Opinion: ClinicalTrials.gov needs a pregnancy and lactation checkbox
It’s hard to identify which clinical trials pregnant and lactating patients can join. Here’s one fix, experts write.
For patients seeking clinical trials, healthcare professionals advising them, or researchers analyzing trial data, ClinicalTrials.gov serves as an invaluable resource. Established in late 2007, the platform mandates the registration of most Phase 2 to Phase 4 drug trials by companies and researchers. Boasting over 600,000 studies and attracting more than 3 million monthly visitors, the site allows users to filter trials based on patient age, sex, diagnosis, and ZIP code.
However, the platform falls short in accommodating pregnant patients who wish to participate in trials. ClinicalTrials.gov lacks structured data on whether pregnant or lactating individuals were included in or can join a particular trial. This omission hinders pregnant patients from easily identifying suitable studies for their eligibility.
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