Which statement best describes pregnancy counseling for finasteride exposure?

• A. Pregnant patients should avoid handling broken tablets due to fetal risk
• B. It is safe to handle intact tablets during pregnancy
• C. Finasteride is safe during pregnancy
• D. There is no risk to a fetus from finasteride exposure

Answer: (A)

Finasteride can affect fetal development, especially male genitalia, if exposure occurs during pregnancy. Because the drug can be absorbed through the skin, contact with broken or crushed finasteride tablets poses a real risk to the fetus. The safest counseling is that pregnant patients should avoid handling broken tablets to minimize absorption through the skin. If accidental contact happens, wash the skin promptly with soap and water.

Intact tablets present a much lower exposure risk, but the precaution is still to avoid contact with any broken tablets during pregnancy. Statements claiming finasteride is safe in pregnancy or that there is no risk to the fetus are not correct, given the potential for fetal abnormalities if exposure occurs.