Pregnancy and lactation info for Evening Primrose Oil
| Pregnancy Caution | Evening primrose oil is frequently used during pregnancy. However, evidence supporting both the effectiveness and safety of evening primrose oil during pregnancy is limited. Caution is warranted. In an observational study, oral use of evening primrose oil showed some association with an increased risk of early membrane rupture, a prolonged active phase of labor, arrest of descent, oxytocin use, and vacuum extraction.[39] However, the associations did not reach statistical significance. Randomized controlled trials have generally not found increases in labor duration with evening primrose oil.[1][5] In a case report, a mother who used evening primrose oil (orally and vaginally) and raspberry leaf tea to prepare for birth had a baby with widespread bruising and broken blood vessels.[10] |
| Lactation Caution | Evening primrose oil is likely safe to use while breastfeeding, but due to limited research, caution is warranted. Maternal supplementation with evening primrose oil for 8 months during lactation increased the content of the omega-6 fatty acids linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid in breast milk with no reported adverse effects.[40][41] |