Teratogen and Its Effect On The Fetus

Teratogenic Effects and Pregnancy
Maria Perryman
Excelsior University
Psy235: Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Professor (or Dr.) Mordorf
May 5, 2024
Teratogenic Effect and Pregnancy
Teratogen and Pregnancy
The womb, a protective cavity, provides the ideal conditions for life to begin. An embryo grows
in the womb. It connects to the host, often the mother, through the placenta. Over the next 36
weeks, this fetus relies on the mother for nourishment and is susceptible to anything the mother
consumes. Because of this, women must take caution. To protect her and her fetus, she should be
vigilant and avoid substances that can cause harm. This fetus's survival starts in the womb. What
it receives or lacks will impact its life outside the womb
Physical agents
Researchers have discovered many physical agents, Such as hyperthermia and radiation, that
cause damage to the fetus's cell tissue and organ tissue development for the embryo. Some of
These include ionizing agents, hyperthermia, and physical trauma. Hyperthermia happens when a
mother's internal temperature increases, causing cell death. This increase in temperature can
deprive cells of the oxygen needed to keep the mother and fetus alive. This organ cell disruption
causes Brain damage, miscarriage, and malformations. Fever is one of the most frequent reasons
for emergency consultation during pregnancy. It may be associated with significant adverse
outcomes, these being maternal sepsis, organ damage, obstetrical miscarriage, preterm birth,
chorioamnionitis or fetal malformations, fetal demise (Charlier C., Perrodeau E., Levallois C.,
Cachina T., Dommergues M., Salomon L.J. Causes of fever in pregnant women with acute
undifferentiated fever: a prospective multicentric study. Ear J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020;
(January):18. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Ref list])
Drugs, Chemical agents, and infection agents
No pregnancy is without the risk of congenital disabilities. You cannot get a perfect soul from an
imperfect human being. However, adding toxic chemicals and Drugs to the equation increases
the odds. Chemicals such as Thalidomide and Alcohol are well known to cause birth defects.
1960 was an important year when the drug Thalidomide drug was initially developed as a
sedative and tranquilizer. This medication causes infants to be born without limbs, missing
limbs, or extremities malformation. Thalidomide was released in the United States in
1999. thalidomide was recommended to treat diseases such as morning sickness, HIV, Cancer,
In 1960, a new drug called Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative and tranquilizer.(Drugs
Researchers, comsat University abbottabad, Abbottabad (2024).
https://www.findhealthclinics.com/PK/Abbottabad/106499525695855/Drugs-Researchers)
While it was hailed as a wonder drug, it soon became notorious for the devastating birth
defects it caused. The tragic consequences of Thalidomide's use underscore the importance of
thorough testing and careful monitoring for all new medications.and IBS. It is recommended that
women taking this drug take birth control until therapy is completed. (Mother To Baby | Fact
Sheets [Internet]. Brentwood (TN): Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS);
1994-. Thalidomide. 2023 Feb. Available
from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582976/)
Environmental Agents
One common environmental agent, Alcohol, causes the placenta barrier directly to the fetus. So,
If the mother is drunk, so is the baby. The term used for this defect is called FASD ( fetal alcohol
syndrome disorder). These adverse effects can vary from one affected individual to the next.
They can include a range of structural and functional abnormalities, growth retardation, central
nervous system dysfunction, and craniofacial dysmorphology (Lipinski R.J., Hammond P.,
O'Leary-Moore S.K., Ament J.J., Pecevich S.J., Jiang Y., Budin F., Parnell S.E., Suttie M.,
Godin E.A., et al. Ethanol-Induced Face-Brain Dysmorphology Patterns Are Correlative and
Exposure-Stage Dependent. PLoS ONE. 2012;7:e43067.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043067. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google
Scholar] [Ref list]) Interestingly, Researchers and physicians do not have a safe amount of
alcohol consumption for expecting mothers. It is safe to avoid consumption altogether. All
researchers understand is that FASD is preventable if a mother refrains from consumption.
As shown in the image below, it is crucial that each trimester of pregnancy is free of teratogens.
To ensure safe womb development, it is important to avoid introducing teratogens during every
stage of development. Proper care for an embryo, fetus, or baby should begin before conception,
continue throughout pregnancy, and be maintained after delivery.

References
Toxic and Teratogenic Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Fetal Development, Adolescence,
and Adulthood
Toxic and Teratogenic Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Fetal Development,
Adolescence, and Adulthood
Chung, D. D., Pinson, M. R., Bhenderu, L. S., Lai, M. S., Patel, R. A., & Miranda, R. C. (2021).
Toxic and Teratogenic Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Fetal Development,
Adolescence, and Adulthood. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(16), 8785.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168785
Mother to baby
Mother To Baby | Fact Sheets [Internet]. Brentwood (TN): Organization of Teratology
Information Specialists (OTIS); 1994-. Thalidomide. 2023 Feb. Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582976/
Hyperthermia
Egloff, C., Sibiude, J., Couffignal, C., Mandelbrot, L., & Picone, O. (2020). Causes and
consequences of fever during pregnancy: A retrospective study in a gynaecological
emergency department. Journal of gynecology obstetrics and human reproduction, 49(9),
101899. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2020.101899
Fever in pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformation: A Cohort Study

Sass, L., Urhøj, S. K., Kjærgaard, J., Dreier, J. W., Strandberg‐Larsen, K., & Andersen, A. N.
(2017, December 1). Fever in pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformations: a cohort
study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-017-1585-0
Parent-Life
Life, P. (2020, January 20). Teratogens in Pregnancy Can Cause Birth Defects | Parents Life.
Parents Life. https://parents-life.com/teratogens-in-pregnancy/

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Teratogenic Effects and Pregnancy

Psy235: Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Professor (or Dr.) Mordorf

Teratogen and Pregnancy

it receives or lacks will impact its life outside the womb

(January):18. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Ref list])

Drugs, Chemical agents, and infection agents

limbs, or extremities malformation. Thalidomide was released in the United States in

Researchers, comsat University abbottabad, Abbottabad (2024).

Sheets [Internet]. Brentwood (TN): Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS);

1994-. Thalidomide. 2023 Feb. Available

Exposure-Stage Dependent. PLoS ONE. 2012;7:e43067.

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043067. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google

researchers understand is that FASD is preventable if a mother refrains from consumption.

continue throughout pregnancy, and be maintained after delivery.

Toxic and Teratogenic Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Fetal Development,

Adolescence, and Adulthood

Toxic and Teratogenic Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Fetal Development,

Adolescence, and Adulthood. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(16), 8785.

Mother To Baby | Fact Sheets [Internet]. Brentwood (TN): Organization of Teratology

Information Specialists (OTIS); 1994-. Thalidomide. 2023 Feb. Available from:

consequences of fever during pregnancy: A retrospective study in a gynaecological

emergency department. Journal of gynecology obstetrics and human reproduction, 49(9),

Fever in pregnancy and the risk of congenital malformation: A Cohort Study

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