Clomid (clomiphene citrate), one of the most popular fertility drugs on the market, has been found to increase the risk to severe birth defects, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control.

Clomid, also marketed as Serophenea, induces ovulation in women who do not usually produce eggs. According to the recent research, which looked at women using Clomid anywhere from two months before conception to one month of pregnancy, serious birth defects - ranging from anencephaly (open cranium lacking a brain), esophageal atresia (closed esophagus), omphalocele (abdominal wall defect), craniosynostosis (premature fusion of skull bones), and gastrointestinal and genital defects - were observed.

This is not the first time adverse side effects were observed with such ovulation-inducing drugs. According to the 2010 Harvard School of Public Health study, fertility drugs similar to Clomid nearly doubled the risk of a child developing autism spectrum disorder, or birth defects such as craniosynostosis or spina bifida.

Due to this latest report on Clomid, the fertility drug is now classified by the FDA as pregnancy category X, which shows the highest risk of birth defects when taken during pregnancy.

See our General Information on Birth Defects for more information.