While this topic continues to generate much clinical and media interest, it has been suggested that a change from paracetamol to NSAIDs

in pregnancy might have other associated risks.[35] US[36] and UK[37] data suggest that a high proportion of pregnant Wnt inhibitor women self-medicate minor ailments with OTC medications. In the Sloane Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study a total of 7563 mothers of offspring with and without birth defects were interviewed between 1998 and 2004, showing that 69.8% had used paracetamol and 24.8% had used ibuprofen.[36] Similarly, in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, conducted among a total of 2970 mothers, rates of use were 65.5% and 18.4%, respectively.[36] Our findings are consistent with these earlier reports; among respondents who were pregnant and regular analgesic users paracetamol was used by 71.0% and ibuprofen by Enzalutamide molecular weight 29.0%. The predominant use of paracetamol reflects its category A pregnancy status, defined in Australia

as drugs which have been taken by a large number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age without an increase in the frequency of malformations or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the fetus having been observed.[38] More than half of all pregnancies are unplanned, potentially exposing many women to various agents that may have a harmful effect on the foetus during the critical first few weeks of gestation.[39] Studies have suggested an association between the use of NSAIDs very early in pregnancy and an increased risk of miscarriage,[40–43] whereas others demonstrate an association between the use of NSAIDs and luteinising un-ruptured follicle syndrome causing transient infertility.[44–47] Use of NSAIDs is contraindicated during the third trimester of PRKD3 pregnancy. In Australia it has also been mandated, since

2008, that products containing ibuprofen display a package warning stating that the product should not be used during the first 6 months of pregnancy, except on a doctor’s advice. Nevertheless, among females aged 18–49 years in our study, only 31% claimed to be aware of any risk of taking ibuprofen during pregnancy and 20% indicated any awareness of potential risks associated with using ibuprofen when trying to conceive. Consumer research data are not without limitations and there is often concern that reliable results cannot be achieved in telephone surveys. Although both studies included a large sample size, the data provide only a cross-sectional snapshot in time of consumers’ self-reports and may be subject to respondent recall bias. Additionally, although the questionnaire was specific to the use of analgesics that were purchased without a written doctor’s prescription, our data are silent on such topics as duration of use and whether use of the analgesic purchased OTC was recommended by a healthcare professional.