What Causes Birth Defects? Part 2

What Are the Risk Factors for Birth Defects?

All pregnant women have some risk of delivering a child with a birth defect. Risk increases under any of the following conditions:

• family history of birth defects or other genetic disorders
• drug use, alcohol consumption, or smoking during pregnancy
• advanced maternal age of 35 years or older
• inadequate prenatal care
• untreated viral or bacterial infections, including sexually transmitted infections
• use of certain high-risk medications such as isotretinoin and lithium

Women with pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes, are also at a higher risk for having a child with a birth defect.



                                               Written by The Healthline Editorial Team
                                   Medically Reviewed by Laura E. Marusinec, M.D. on December 15, 2015