Presently the exact causes of spina bifida are unknown. It is thought that there are both environmental and genetic triggers. By genetic, we do not mean hereditary in the general sense of the term. Spina bifida does not follow direct patterns of heredity like muscular dystrophy or haemophilia, but it is thought to be familial. It is known that women taking medication for epilepsy have a higher chance of having a child with a neural tube defect.
Genetic counsellors can discuss the risk for each family member.
There have been reports in the media of a connection between Agent Orange and spina bifida. In the Unitd States an independent review of all available data on the effect of herbicide exposure has been reported. Included in the review were a few studies of Vietnam veterans, and some of these suggest the possibility of a slightly elevated rate of spina bifida in the children of Vietnam veterans.