A doctor told me last week that research is now showing that it causes infertility. A. Depakote doesn't cause infertility. Keep taking it. However, Depakote, Tegretol and lithium all increase the risk of fetal abnormalities. When you are ready to conceive, discuss this with your psychiatrist.
Opinions vary, even among experts.
I am engaged in a National Institutes-sponsored study to learn more about the course of bipolar disorder in women who are or could become pregnant, as well as the safety and effectiveness of some alternative treatments. For example, antipsychotics, which provide at least some benefits, pose no risks to the fetus. Some women may remain free of bipolar symptomatology during the time of their pregnancy without taking any medications. In my view, a person with bipolar disorder under good control should approach pregnancy and the prospect of motherhood with as much enthusiasm as a person without the disorder.