Evening Primrose Oil and Pregnant Women: Be Careful

If you have been pregnant beyond 40 weeks with no signs of labor, you may have heard of some natural ways to induce labor. There are actually several things you can and some ways to create that mechanism. One of those options is the use of evening primrose oil (EPO) for the purpose of inducing labor.

This oil is extracted from the primrose plant. It contains linolenic acid, gamma linolenic acid, and vitamin E. Over-the-counter EPO capsules can be purchased at most pharmacies or drug and herbal stores.
It is sometimes used in alternative therapies for a variety of health problems, including neuropathy, premenstrual syndrome, menopause, and rheumatoid arthritis.

It is best not to take evening primrose oil during pregnancy, as we cannot be sure if it is safe or not.
You may have heard that taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy can reduce the risk of preeclampsia. Studies have not yet proven this effect of evening primrose oil./ And if you're thinking about taking evening primrose oil after pregnancy for labor, there's no evidence that it works either.
Evening primrose oil is a plant extract that has been used for centuries as a medicinal supplement. It is said to alleviate a wide range of problems, from breast tenderness to premenstrual symptoms to skin disorders. However, evening primrose oil is not a licensed medicinal product, because there is not enough evidence that it works.
If you have used evening primrose oil for a health problem, it is best to find an alternative treatment, especially during pregnancy. You can continue to take evening primrose oil after the baby is born.
Evening primrose oil is popular as a dietary supplement. It is rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid. Essential fatty acids are substances that our bodies need, but cannot make, so we must get them from food. Evening primrose oil is also rich in gamma linolenic acid. This is used in the body to make hormone-like chemicals, such as prostaglandins, that are important for many body functions.
During pregnancy, try to get essential fatty acids from foods like seeds and oily fish, rather than taking evening primrose oil supplements. You can safely eat two servings of oily fish, such as tuna, a week.

According to doctors in the US, evening primrose oil can help the cervix soften and come out (thin out). Other studies show it can help shorten the length of labor. This is because linolenic acid, found in EPO, can trigger a prostaglandin response in the body. Doctors and midwives may direct you to use evening primrose oil depending on your medical condition. As for its effectiveness, there aren't enough formal studies on EPO to prove its effects on labor.

Evening primrose oil comes in capsule form, which can be taken orally or inserted vaginally. Although there is no clear standard dose, it is recommended for pregnant women to take 500 to 2000 milligrams per day after the 38th week of pregnancy begins. If you choose to use EPO, always remember to start at a low dose.

When taken in appropriate amounts for short periods of time, using evening primrose oil is likely to be safe. Evening primrose oil can cause:
Stomach pain Headache Do not take evening primrose oil if you have a bleeding disorder . If you are planning to have surgery, stop taking primrose two weeks in advance. Also, do not take primrose if you have epilepsy or schizophrenia. Taking a supplement may increase your risk of seizures. Evening primrose oil may increase your risk of pregnancy complications. Some interactions of evening primrose oil with medications include:
Anticoagulants and anticoagulants. antiplatelet drugs, herbs and supplements. Medicines, herbs, and supplements that reduce blood clotting. Combining oral use of evening primrose oil with them may increase the risk of bleeding. Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrate. Use evening primrose with caution if you are taking a medicine that is affected by these enzymes, such as lovastatin (Altoprev). Lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra). This combination medicine is used in the treatment of infections caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Evening primrose oil might slow how fast this medicine is in the body. Phenothiazines. Taking evening primrose oil with medications used to treat serious mental and emotional disorders might increase the risk of seizures in some people.
For more information, please contact the hospitals and clinics of Vinmec Health system nationwide

Articles refer to sources: mayoclinic.org, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, babycentre.co.uk, healthline.com