Caring for women with childbearing potential taking teratogenic dermatologic drugs. Guidelines for practice.

OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: 1. Identify the dermatologic drugs with the highest risk of teratogenicity. 2. List the essential information to be obtained from a woman with childbearing potential being considered for treatment with a teratogenic dermatologic agent. 3. Discuss management principles for administration of teratogenic agents to women with childbearing potential. Dermatologic agents can be highly teratogenic, and the gynecologist must be aware of the issues involved in prescribing them. Prescribers should be aware of the risks and ensure that patients taking teratogens do not become pregnant during the course of therapy (or until the drug has been cleared from the body). This can involve taking menstrual and sexual histories and counseling the patient about sexual behavior and contraception.