Molnupiravir

Print
Date: September 2025, Version 2.0

Quick read

Molnupiravir should not be used in pregnancy.

What is it?

Molnupiravir (Lagevrio®) is a treatment for COVID-19 infection. It is used in people with COVID-19 who have risk factors that increase their chance of severe symptoms.

Benefits

What are the benefits of using molnupiravir in pregnancy?

Molnupiravir should not be used in pregnancy because animal studies have shown that it might harm the baby. There is no information on molnupiravir use in human pregnancy. 

Women of childbearing potential are recommended to use effective contraception whilst being treated with molnupiravir, and for four days after treatment ends.

Risks

What are the risks of using molnupiravir in pregnancy?

It is unknown if molnupiravir can affect your baby and so it should be avoided in pregnancy.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to using molnupiravir in pregnancy?

Yes. Other medicines can prevent severe COVID-19 infection. Your doctor will advise which medicine is best for you.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is offered to people with risk factors for severe infection. Vaccination can help to prevent serious illness and may reduce the need for other medicines. COVID-19 vaccination is safe during pregnancy. For more details, click here.

No treatment

What if I prefer not to take medicines to treat COVID-19 during pregnancy?

Pregnant women with severe COVID-19 might need hospital treatment and are at increased risk of premature delivery and stillbirth. Your doctor will only offer medicines to treat COVID-19 when necessary and will be happy to talk through any of your concerns.

Will I or my baby need extra monitoring?

As part of routine antenatal care, most women will be offered a scan at 12 weeks of pregnancy and a more detailed scan at around 20 weeks to check the baby’s development. Taking molnupiravir in pregnancy is not expected to cause problems that would require any extra monitoring of your baby. 

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has used molnupiravir?

We do not expect any effects on the baby if the father used molnupiravir.

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions about the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your healthcare provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.