Neosporin and Pregnancy

The FDA considers Neosporin a pregnancy Category C medication, which means that it may not be safe for pregnant women. This is because this first aid medication has not been studied adequately in this group, not because any particular problems are expected. Pregnant women can use this medication without fear of problems, provided it is used as directed.

Can Pregnant Women Use Neosporin?

Neosporin^® first aid products are generally considered safe for use during pregnancy, as long as they are used appropriately as directed by the product label. However, because they have not been adequately studied in pregnant women, the possibility of rare problems cannot be ruled out.

What Is Pregnancy Category C?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a category system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is used during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been studied in pregnant humans but do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies.

In addition, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.

Neosporin is a pregnancy Category C medication because it has not been adequately studied in pregnant women, not because any particular problems are expected. There is no reason to expect that normal application of Neosporin first aid products would be unsafe for use during pregnancy (see Neosporin Warnings and Precautions for more information about appropriate use of this antibiotic).

Neosporin and Pregnancy: Final Thoughts

If you are concerned about using Neosporin during pregnancy, you can always give your healthcare provider a quick phone call for reassurance or for further advice, if needed. Healthcare providers that care for pregnant women are accustomed to answering such questions, even ones that might seem trivial, and you should not hesitate to "bother" them in such situations.