Episode Summary
In this episode, Georgie Kovacs, founder of Fempower Health, unpacks the recent FDA hearing on SSRI use during pregnancy—an emotionally charged and complex conversation that brought together OB-GYNs, psychiatrists, pharmacologists, and advocates.
Drawing on over 25 years in healthcare consulting and six years interviewing global women's health leaders, Georgie offers a balanced, deeply informed analysis of the real conversation that took place—beyond the headlines and controversy.
This wasn’t just a debate about antidepressants in pregnancy. It was a wider reckoning with how we define mental health, how we treat it, and the pressures facing clinicians and patients in a fragmented system. From risk-benefit tradeoffs and informed consent to how “depression” is diagnosed and operationalized, this episode explores what was said, what was missing, and what we need next.
Whether you're a woman seeking clarity or a clinician striving to provide the best care, this episode breaks it all down.
Discussion Points
- What actually happened at the FDA panel on SSRIs and pregnancy?
- Are SSRIs overprescribed—or unfairly stigmatized—during pregnancy?
- Is "depression" too broad of a diagnosis?
- How do mental health diagnoses affect treatment decisions for pregnant women?
- Why is informed consent inconsistent in SSRI prescribing?
- What are the long-term risks of untreated maternal depression?
- Are OB-GYNs expected to manage too much—including mental health?
- How does limited access to psychiatrists shape treatment options?
- What does better mental healthcare look like during pregnancy?
- Should we rethink how we integrate psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle care?
Expert Backgrounds Mentioned
- OB-GYNs treating pregnant patients on SSRIs
- Psychiatrists both prescribing and deprescribing antidepressants
- Academic researchers investigating serotonin’s effects on fetal development
- Advocacy leaders spotlighting systemic barriers to mental health care
Resources
- FDA Hearing: https://www.fda.gov/patients/fda-expert-panels/fda-expert-panel-selective-serotonin-reuptake-inhibitors-ssris-and-pregnancy-07212025
- ACOG Response to FDA Hearing: https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2025/07/statement-on-benefit-of-access-to-ssris-during-pregnancy
- Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Statement https://www.smfm.org/news/smfm-statement-on-ssris-and-pregnancy
- Regulatory Focus Responds: https://www.raps.org/news-and-articles/news-articles/2025/7/fda-panel-debates-label-change-on-ssri-use-during
- STAT News Responds: https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/25/ssri-drugs-fda-review-panel-antidepressants-pregnancy/
- National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry (NCRP) Responds: https://ncrptraining.org/press-release-ncrp-responds-to-fda-panel-on-ssri-use-in-pregnancy/
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