Did anyone take doxycycline in their first trimester?

[Steph32]

Hi ladies- I need your help! I am just 5 weeks but I thought I'd pop over here and ask for your advice. I thought maybe there would be someone here that has been through this. I was tested positive for a ureaplasm infection (cervical culture) and unfortunately it is associated with miscarriage, preterm delivery and stillbirth. So the Dr wants to put me on doxycycline for 10 days, but I am concerned about any possible risk to the fetus. They say that it is harmful and contraindicated in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters but not enough information to know if it is totally safe in the 1st. Has anyone taken this in early pregnancy? Dr said there is no alternative antibiotic either. What to do??

 

[Steph32]

Bump?

 

[Alisa F]

Steph,

I just got a letter from my consultant saying swab results showed i still had Ureaplasma even though he already have me erythromycin for it in August, clearly it didnt work and now he wants me to take Docycycline 10mg for 7 days....

I literally picked the letter from my letterbox 15 minutes ago and called his secretary who will ask him if there is a safer alternative. I will message you as soon as i hear back.

If there isnt a safer alternative i think i will just take it because I'm not pregnant yet and becuase I had somewhat unexplained extreme preterm labout last year (25w2d).

I read your other post on the other wall and I see you have a history of m/c which is what ureaplasma is linked to. To me it seems the risks of ureaplasma and doxycycline during pregnancy each have almost the same chance of having a negative impact, so we're in a tough position, we have to pick one but both are bad. I mean take the drugs and bear the risks, or don't take it and risk m/c and other adverse outcomes. I'm very stressed now!

 

[Sasaminks]

I have no idea but didnt want to R&R - good luck to both of you I really hope it works out ok xxx

 

[Alisa F]

Steph - I just heard back from my ob/gyn's secretary, he told her to advise me that Doxycycline is perfectly safe when you're TTC and before 6 weeks pregnant, he would NOT recommend Doxycycline beyond 6 weeks pregnancy. You're at 5w2d i believe, so I would assume your RE has the same opinion, maybe you can take 100mg for 7 days like I have been prescribed rather than 10 days and you won't be fully 6 weeks.

But definitely try get hold of your RE today. It is really an emergency so you should be able to speak to them or at least get a message back like i did...

Good luck, i really do feel for you.

Alisa x

 

[Steph32]

Alisa-

Ok so I wanted to get back to you about my decision. First off, I am so very sorry about your previous loss. I hope that you get pregnant very soon, and maybe taking care of the ureaplasma will prevent something like that from happening again.

I decided not to take the medication, and here is why (based on my own research and speaking with different doctors):

1) Although some studies show a connection w/ ureaplasma and miscarriage/preterm labor the vast majority of resesarch is either lacking or shows no direct causation.

2) Roughly 70% of pregnant women are positive for ureaplasma. And many women don't even know they have it because they are not tested. A small percentage of these women actually have problems associated with it (1/10), and when they do, it is because it is associated with other diseases, STD's and a condition called bacterial vaginosis. (One would know if they had BV because there would be clear symptoms).

3) Presence of the bacteria does not necessarily mean infection. If the bacteria was in an environment where it could run rampant (again, if there were other bacteria/diseases and maybe not enough good bacteria) then it could potentially pose a threat, but in an otherwise healthy woman any harmful bacteria will be kept at a minimum.

4) Ureaplasma (unlike other STD's) can come and go, and sometimes just spontaneously resolve.

5) By taking the antibiotic I don't want to run the risk of killing off any good bacteria and disrupting the balance of it. If I don't replenish enough good bacteria (even though I would use probiotics) I wouldn't want to leave myself open to picking up another infection at some point.

6) My RE says my past m/c's were not a result of the ureaplasma (it usually would not cause a missed m/c). So my history does not really warrant any treatment.

With that said though, if I were you, I would most DEFINITELY just treat it and be done with it. One, because you are not pregnant yet so there is no risk to a baby, and second, because of your previous history. Just make sure to supplement with probiotics afterwards.

Even though I decided not to take the meds, it doesn't mean I'm not doing anything. I did get a probiotic vaginal cream from my Dr, in the hopes that it will either wipe out the bacteria or at least help keep it down to a minimum.

Good luck to you and thanks for the advice. I'll be praying that you have a healthy pregnancy and very soon!