RETRACTED ARTICLE:Fetal safety of medications used in treating infertility
Authors: Gideon Koren
Yusuf Cem Kaplan
Yael Barer
Journal: Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology (2020)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Infertility; aromatase inhibitors; clomiphene citrate; congenital malformations; fetal safety
Affiliations: Adelson Faculty of Medicine, Ariel University , Ariel, Israel., Department of pharmacology, Motherisk Israel.s , Turkey., Maccabi Health Services , Tel Aviv, Turkey., Teratology Information Center, Terafar-Izmir Katip Celebi University , Izmir, Turkey., Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Izmir Katip Celebi University , Izmir, Turkey.

Abstract:  Introduction: The medications used in assisted reproduction are given before and during early pregnancy, and hence, they may potentially result in adverse fetal effects. In this review we present an updated account of their fetal safety and discuss methodological challenges in interpretation of existing data. Areas covered: The fetal safety/risks of clomiphene citrate, aromatase inhibitors, metformin, gonadotropins and progestins are discussed. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Google, and Google Scholar from inception to 30 April 2020 for publications pertinent to our topic. Expert opinion: There are several major challenges in studying fetal safety of medications used in assisted reproduction. The fact is that the rates of congenital malformations among infertile women giving birth spontaneously is higher than the rates among healthy women conceiving spontaneously. In most clinical studies of assisted reproduction, the primary endpoint is the success in inducing pregnancy, neglecting to report pregnancy outcome and adverse neonatal event. As an example for this reality, it has been estimated that between 1977 and 2005 around 10 million pregnancies were treated with dydrogesterone (DYD), yet till 2019 only very few studies, with a total sample size of less than 600 were reported with regards to fetal safety. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Retracted [3 March 2022] . ------------------- We, the Editor and Publisher of the journal Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology, have retracted the following article: Gideon Koren, Yael Barer Yusuf Cem Kaplan u2018Fetal safety of medications used in treating infertilityu2019 EXPERT REVIEW OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY 2020, VOL. 13, NO. 9, 991u20131000 https: doi.org 10.1080 17512433.2020.1803738 Since publication, significant concerns have been raised about the integrity of the data and reported results in the article. When approached for an explanation, the authors did not provide their original data or any necessary supporting information. As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, we are therefore retracting the article. The corresponding author listed in this publication has been informed. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u2018Retractedu2019. ,