Cautions against using podophyllotoxin to treat anogenital warts during pregnancy may not be warranted, Danish researchers say.

They have found no evidence of an increased risk of adverse fetal outcomes, such as major birth defects or spontaneous abortion, in a large cohort study.

The first-line wart treatment is currently contraindicated during pregnancy because of its antimitotic properties, which can have embryotoxic effects.

The treatment is listed as Category D in Australia’s drugs in pregnancy database.