Arachnoid cyst

My baby girl is now 18 months old. When she was 3 months old an MRI indicated she was born with a large arachnoid cyst in the right temporal fossa region of her brain.  My doctor perscribed me Provera after an ultrasound did not indicate a pregnancy.  He told me that the lining of my uterus was to thin to even carry a pregnacy so a blood test was not needed.  I took all the pills, later to find out I was pregnant when my menstral cycle never came.  I had fertility problems so I trusted my doctors judgement and did not suspect a pregnancy or I would NEVER have taken this medicine!!!  I have read that the fetal brain develops in the 3rd wk of gestation, exactly the time that I took this medication.  Eventhough my doctor said the medication would not hurt the baby after he found out I was in fact pregnant I disagree!!!  My beautiful little girl is doing well, however, will likely need surgery in the near future.  It angers me and doctors need to be more careful when perscribing this medication!!!!  If anyone has had the same thing happen or has any feedback I would appreciate it!!!

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Your concerns are apt. But let me tell you the fact about Provera. Even though a warning is usually given about the use of provera in early pregnancy, there is "no evidence" that it causes fetal growth defects. In one large study, they found a little higher incidence of low birth weight due to provera exposure to mothers within a month.

The WHO statement itself suggests that there is no harm.

Studies are going on to see if provera has any effects on fetal growth.

Regards