Pregnancy and Family Planning

Any hepatitis C therapy that includes ribavirin can cause death, serious birth defects, or other harm to an unborn child.

Pregnancy and family planning are essential for HCV patients or their partners who may become pregnant. Having hepatitis C will not make you infertile. That is why, if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant during treatment (or during the six months following the end of treatment), you should not start combination therapy with any form of ribavarin, including REBETOL® (Ribavirin,USP) Capsules. If you are female, you will be given a pregnancy test before starting therapy, and your result must be negative. You will not be able to start therapy if you are pregnant. Female partners of male patients must also have a negative pregnancy test before the male starts therapy.

The cause of harm to an unborn fetus is the most serious possible side effect of REBETOL therapy. Such a serious issue requires significant care. Therefore, talk to your doctor about family planning for you and your partner. Also, be aware that:

• Female patients must use two effective forms of birth control during treatment and for six months after the treatment is completed.
• Male patients should always use a condom.
• You must use birth control even if you feel that you are not fertile or that your fertility is low.
• If you or your partner have been on this treatment within the last six months and pregnancy occurs, call your doctor immediately.
• If you are a female patient, you will be tested for pregnancy every month during treatment and for six months after completion.
• If you are a male patient, your partner will be tested for pregnancy every month during your treatment and for six months thereafter.

For more information on this important subject, talk to your doctor now, and consider joining The Be In Charge® Program to talk to nurse counselors who are experts on this subject.