Metronidazole and pregnancy.

Since metronidazole is so widely used, it is important to know whether there is any risk from giving the drug during pregnancy. Many drugs are now withheld during early pregnancy, unless their administration is considered essential. There are, however, patients to whom drugs are given before the existence of pregnancy is recognized. In such cases there may be risks of foetal malformations. Apart from the study by Scott-Gray (1964), there have been few reports of the outcome of pregnancies in which metronidazole was given to the mother in the first trimester. The present report describes some findings at The London Hospital which, although limited as regards numbers, were thought worth reporting in the hope that others would record their own experiences.