Why should women not get pregnant while taking the medicine Methotrexate? | Ask the Expert: Dr. Corle, OB/Gyn with Utica Park Clinic

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Question:

Why should women not get pregnant while taking the medicine Methotrexate?

Answer:

Methotrexate is a medication used to treat many different medical conditions. For example, it has been used to treat certain cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. It functions by inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase and is a folate antagonist. In a nutshell, it stops the growth of dividing cells.

This medication is also used for treatment of ectopic pregnancy. The medication will stop the growth of the dividing fetal cells and terminate the pregnancy. As you can imagine, if a woman were to take Methotrexate and become pregnant, the medication would cause a miscarriage of the pregnancy.

This is a great example of why it is important to discuss with your doctor all medications you are taking if you decide to try to become pregnant.