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Glaxo's guinea pigs The pharma giant is accused of putting pregnant women at risk in unethical drug trials. Carol Lloyd [2006-12-07]

• HSV births, re: Lin-Z

  Lin-Z wrote:

  "When you have genital herpes, you give birth through a C-section or have a blinded, sore-covered baby: that is just the way that it is and always has been."

  Uhhh, No. The standard is to do viral testing of the cervix leading up to the time of the birth. If there is no outbreak and no asymptomatic shedding of the virus at the time of the birth, then a normal vaginal birth can be undertaken.

  You do realize that an estimated 20-25% of the adult population in the U.S. has genital herpes, right? This is something that is dealt with often in OB. And while there *are* still questions of safety with Valtrex during pregnancy, there is a proven higher mortality rate with elective C-sections than vaginal births, and that has to be weighed against the risks of the drug.

  -- mcsomething
  [Read mcsomething's other letters]
  Permalink Flag Saturday, December 9, 2006 02:40 PM
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