the heart’s lower chambers
  • Narrowing of the aorta, a large, oxygen carrying blood vessel
  • Esophageal atresia, or underdeveloped esophagus
  • Premature closure of the skull known as craniosynostosis
  • Omphalocele, a condition in which the intestine or abdominal organs are located outside of the body
  • Dandy-Walker malformation, a type of brain malformation
  • Muscular ventricular heart defects, or a hole in the wall of the heart’s lower chambers
  • An unusual position of the large intestine called cloacal exstrophy

In the case of some defects, such as those affecting the heart, the child may require multiple medical procedures as they age in addition to initial surgical procedures within the first three years of their life.

Fertility Drugs and Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may include a wide range of conditions, including Asperger’s syndrome; pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS); and autistic disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder is often characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction across a number of different contexts; restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities; and are usually recognized within the first two years of the baby’s life.

In June 2010, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health reported to attendees at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia that women who used fertility drugs  to induce ovulation had nearly twice the risk of having a child with ASD verses women who did not use any fertility treatment.

Other Clomid Side Effects

According to the FDA, the following side effects have also been reportedly associated with ovulation induction therapy with Clomid:

  • Cleft palate
  • Visual disorders
  • Club foot
  • Harelip
  • Multiple pregnancies
  • Down syndrome
  • Spina bifida

How a South Carolina Clomid Lawsuit Can Help

Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.

People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:

  • Medical Expenses
  • Lost Wages
  • Pain and Suffering

The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.

The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.

For more information, contact Attorney Group for South Carolina. 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.