Table 1.

Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids and bisphosphonates on human pregnancy and fertility

Drug	FDA riska	Transplacental passage	Human teratogenicity	Fetal/neonatal adverse effects	Long-term effects in offspring	Impairment of fertility
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	B/D	Yes	No	In late pregnancy, constriction of the ductus arteriosus, reduction of renal blood flow	Not studied	Cases of inhibition of follicle rupture
Prednisone	B	Limited	Increase in oral clefts	Rare (cataract, adrenal insufficiency, infection)	Not studied	Not studied
Dexamethasone	C	Yes	Not reportedb	Neurodevelopmental abnormalities	Not studied	Not studied
Betamethasone	C	Yes	Not reportedb	Neurodevelopmental abnormalities ?	Not studied	Not studied
Bisphosphonates	C	Not studied	Not reported	Two cases of hypocalcaemia in the newborn infant	Not studied	Not studied

Details and references are given in the text. ^aThe United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pregnancy risk categories are as follows: A, no risk in controlled clinical studies in humans; B, human data reassuring or when absent, animal studies show no risk; C, human data are lacking; animal studies show risk or are not done; D, positive evidence of risk, benefit may outweigh; X, contraindicated during pregnancy. ^bNo indication for maternal use in the first trimester.