Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo Provera®)

Selected References:

  • Baheiraei A, et al. 2001. Effects of progestogen-only contraceptives on breast-feeding and infant growth Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 74; 203–205.  
  • Borgatta L, et al. 2002. Pregnancies diagnosed during Depo- Provera use. Contraception. Sep;66(3):169-72.  
  • Callahan R et al. 2015. Ectopic pregnancy with use of progestin-only injectables and contraceptive implants: A systemic review.  Contraception 92(6):514-522. 
  • Dahlberg K. 1982. Some effects of depotmedroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA): Observations in the nursing infant and in the long-term user. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 20:43-48.  
  • Deshmukh P, Antell K, Brown EJ. 2017. Contraception Update: Progestin-Only Implants and Injections. FP Essent.. 462:25-29. 
  • Gray RH and Pardthaisong T. 1991. In utero exposure to steroid contraceptives and outcome of pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol 134:795-803.  
  • Gray RH, Pardthaisong T. 1991. In utero exposure to steroid contraceptives and survival during infancy. Am J Epidemiol; 134:804-811. 
  • Gu YQ, et al. 2004. Male hormonal contraception: effects of injections of testosterone undecanoate and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate at eight-week intervals in chinese men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 89(5):2254-62. 
  • Hogue CJ. 1991. Invited commentary: the contraceptive technology tightrope. Am J Epidemiol 134: 812-815; author response 816-817. 
  • Jaffe B et al. 1990. Health, growth and sexual development of teenagers exposed in utero to medroxyprogesterone acetate. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 4:184-195.  
  • Jimenez J et al. 1984. Long-term follow-up of children breast-fed by mothers receiving depotmedroxyprogesterone acetate. Contraception 30:523-533.  
  • Koetsawang S, et al. 1982. Transfer of contraceptive steroids in milk of women using long-acting gestagens. Contraception 25:321- 331.  
  • Pardthaisong T, et al. 1992. The long-term growth and development of children exposed to Depo-Provera during pregnancy or lactation. Contraception 45:313-324.  
  • Pardthaisong T, Gray R. 1988. Steroid contraceptive use and pregnancy outcome. Teratology 38:51-58. 
  • PDR Entry for: Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection. 2016. Pharmacia and Upjohn Company LLC. 
  • Phillips SJ, et al. 2016. Progestogen-only contraceptive use among breastfeeding women: A systematic review. Contraception; 94:226-252.  
  • Ratchanon S and Taneepanichskul S. 2000. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and basal serum prolactin levels in lactating women. Obstetrics & Gynecology 96(6):926-928.  
  • Saxena BN et al. 1977. Levels of contraceptive steroids in breast milk and plasma of lactating women. Contraception 16:605-613.  
  • Virutamasen P et al. 1996. Pharmacodynamic effects of depot-lprogesterone acetate (DMPA) administered to lactating women on their male infants. Contraception 54:153-157.  
  • World Health Organization. 2016. Resource chart medical eligibility contraceptives – FHI 360. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.fhi360.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/resource-chart-medical-eligibility-contraceptives-english.pdf. Accessed 13 January 2026. 
  • Yovich JL, et al. 1988. Medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy in early pregnancy has no apparent fetal effects. Teratology 38:135-144.  


Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo Provera®)

Selected References:

