Study Reassures on Safety of Early NSAID Use

A large cohort found no adjusted link to major congenital malformations, but questions remain for miscarriage, later pregnancy, and other outcomes.

By
Kerri Miller
June 9, 2026
8 min

MDSpire News

Objective:

To evaluate the association between first-trimester exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and major congenital malformations, highlighting its significance in the context of current analgesic counseling.

Approach:

Key Findings:

About 8% of pregnancies had first-trimester NSAID exposure.
Major congenital malformations were more common in NSAID-exposed pregnancies in unadjusted analyses (8% vs 7% in unexposed).
After adjustment for maternal and pregnancy characteristics, the overall association was no longer statistically significant.
No significant associations were found for specific NSAIDs like ibuprofen, diclofenac, and naproxen.
The study did not capture spontaneous abortions, which is clinically important.

Interpretation:

The findings provide cautious reassurance regarding early-pregnancy NSAID exposure, but should not be interpreted as evidence of broad NSAID safety throughout pregnancy.

Limitations:

NSAID exposure was based on drug dispensation rather than confirmed ingestion.
The study did not capture spontaneous abortions, which is clinically important due to mixed data on early-pregnancy NSAID exposure and miscarriage.
Generalizability concerns due to the population's demographic characteristics, particularly the high proportion of Bedouin women.

Conclusion:

The study's findings are clinically meaningful but not definitive, highlighting the complexities of analgesic use during pregnancy and the need for further research.