What is Teratology? (ter′ă-tol′ŏ-jē)
What are Teratology Information Services (TIS)?
Who will I speak with when I call OTIS?
What can I expect when I call OTIS?
Does OTIS have a list of medications that are safe to take?
Do OTIS counselors speak Spanish?
What is OTIS?
OTIS stands for the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists. It is a non-profit organization made up of individual teratology information services located throughout the United States and Canada.
What is Teratology? (ter′ă-tol′ŏ-jē)
Teratology is the study of birth defects caused by exposures during pregnancy.
What are Teratology Information Services (TIS)?
TIS are confidential telephone services that provide accurate and current information about the possible effects of a particular drug or substance on a pregnancy. Many services also provide information about exposures during breastfeeding.
Who will I speak with when I call OTIS?
You will speak with a phone counselor who is a trained teratology information specialist. OTIS counselors have a variety of backgrounds in the health care field and include doctors, genetic counselors, nurses, and researchers.
What can I expect when I call OTIS?
Communication will be confidential and voluntary. Relevant published information about exposures will be discussed, and potential benefits and risks of individual exposures, as well as any special risks, will be explained. You may be asked questions about:
What can I call OTIS about?
OTIS counselors can discuss the risks of any kind of exposure during pregnancy or breastfeeding, including:
Who can call OTIS?
OTIS counselors answer questions from women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning a pregnancy. Spouses or other family members can also call OTIS. OTIS also answers questions from all health care providers and the general public.
Does OTIS have a list of medications that are safe to take?
OTIS does not create lists of medications that are safe or unsafe to take during pregnancy and lactation. This is because findings from new research studies are frequently released and the medical literature is constantly changing. In addition, the risks and benefits of taking a medication are different for each woman depending on her unique medical history and personal experiences. Please call OTIS to speak with a counselor about the most up-to-date information and how it applies to you or your patient.
Do OTIS counselors speak Spanish?
Yes. To speak with a counselor in Spanish, call (866) 626-6847 and press option 1.