instruction: hello doctor my husband uses diclofenac solution topical for his neck pain I am 28 weeks pregnant he also uses a neck pillow after applying it will it affect my unborn baby how long will it take for the solution to be fully absorbed in his body I am scared that the diclofenac solution will be absorbed in my body and will hurt the baby also if we have sex and he touches that hand in my vagina will the diclofenac solution spread into my body should I be worried please give me some advice as I am scared
output: hi you are in the last trimester 9 month of pregnancy most of the organs in the fetus might have developed and now it is growing thus care should be taken in food and lifestyle the rate of absorption of diclofenac solution into blood from skin is very less even if you apply the solution on your own body skin for long hours the absorption will be less if it is absorbed it stays in the blood for hours at the end of hours 50 of the drug from the blood gets excreted through urine remaining 25 will get excreted in fourth hour remaining 12 gets excreted in sixth hour it means if the solution reaches blood at am it gets completely excreted at am note the point that the external solution does not get absorbed through skin into blood thus need not to worry be careful with your vagina or oral because the vagina or oral is made by mucus membrane containing rich minute blood vessels vagina is different from skin in vaigna the absorption rate is higher and the diclofenac drug may reaches the blood better to avoid direct applying of diclofenac solution to vagina or nearby vagina or touching hands solution to vagina this carries some less risk to fetus if the solution is less no issues if the solution applied is more then little amount enters into your blood if more drug reaches fetus it inhibits prostaglandins in fetus heart which lead to unwanted problems in the heart you can involve in sexual activity then your husband can apply the drug or wash the hands with soap thoroughly before involving in sex I hope you could understand what I want to say