Depo-Medrol Use In Pregnancy & Lactation

Fertility: Corticosteroids have been shown to impair fertility in animal studies (see Pharmacology: Toxicology: Preclinical Safety Data under Actions).
Pregnancy: Some animal studies have shown that corticosteroids, when administered to the mother, may cause fetal malformations. However, corticosteroids do not appear to cause congenital anomalies when given to pregnant women. Since adequate human reproductive studies have not been done with methylprednisolone acetate, this medicinal product should be used during pregnancy only after a careful assessment of the benefit-risk ratio to the mother and fetus.
Corticosteroids readily cross the placenta. One retrospective study found an increased incidence of low birth weights in infants born of mothers receiving corticosteroids. In humans, the risk of low birth weight appears to be dose related and may be minimized by administering lower corticosteroid doses.
Infants born of mothers who have received substantial doses of corticosteroids during pregnancy must be carefully observed and evaluated for signs of adrenal insufficiency, although neonatal adrenal insufficiency appears to be rare in infants who were exposed in utero to corticosteroids.
Cataracts have been observed in infants born to mothers treated with long-term corticosteroids during pregnancy.
There are no known effects of corticosteroids on labor and delivery.
Lactation: Corticosteroids are excreted in breast milk.
Corticosteroids distributed into breast milk may suppress growth and interfere with endogenous glucocorticoid production in nursing infants. This medicinal product should be used during breast feeding only after a careful assessment of the benefit-risk ratio to the mother and infant.