  • Bodkin CL, et al. 2005. OnabotulinumtoxinA therapy during pregnancy. Mov Disord 20(8): 1081-1082. 
  • Briggs J, et al. 2005. Drugs in pregnancy and lactation, 7th Ed. 174-175. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia. 
  • Brin MF, et al. 2016. Pregnancy outcomes following exposure to onabotulinumtoxinA. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. 25: 179–187. 
  • Brin, MF, et al 2023. Pregnancy outcomes in patients exposed to onabotulinumtoxinA treatment. Neurology. 101: e103-e113. 
  • Cardon BR, Smith ME, Cerrati EW. 2021 May-June. Case Series of Botulinum Toxin Administered to Pregnant Patients and Review of the Literature. Facial Plast Surg Aesthet Med. 23(3):187-190. De Oliveira Monteiro E. 2006. Botulinum toxin and pregnancy. Skinmed 5(6): 308.
  • Li Yim and Weir CR. 2010. Botulinum toxin and pregnancy – cautionary tale. Strabismus 18(2): 65-66. 
  • Morgan JC, et al. 2006. Botulinum toxin A during pregnancy: a survey of treating physicians. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 77 (1) 117-119. 
  • Newman W.J., et al 2004. OnabotulinumtoxinA therapy during pregnancy. Mov Disord 19(11): 1384-1385. 
  • Polo JM, et al. 1996. Botulism and pregnancy. Lancet 348: 195. 
  • Robinson AY, Grogan PM. OnabotulinumtoxinA successfully used as migraine prophylaxis during pregnancy: a case report. Mil Med. 2014 Jun;179(6):e703-4. 
  • St. Clair EH, et al. 1975. Observations of an infant born to a mother with botulism. J Pediatr 87: 658. 
  • Wataganara T, et al. 2009. Treatment of severe achalasia during pregnancy with esophagoscopic injection of botulinum toxin A: a case report. J Perinatol 29(9): 639. 
  • Wong HT, et al. 2020. OnabotulinumtoxinA for chronic migraine during pregnancy: a real-world experience on 45 patients. J Headache Pain. 21(1):129.  
  • Wong HT, et al. 2025. OnabotulinumtoxinA treatment for chronic migraine in pregnancy: An updated report of real-world headache and pregnancy outcomes over 14 years in Hull. Cephalalgia 45(5):3331024251327387.  


Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo Provera®)

Selected References:

  • Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc. 2017. Metoprolol tartrate product labeling. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=24837d82-0f3f-4482-9af0-31e5f675c30f. Accessed 27 Jan 2026. 
  • Bateman BT, et al. 2016. Late pregnancy β blocker exposure and risks of neonatal hypoglycemia and bradycardia. Pediatrics; 138(3). pii:e20160731.  
  • Battarbee AN, et al. 2020. Chronic hypertension in pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol; 222(6):532-541. 
  • Davis RL, et al. 2011. Risks of congenital malformations and perinatal events among infants exposed to calcium channel and beta-blockers during pregnancy. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 20(2):138-145. 
  • Duan L, et al. 2017. b-Blocker exposure in pregnancy and risk of fetal cardiac anomalies. JAMA Intern Med. 177(6): 885-887. 
  • Duan L, et al. 2018. Beta-blocker subtypes and risk of low birth weight in newborns. J Clin Hypertens 20(11):1603-1609. 
  • Firoz T, et al. 2014. Community Level Interventions for Pre-Eclampsia (CLIP) Working Group. Oral antihypertensive therapy for severe hypertension in pregnancy and postpartum: a systematic review. BJOG. 121(10):1210-1218. 
  • Kulas J et al. 1984. Atenolol and metoprolol.  A comparison of their excretion into human breast milk.  Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand Suppl. 118: 65-69. 
  • Lindeberg S et al. 1984. Disposition of the adrenergic blocker metoprolol in the late-pregnant woman, the amniotic fluid, the cord blood and the neonate. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand Suppl. 118: 61-64. 
  • Ruys TP, et al. 2014. Cardiac medication during pregnancy, data from the ROPAC. Int J Cardiol. 15. 177(1):124-8. 
  • Sandstrom B, Regardh CG. 1980. Metoprolol excretion in breast milk. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 9: 518-519.  
  • Tamirisa KP, et al. 2022. Arrhythmias in Pregnancy. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. 8(1):120-135. 
  • Tanaka K, 2016. Beta-blockers and fetal growth restriction in pregnant women with cardiovascular disease. Circ J. 80(10):2221-2226.  
  • Welzel T, et al. 2021.Intrauterine Growth Retardation in Pregnant Women with Long QT Syndrome Treated with Beta-Receptor Blockers. Neonatology. 118(4):406-415.  
  • Wichman K et al. 1984. A placebo controlled trial of metoprolol in the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy. Scand J Clin Lab Invest Suppl. 169: 90-95. 
  • Xie RH, et al. 2014. Beta-blockers increase the risk of being born small for gestational age or of being institutionalised during infancy. BJOG. 121(9):1090-1096. 
  • Yakoob MY, et al. 2013. The risk of congenital malformations associated with exposure to β-blockers in pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Hypertension 62(2):375-381. 


Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo Provera®)

Selected References: 

  • AlHarthi A, et al. 2023. Investigating behavioral and neuronal changes in adolescent mice following prenatal exposure to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) vapor containing nicotine. Brain Sci, 13(10): 1417. 
  • Archie S, et al. 2023. Maternal e-cigarette use can disrupt postnatal blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and deteriorates motor, learning and memory function: influence of sex and age. Fluids Barriers CNS, 20. 
  • Baez-Loya S, et al. 2014. Perceptions about e-cigarette safety may lead to e-smoking during pregnancy. Bull Menninger Clin. 78(3):243-52.  
  • Bednarczuk N, et al. 2022. Nicotine replacement therapy and e-cigarettes in pregnancy and infant respiratory outcomes. Early Hum Dev, 164:105509. 
  • Bell L, et al. 2023. Use of e-cigarettes in pregnancy: a systematic review of evidence published from 2020-2022. Journal of Public Health, 33: 315-328 
  • Bolumen-Lopez A, et al. 2025. Neonatal nicotine withdrawal in a newborn exposed to maternal e-cigarette use. J Neonatal Perinatal Med. Published online October 9, 2025.  
  • Cardenas VM, et al. 2019. Use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) by pregnant women I: Risk of small-for-gestational-age birth. Tobacco induced diseases, 17:44. 
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2018. Electronic Cigarettes. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm [Accessed 4/2025]. 
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2023: General Information About Secondhand Smoke. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/secondhand-smoke/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/secondhand-smoke/about.html [Accessed 4/2025]. 
  • Çetin T & Durmaz Ö. 2024. An assessment of the impact of smoking and vaping during pregnancy on placental dysfunction using shear-wave elastography. Arch Basic Clin Res, 6(3): 188-194.  
  • Chen T, et al. 2023. Ovarian toxicity of e-cigarette liquids: effects of components and high and low nicotine concentration e-cigarette liquid in vitro. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 21:128. 
  • Deprato A, et al.2025. Associations between vaping during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Hazard Mater.;486:137028.  
  • Froggatt S, et al. 2020. The effects of prenatal cigarette and e-cigarette exposure on infant neurobehavior: A comparison to a control group. EClinicalMedicine, 28:10062.  
  • Hahn J, et al. 2014. Electronic cigarettes: overview of chemical composition and exposure estimation. Tob Induc Dis, 12(1):23. 
  • Galanti F, et al. 2023. Impact of different typologies of smoking on ovarian reserve and oocyte quality in women performing ICSI cycles: an observational prospective study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 27(11):5190-5199.  
  • Holmboe SA, et al. 2020. Use of e-cigarettes associates with lower sperm counts in a cross-sectional study of young men from the general population. Hum Reprod, 35(7):1693-1701. 
  • Kahr MK, et al. 2015. A qualitative assessment of the perceived risks of electronic cigarette and hookah use in pregnancy. BMC Public Health. 15(1):1273.  
  • Kim S, Oancea SC. 2020. Electronic cigarettes may not be a “safer alternative” of conventional cigarettes during pregnancy: Evidence from the nationally representative PRAMS data. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 20(1):557.  
  • Kim HK, et al. 2025. Impact of conventional cigarette and electronic cigarette use on sperm quality and IVF/ICSI outcomes. Sci Rep. ;15(1):23714.  
