Professor Carl Heneghan, Director of the Centre for Evidence Based Medicine in NDPCHS, presented his research on oral hormone pregnancy tests to members of Parliament, reigniting discussions about a drug that may have caused birth defects decades ago.
Invited by Yasmin Qureshi MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests, Heneghan detailed his systematic review and meta-analysis of studies concerning Primodos, a hormone pregnancy test used between 1958 and 1978.
To find out if they were pregnant, women would take the Primodos pill and hormones in the drug would induce a period if the woman was not pregnant, but thousands who used it gave birth to children with congenital malformations.
The research led by Professor Heneghan, first published in 2018, analysed 26 studies involving 71,330 women, revealing a potential link between oral hormone pregnancy tests and increased risks of congenital malformations. Specifically, the study found associations with heart defects, nervous system abnormalities, and musculoskeletal malformations.
During his presentation, Professor Heneghan emphasized the importance of comprehensive data analysis, highlighting discrepancies in previous government-commissioned reviews. His meta-analysis suggested a statistically significant correlation between hormone pregnancy tests and birth defects, a finding that challenges earlier regulatory assessments.
The presentation comes six years after the research by Professor Heneghan first sparked parliamentary debates and calls for a thorough review of historical medical practices.
Campaigners like Marie Lyon, whose daughter was born with a shortened arm after Marie used Primodos, view Heneghan's ongoing work as crucial in seeking justice and understanding potential medical oversights.
The event underscores the persistent questions surrounding Primodos and highlights the ongoing efforts to understand historical pharmaceutical risks.
To learn more about Primodos and the systematic review and meta-analysis by Professor Heneghan et al. visit our timeline of The Primodos Story.