The Effects of Opioids During Pregnancy: A Literature Review

Abstract

The alarming increase in opioid use in the United States, particularly during pregnancy, over the past few decades underlines the need to thoroughly investigate the consequences of opioid use within the context of reproduction and development. Opioid exposure has been linked to a number of effects on the various physiologic processes involved in embryonic development. Opioids have been shown to hinder the preimplantation embryo from progressing into the blastocyst stage and implanting into the uterus. Maternal opioid use has also been shown to be neurotoxic to the embryo. Exogenous opioids negatively affect the somatosensory cortex, hippocampus, and cholinergic system in the developing embryo, leading to consequences ranging from poor memory function to learning disabilities. Additionally, opioids have the potential to negatively affect the embryonic heart. Opioid use has been shown to slow down the growth of cardiac tissue, decrease fetal heart rate, and increase the incidence of congenital heart defects. Through review of existing studies, we conclude that opioid use during pregnancy has a significant risk of being detrimental to the embryo. Based on the available scientific literature, we recommend reevaluating current guidelines on opioid use during pregnancy to ensure that opioid exposure to the embryo is limited as much as possible.