Effect of LSD on Human Pregnancy
JAMA – June 01, 1970
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
The incidence of spontaneous abortions in 27 pregnancies involving lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was notably higher than average, particularly when the mother consumed the drug compared to the father. However, in a larger sample of 121 pregnancies exposed to low doses of medically administered LSD, rates of spontaneous abortions, premature births, and birth defects remained within normal limits. This highlights the complexity of understanding the effects of psychedelics on pregnancy outcomes amidst concerns about endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their risks in obstetrics and gynecology.
Abstract
The frequencies of spontaneous abortions, premature births, and birth defects in 121 human pregnancies following relatively infrequent, low doses of medically administered lysergic acid diethylamide are within the normal ranges. The incidence of spontaneous abortions was above average for a small sample of 27 pregnancies where LSD was ingested under both medical and nonmedical conditions. Spontaneous abortions occurred significantly more frequently when the mother received LSD as opposed to the father only; however, the data do not permit the establishment of a clear causal relationship.