Evaluation of medication use characteristics in pregnant and nonpregnant reproductive-aged women regarding spesific aspects of physicians and patients

Potential risks on fetus/embryo and changing characteristics due to physiology of pregnancy make it difficult to choose drugs for pregnant patients. The aim of the study is to investigate various aspects of the subject in terms of pregnant/non-pregnant women of reproductive age and physicians. Questions about the subject were raised to related groups. The results were analyzed by Chi-square test. It has been found that at least one drug was used during pregnancy which were vitamin-mineral, antibiotic, hormone, analgesic, urinary infection treatment, stomach acid-blocker, antiemetic and cardiovascular system drugs, 34% of patients used drugs before knowing they were pregnant, use of herbal medicine was rated 8.5%, drug use was higher within first two trimesters, 94% were anxious about it, 24% have various chronic diseases. It was determined 67% of physicians question pregnancy of women of reproductive age while prescribing drug, 76% choose drugs compatible for pregnancy, 52% request pregnancy test before starting a risky drug, 72% find newly approved drugs unsafe during pregnancy, 34% find pregnancy risk groups adequate, 85% inform pregnant patients about drug risk spending enough time, 83% refer pregnant patients if they have drug exposure before knowing they are pregnant commonly obstetrician-gynecologists and medical pharmacology specialists for risk counseling, patients consulted the most with obstetrician-gynecologists or to whom prescribed the drugs. Results were evaluated regarding education level/age and branch/age/gender for patients and doctors respectively. Findings suggest there is a neccessity of increasing awareness of planned pregnancy, taking into consideration high anxiety status of patients, pre-and postgraduate education about limitations of pregnancy risk groups of drugs for doctors and public recognition of teratology counseling centers. Further research will contribute to health of pregnant/non-pregnant women of reproductive age and newborns.