myfortic^® can cause harm to an unborn baby when it is administered to a pregnant woman. There is an increased risk of pregnancy loss (miscarriage) during the first three months, as well as an increased risk of birth defects. A patient who is planning a pregnancy should not use myfortic unless she cannot be successfully treated with other immunosuppressant drugs. In certain situations, the patient and her healthcare practitioner may decide that the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Women using myfortic at any time during pregnancy are encouraged to enroll in the National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry by calling 1-877-955-6877.

Women of childbearing potential should have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 1 week prior to beginning myfortic. If you are a woman of childbearing age, you must receive contraceptive counseling and you must use effective contraception. You and your doctor should discuss exactly what types of contraception are acceptable. It is important for you and your doctor to agree upon two methods of contraception, and you must use the methods chosen. You should begin using these two methods of contraception 4 weeks before starting myfortic, unless you decide to avoid sexual intercourse completely. You must also continue the contraception during myfortic therapy, and for 6 weeks after stopping myfortic.

Patients taking myfortic and using an oral contraceptive pill as one method of contraception should be aware that myfortic reduces blood levels of the hormones in the oral contraceptive pill and could possibly reduce the pill's effectiveness. If pregnancy does occur or if you are considering pregnancy during treatment, talk with your doctor or kidney transplant team.