Is it safe to take evening primrose oil in pregnancy?

It’s probably best not to take evening primrose oil in pregnancy, as we can't be sure it’s safe. 

There aren’t any proven safety issues with evening primrose oil. However, the British National Formulary, which advises healthcare professionals about medicines, says evening primrose oil should be used with caution in pregnancy. 

You may have heard that taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy can reduce the risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Studies have shown that this is not case. And if you’re thinking of taking evening primrose oil later in pregnancy to bring on labour, there’s no evidence that this works either.

Evening primrose oil is a plant extract that has been used for centuries as a complementary medicine. It’s believed to ease a host of problems, from breast pain to premenstrual symptoms to skin disorders. However, evening primrose oil is not a licensed medicinal product, because there’s not enough evidence that it works.



If you’ve been taking evening primrose oil for a health problem, it’s best to find an alternative treatment, just to be on the safe side. You can continue taking evening primrose oil after your baby’s born. 

Evening primrose oil is also popular as a dietary supplement. It’s rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid. Essential fatty acids are substances that our bodies need, but cannot make, so we have to get them from food. Evening primrose oil is also rich in gamma linolenic acid. This is used in the body to make hormone-like chemicals, such as prostaglandins, which are important for many body functions. 

During pregnancy, try to get essential fatty acids from foods such as seeds and oily fish, rather than from an evening primrose oil supplement. You can safely eat two portions of oily fish, such as tuna, a week. 

If you decide to take evening primrose oil, bear in mind that it can cause diarrhoea, nausea and bloating. When buying it as a food supplement, remember that each product will contain different doses, as well as other ingredients.