News Archive
RSV vaccine in pregnancy
To help protect infants from RSV bronchiolitis, all pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation should be offered the RSV vaccine.
For more information please refer to UKHSA guidance.
March 2026
Pertussis vaccine in pregnancy
Cases of whooping cough are continuing to rise in England and other countries.
Pregnant women should be encouraged to be vaccinated between 16 and 32 weeks. Read our monograph on the use of pertussis vaccine in pregnancy.
January 2026
Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy
We are delighted to announce that BUMPs, our patient facing website, has a fresh new look and improved functionality.
Head to medicinesinpregnancy.org to take a look.
December 2025
Sodium valproate use in pregnancy – update from the MHRA
The MHRA advise that valproate must not be started in male patients younger than 55 years, unless two specialists independently consider and document that there is no other effective or tolerated treatment (or there are compelling reasons that the reproductive risks do not apply).
Please see the paternal exposure section of our updated systematic evidence review for further information.
September 2025
Use of ocular antieovascularisation agents in pregnancy
Due to the number of enquiries we have received to the service about the use of intravitreal afibercept/bevacizumab which are used to treat retinal vascular disease, we have put together the available data in a systematic evidence review.
July 2025
Pregnant travellers
Read our monographs on travel related issues in pregnancy.
We have reviews on Malaria prophylaxis and treatment, insect repellents, hay fever treatment, live (yellow fever + typhoid) and non live vaccines.
November 2024
Use of therapeutic amfetamines in pregnancy
Due to the considerable number of enquiries we have received about treating ADHD in pregnancy with lisdexamfetamine, we have published a summary of the available safety evidence for therapeutic amfetamines
May 2023
Use of methylphenidate in pregnancy
Our latest publication – We applied a meta-analysis approach to summarise the published evidence on cardiac malformation risk after first trimester methylphenidate use. Read the paper here.
Also see our recently updated systematic evidence review on the use of methylphenidate in pregnancy
May 2023
High-dose folic acid in WWE and cancer risk
In response to the results of a large multi-national study investigating cancer risks in the offspring of women with epilepsy who used high-dose folic acid in pregnancy we have prepared a position statement providing our interpretation of the evidence. High-dose folic acid use in women with epilepsy in pregnancy and childhood cancer risk – UKTIS
Link to the study – Cancer Risk in Children of Mothers With Epilepsy and High-Dose Folic Acid Use During Pregnancy
March 2023