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Understanding Pregnancy Exposure Registries

Are you pregnant and taking medicines? Have you recently received a vaccine? You are not alone. There are about 6 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year, and 80% of those who are pregnant say they take at least one medicine. Some may be getting treatment for a health problem they had before pregnancy, while others take medicines for health problems, like diabetes, morning sickness, or high blood pressure, that can start or get worse during pregnancy. 

Pregnancy exposure registries allow health care professionals to learn more about the safety of medicines and vaccines used during pregnancy.

What is a pregnancy exposure registry?

Pregnancy exposure registries are research studies that collect information about the effect that medicines you are already taking, or vaccines received during pregnancy may have on you and your developing fetus. Some pregnancy exposure registry studies also collect information on your newborn baby for a period of time after birth. Others gather information on pregnant women who have not taken a certain medicine or received certain vaccines during pregnancy. Participation in pregnancy exposure registries is voluntary.

Ask your health care provider about pregnancy exposure registries. By volunteering to participate in a pregnancy exposure registry, you can share your experiences and help others learn more about the safety of medicines and vaccines used during pregnancy. 

Learn more about pregnancy exposure registries and get involved

    Check out this video created by the FDA Office of Women’s Health (OWH) to explain how pregnancy exposure registries work

Additional information and how to locate a registry can be found at www.fda.gov/pregnancyregistries. 

Who can sign up for a pregnancy exposure registry?

Are you taking medicines for an existing health problem or one that started during pregnancy? You may be a good candidate to volunteer for a pregnancy exposure registry, if one is open and enrolling. You may also want to consider signing up for a pregnancy exposure registry if you recently received a vaccine. 

By signing up, you can help improve safety information for medicines and vaccines used during pregnancy. Talk with your health care provider to learn more.

How to sign up for a pregnancy exposure registry

You can look for your medicine or medical condition and volunteer for a registry today. Go to the FDA’s list of pregnancy exposure registries. If you do not find a registry for your medicine or vaccine on the list, ask your health care provider if they can help you find a pregnancy exposure registry. 

Still unsure whether a pregnancy exposure registry is right for you? Ask your health care provider for help getting started. 

Pregnancy exposure registry information for health professionals

Are you a health professional? You can help improve the safety of medicines and vaccines used during pregnancy. Encourage your pregnant patients to voluntarily enroll in a pregnancy exposure registry. The information collected supplements the safety information for prescription medicines and vaccines used during pregnancy and may be used to update medicine and vaccine labeling. The information collected will be retained in a secure manner, and when the data is shared with researchers and FDA, the identity of your patient will remain private.

The company that makes the medicine or vaccine is usually in charge of the pregnancy registry. While FDA keeps a list of registries using information provided by researchers or companies that manufacture medical products, FDA does not run any of the studies and does not endorse any registry.

Visit www.fda.gov/pregnancyregistries to learn more. 

Related links 

• List of Pregnancy Exposure Registries
• Pregnancy Exposure Registry Information for Health Professionals
• Medicine and Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Tips
• Pregnancy and Lactation Labeling 

For resources and materials on other women's health topics, visit www.fda.gov/womens.