  • Kopa-Stojak PN & Pawliczak R. 2024. Disposable electronic cigarettes – chemical composition and health effects of their use. A systematic review. Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 35(3): 250-261. 
  • Le AD, et al. 2025. A Preconception Cohort Study of Nicotine Vaping and Incidence of Spontaneous Abortion. Nicotine Tob Res. Published online July 3, 2025.  
  • Lin S, et al. 2023. E-cigarette use during pregnancy and its association with adverse birth outcomes in the US. Prev Med, 166:107375. 
  • McDonnell BP, et al. 2020. Electronic cigarettes and obstetric outcomes: A prospective observational study. BJOG, 127(6):750-756.Nanninga EK et al. 2023. Adverse maternal and infant outcomes of women who differ in smoking status: e-cigarette and tobacco cigarette users. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 20(3): 2632. 
  • Nguyen T, et al. 2018. Maternal e-cigarette exposure results in cognitive and epigenetic alterations in offspring in a mouse model. Chemical research in toxicology, 31(7): 601-611. 
  • Noël A, et al. 2020. In utero exposures to electronic-cigarette aerosols impair the Wnt signaling during mouse lung development. American journal of psychology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 318(4):L705-L722. 
  • O’Connell, A., et al. 2025. Vaping and Smoking in Pregnancy-A Meta-Analysis of Neurobehavioural Development in Prenatally Exposed Offspring. Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 114(12), 3108–3121.  
  • Orzabal MR, et al. 2019. Chronic exposure to e-cig aerosols during early development causes vascular dysfunction and offspring growth deficits. Translational research: the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine, 207:70-82. 
  • Popham K & Kandasamy Y. 2023. The impact of smoking and nicotine exposure during pregnancy on fetal nephrogenesis: a systematic review. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 14(5): 559-569. 
  • Phillips L et al. 2023. Developing a taxonomy to describe offspring outcomes in studies involving pregnant mammals’ exposure to non-tobacco nicotine: a systematic scoping review. Plos One, 18(2).  
  • Sana M et al. 2023. Maternal cigarette and electronic cigarette use before pregnancy associated with the risk of hypertension and gestational hypertension. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 141(5S): 83S-83S. 
  • Sukhato K, et al. 2025. Comparative effects of electronic cigarettes and dual use of electronic and conventional cigarettes on adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. Published online November 28, 2025.  
  • Suter MA, et al. 2015. Is there evidence for potential harm of electronic cigarette use in pregnancy? Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol,103(3):186-95. 
  • Trapphoff T,et al. 2024. Consumption of hookahs, e-cigarettes, and classic cigarettes and the impact on medically assisted reproduction treatment. Sci Rep.;14(1):9597.  
  • Vallée A, et al. 2025. Maternal vaping and pregnancy adverse outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Women Birth ;38(5):101951.  
  • Walayat A et al. 2024. Maternal e-cigarette exposure alters DNA methylome, site-specific CpG and CH methylation, and transcriptomic signatures in the neonatal brain. Sci Rep, 14. 
  • Wang X, et al. 2020. Smoking and use of electronic cigarettes (vaping) in relation to preterm birth and small-for-gestational age in a 2016 U.S. national sample. Preventative medicine, 134:106041. 


Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo Provera®)

Selected References:

  • Bateman BT, et al. 2016. Late pregnancy β blocker exposure and risks of neonatal hypoglycemia and bradycardia. Pediatrics 138(3) pii:e20160731. 
  • Bauer et al. 1979. Propranolol in human plasma and breast milk. Am J Cardiol 43(4):860-862. 
  • Bratton S, et al. 2024. Does atenolol use during pregnancy cause small for gestational age neonates? A meta-analysis. Journal of Perinatal Medicine. 52.8: 858-862. 
  • Davis RL, et al. 2011. Risks of congenital malformations and perinatal events among infants exposed to calcium channel and beta-blockers during pregnancy. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 20(2):138-45.  Duan L, et al. 2017. b-Blocker exposure in pregnancy and risk of fetal cardiac anomalies. JAMA Intern Med
  • 177(6):885-887.  
  • Duan L, et al. 2018. Beta-blocker subtypes and risk of low birth weight in newborns. J Clin Hypertens 20(11):1603-1609. 
  • Firoz T, et al. 2014. Oral antihypertensive therapy for severe hypertension in pregnancy and postpartum: a systematic review. BJOG 121(10):1210-1218. 
  • Fischer AJ, et al. 2021. Antiarrhythmic drugs – safety and efficacy during pregnancy. Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 32(2): 145-151. 
  • Freppel R, et al. 2024. Beta-blockers and breastfeeding: a real-life prospective study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 80(12):1937-1943.  
  • Halpern DG, et al. 2019. Use of medication for cardiovascular disease during pregnancy: JACC state-of-the-art review. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 73.4: 457-476. 
  • Hutchinson S, et al. 2013. Use of common migraine treatments in breast-feeding women: A summary of recommendations. Headache 53(4):614-627.  
  • Joglar JA, et al. 2023. 2023 HRS expert consensus statement on the management of arrhythmias during pregnancy. Heart Rhythm. 20.10: e175-e264. Karlberg B, et al.
  • 1974. Excretion of propranolol in human breast milk. Aceta Pharmacol Toxicol 34(3):222-224. 
  • Lennestal R, et al. 2009. Maternal use of antihypertensive drugs in early pregnancy and delivery outcome, notably the presence of congenital heart defects in the infants. Eru J Clin Pharmacol 65(6):615-625. 
  • Manolis TA, et al. 2020. Cardiac arrhythmias in pregnant women: need for mother and offspring protection. Curr Med Res Opin 36(7)1225-1243. 
  • Moss HB, Procci WRR. 1982. Sexual dysfunction associated with oral antihypertensive medication: a critical survey of the literature. Gen Hosp Psych 4(2):121-129. 
  • Riant P, et al. 1986. High plasma protein binding as a parameter in the selection of betablockers for lactating women. Biochem Pharmacol 35(24):4579-4581. 
  • Rosen RC, et al. 1988. Beta-blocker effects on sexual function in normal males. Arch Sex Behav. 17(3):241-255. Ruys TP, et al. 2014. Cardiac medication during
  • pregnancy, data from the ROPAC. Int J Cardiol. 177(1):124-128.  
  • Salman M, et al. 2016. Erectile dysfunction: prevalence, risk factors, and involvement of antihypertensive drugs intervention. Trop J Pharm Res 15(4)869-876. 
  • Smith MT et al. 1983. Propranolol, propranolol glucuronide, and naphthoxylactic acid in breast milk and plasma. Ther Drug Monit. 5(1):87-93. 
  • Tanaka K, et al. 2016. Beta-blockers and fetal growth restriction in pregnant women with cardiovascular disease. Circ J 80(10):2221-2226. Taylor EA, Turner P. 1981. Anti-hypertensive therapy with propranolol during pregnancy and lactation.  Postgrad Med J 57(669):427-430. 
  • Thorley KJ, McAinish J. 1983. Levels of the beta-blockers atenolol and propranolol in the breast milk of women treated for hypertension in pregnancy.  Biopharm Drug Dispos. 4(3):299-301. 
  • Turnstall ME. 1969. The effect of propranolol on the onset of breathing at birth. Br J Anaesth 41(9):792. 
  • Welzel T, et al. 2021. Intrauterine growth retardation in pregnant women with Long QT syndrome treated with beta-receptor blockers. Neonatology 118(4)406-415. 
  • Xie RH, et al. 2014. Association between labetalol use for hypertension in pregnancy and adverse infant outcomes. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 175:124-128. 
  • Xie RH, et al. 2014. Beta-blockers increase the risk of being born small for gestational age or of being institutionalized during infancy. BJOG. 121(9):1090-1096. 
  • Yakoob MY, et al. 2013. The risk of congenital malformations associated with exposure to β-blockers in pregnancy: a meta-analysis. Hypertension 62(2):375-381.