Ibuprofen is an excellent medicine for relieving pain. However, pregnant women cannot take ibuprofen, as it has several risks.
Ibuprofen is an extremely popular remedy known to many. It is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, indicated for fever and pain, from mild to moderate. It is common to use it to treat headaches, toothaches, throat pains, as well as others. It is also present in the composition of other anti-inflammatory remedies to treat the same types of pain. However, in the case of pregnant women, it is important to be more careful. In this sense, checking whether a pregnant woman can take ibuprofen should happen first and foremost.
According to gynecologist and obstetrician Maria Augusta Tamm, ibuprofen is classified in group B during the first 2 trimesters of pregnancy. Therefore, it does not demonstrate any risk in human studies. This way, if necessary, the doctor can even prescribe a minimum dose for the pregnant woman. However, this medication has extreme contraindications in the last stage of pregnancy. This happens because the medicine in the last trimester causes complications in childbirth, as well as in the formation of the baby.
Check below everything you need to know about whether you can take ibuprofen when pregnant, as well as the reasons why the medicine is dangerous in the last stage of pregnancy. In any case, it is essential to remember that any medication must be approved by a doctor, who will know how to deal with the type of pain and stage of pregnancy.
Can pregnant women take ibuprofen?
According to a study published in Human Reproduction, pregnant women who take the medicine in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy are at great risk. This risk is related to the fertility of their future daughters, which may be impaired. A team of scientists discovered that exposure to the drug during early pregnancy results in the loss of germ cells. These cells give rise to gametes, sperm and eggs in babies.
The scientists’ research took place through the analysis of ovarian tissue, where they discovered that many of the germ cells simply stopped growing or died. So, taking ibuprofen, even just for a few days, can cause some fertility problems. There is also an estimate that 30% of women use this medicine in the first 3 months of pregnancy, which is dangerous.
The search
In the research, 185 fetuses were analyzed, all from 7 to 12 weeks old. The scientists then cultured the fetuses’ ovarian tissue in the laboratory, also testing the umbilical cord blood. This way, they could relate whether exposure to the medicine had any relationship with the damage. The result was that ibuprofen crossed the placental barrier.
In this sense, the concentration found in the umbilical cords of the fetuses of mothers who ingested 4 200mg tablets 2 or 4 hours before the analysis was the same as that in the blood of an adult. Furthermore, the fetal tissue previously exposed to the drug for 7 days only had half of the germ cells common in an ovary.
According to Séverine Mazaud-Guittot, a researcher in the field, there were fewer cells growing and dividing, and likewise, more cells dying. There was also a drastic loss in the number of germ cells, unrelated to the gestational age of the fetus. Even 5 days after withdrawing the medicine, the harmful effects did not disappear for good.
Other risks of ibuprofen
Furthermore, even when asking whether pregnant women can take ibuprofen, there are more reasons why the answer would be no. The medicine can harm the baby. In the first trimester of pregnancy, for example, it increases the chances of heart malformations or other congenital anomalies, such as defects in the abdominal wall. Soon after, in the second trimester, it is still not recommended to use it.
In the third trimester, ibuprofen is even more dangerous. It can cause a decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid, which affects the development of the baby’s lungs. Furthermore, it affects the heart and delays childbirth. Taking the medicine at any time during pregnancy can also increase the risk of a natural miscarriage.
What to take instead?
Ultimately, the best thing to do is simply avoid ibuprofen during pregnancy. The best and safest medicine to relieve pain is paracetamol, and if it doesn’t work, the ideal is to consult a doctor.7
If you are interested in this article about whether pregnant women can take ibuprofen, take the opportunity to check it out
Sources: CCM Saúde, Viva Bem, Minha Vida
Images: Gazeta do Povo, Galileu, MD Saúde, O Globo
