Botox and Pregnancy

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During pregnancy, the effects of the use of certain medicines and treatments on the health and development of the foetus is of often a source of worry for the expectant mother. Botox is a toxin but, if administered correctly, has been deemed safe to use for both cosmetic treatment and for medical conditions such as recurrent migraines. But how safe is Botox to use during pregnancy?

There are a lack of controlled studies into the effects of Botox on pregnant women and their unborn children, therefore it is impossible to say conclusively either way whether it is safe. For the sake of erring on the side of caution, Botox’s manufacturers recommend that it is not used on either pregnant women or nursing mothers. As with the effects during pregnancy, there is a lack of information on whether Botox injections can pass the toxin into breast milk.

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Several studies have been conducted on the effects of Botox on pregnant rodents and rabbits – with worrying results – but it should be noted that animal studies do not always give a reliable picture of a drugs effect on a human. The levels of Botox administered to the test subjects are also far higher than the doses which would normally be given to a human patient, whether for cosmetic or medicinal purposes. When it was injected into the muscles of mice and rats results showed a link between high levels of Botox and low birth weight or problems with foetal bone development. In rabbits, high doses - administered over a period of several days during a crucial period of foetal development – led to spontaneous abortions (miscarriage) and foetal malformation.

Due to the potential link with increased risk of miscarriage and problems with foetal development it is inadvisable to undergo Botox injections while pregnant if they are purely for cosmetic purposes. Doctors advise that if the mother-to-be received a Botox injection just prior to conception or early during the first trimester that the risk to the baby is low as the toxin is unlikely to circulate in the body at high enough levels to cause harm, but that the injection should not be repeated until post-partum. If Botox is being used for medical reasons it is the mother-to-be’s responsibility to weigh up the potential risks to the foetus against the problems that may be experienced if treatment is stopped.

Pregnant women who have enjoyed the benefits of the effects of Botox on the signs of ageing may find that this cosmetic treatment becomes superfluous during pregnancy, as water retention naturally puffs out the skin causing fine lines such as crow’s feet to become less visible. Where Botox has been used for medical purposes, patients should seek advice from their doctor regarding safe alternatives. For instance, migraine sufferers may find natural supplements such as feverfew are equally effective during pregnancy.

Although there is no conclusive evidence that Botox causes miscarriage or birth defects in humans, always advice your doctor if you are either pregnant or planning on trying to conceive in the near future before undergoing treatment.