title: Birth defects and vaginal spermicides.
abstract: In a cohort study of 50, 282 pregnancies recruited between 1958 and 1965, there were 462 gravidae who used nonmercurial spermicides (mostly nonoxynol-9 (95% confidence limits, 0.6 to 1.6). There were also 889 women who used phenylmercuric acetate (no longer available as a spermicide); the corresponding rate ratio was 0.9 (0.6 to 1.3). Limb reduction deformities, neoplasms, Down's syndrome, and hypospadias did not occur in excess in children exposed to spermicides.
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017137:Nonoxynol; D017830:Octoxynol; D010662:Phenylmercuric Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; D017137:Nonoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017830:Octoxynol; D010662:Phenylmercuric Acetate