Cause And Effect Of The Pregnancy Rate During The First...

According to The March of Dimes (2016) miscarriage, particularly in the first trimester, has an overall estimated incidence of 10 to 15%. However, the number could be as high as 50% when taking into account pregnancies which had not yet been discovered (March of Dimes, 2016). Concern regarding miscarriage is universal yet in women taking an antidepressant this concern increases as researchers have theorized that its use may increase the potential for spontaneous abortion. Two large scale studies by Andersen et al., (2014) and Kjaersgaard et al., (2013) documented increased miscarriage rates although a direct correlation between SSRI use and spontaneous abortion was not identified. These two prospective studies combined evaluated†¦show more content†¦So while increased miscarriage rates have been documented in the research, the authors’ conclusions directed implication away from SSRI use and focused rather on other possible causative factors. PREGNANCY, SSRI USE AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES 8 SSRIs do not seem to be implicated in spontaneous abortion and their role in stillbirth and postneonatal mortality follows similar lines. The increase in both stillbirth and postneonatal mortality found in the studies by Andersen et al., (2014), Jimenez-Solem et al., ( 2013) Stephansson et al., (2013) are likely attributed to severity of disease and comorbidity factors such as increased tobacco and alcohol use, elevated BMI, and or higher maternal age. None of these studies concluded that SSRI use was a causative factor, but rather focused on depression and the common health risks which often accompany the diagnosis. Overall, review of the current literature finds no direct causal relationship between SSRI use and miscarriage, stillbirth or postneonatal mortality (Andersen et al., Jimenez-Solem et al., 2013, Kjaersgaard et al., 2013 Stephansson et al., 2013). This does not eliminate an indirect causal relationship from malformations such as persistent pulmonary hypertension, anencephaly, craniosynostosis, or omphalocele. Studies on Major Birth Defects and SSRI