Alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs
Teratogens are substances that cause congenital disorders in a developing embryo or fetus. A teratogen is anything a person is exposed to or ingests during pregnancy that’s known to cause fetal abnormalities. Healthcare providers weigh the pros and cons of prescription drugs and supplements to determine what poses less risk to the pregnancy. Conclusions on the safety of each medication/ factor are based on laboratory and statistical research and are evaluated during a genetic counseling session.
Possible harmful factors
What birth defects do teratogens cause?
Teratogens cause many known congenital disorders. Some of the most common abnormalities are:
The risks to the pregnancy are evaluated based on the type of the factor, the dosage and the gestational age (weeks of pregnancy) at exposure.