How does rhogam injection work

Skip to main content. When should RhoGAM be used? Routine Rh sensitization prevention If the father or baby is not conclusively shown to be Rh-negative, RhoGAM should be given to an Rh-negative mother in these situations to prevent Rh sensitization: At 26 to 28 weeks of pregnancy After delivery of an Rh-positive baby.

Other times of prevention Maternal or fetal bleeding during pregnancy from certain conditions Actual or threatened pregnancy loss at any stage Ectopic pregnancy pregnancy in which the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus Amniocentesis Chorionic villus sampling CVS Manipulative procedures such as for a breech presentation Other obstetrical trauma.

How RhoGAM works. Why ask for RhoGAM? It provides protection as early as 26 weeks. Receiving RhoGAM. References: 1. Fort Lee, NJ.

Kedrion Biopharma Inc. Rh isoimmunization during pregnancy: antenatal prophylaxis. Can Med Assoc J. Bowman JM. Efficacy of antenatal Rh prophylaxis. Boston, MA: G. Rh D immune globulin products for prevention of alloimmunization during pregnancy. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. Pelikan EW. In: Glossary of terms and symbols used in pharmacology. Boston University website. Accessed January 21, ACOG practice bulletin. A dose of RhoGAM also may be needed:.

At any time during your pregnancy, notify your healthcare provider immediately if you have vaginal bleeding or experience any abdominal trauma. You may need an additional dose of RhoGAM. Soon after you give birth, your baby's blood will be tested for the blood type and Rh type.

All medications carry the risk of some side effects. The most common adverse reactions of RhoGAM include:. Allergic reactions to RhoGAM may occur. You should be observed for at least 20 minutes after your injection. Signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction include:. If you're worried about getting the RhoGAM injection because it is made from donated human plasma, keep in mind there's minimal to no risk of contracting diseases like HIV or hepatitis because the donated plasma is thoroughly screened and treated.

In fact , one in five Rh-negative pregnant people will become sensitive to the Rh-positive factor if they don't receive RhoGAM. There is a very rare chance that you will have an allergic reaction to the RhoGAM, but the chance of developing Rh sensitization is much higher than the risk of problems from the RhoGAM shot.

RhoGAM should not be used if you are Rh-positive or if you have had a severe allergic reaction to human immune globulin. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including:. RhoGAM is an injectable drug given to pregnant people with Rh-negative blood during pregnancy.

It is generally safe, but if you're concerned, speak with your healthcare provider. Finding out that you and your baby may be Rh incompatible can be worrying. But know that the RhoGAM shot is a safe and effective way to prevent potential problems—both now and for future pregnancies.

If you think you may be pregnant and have an Rh-negative blood type, you should talk with your healthcare provider to determine the best plan. If the father of your child is Rh-positive or his blood type is unknown, receiving preventive treatment with RhoGAM will prevent serious effects.

Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Oklahoma Blood Institute. Scientific facts - you and your blood type. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The Rh factor: How it can affect your pregnancy. Updated June National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. RhoGAM, short for Rho D Immune Globulin , is the brand name of a sterile solution made from human blood plasma and given to Rh-negative women in the form of an injection. Rh, or Rhesus, is a protein on the surface of red blood cells that most people naturally have. If you have the protein, you are considered Rh-positive. If not, you are Rh-negative, a trait shared by 15 percent of the US population.

When a gestational carrier who is Rh-negative receives a RhoGAM shot, she is preventing her blood system from potentially attacking the fetal blood. There are two aspects to consider in potential differences between the surrogate and the infant's blood systems:. If the gestational carrier is Rh-negative, but the baby is Rh-positive, she could develop antibodies that attack and destroy Rh-positive blood.

This may cause fetal anemia, which can develop into hydrops fetalis, a condition that leads to internal bleeding, shock, and heart and kidney failure. Before the development of the RhoGAM medicine in the s, this condition alone led to the death of about 10, newborns annually and brain damage in others.

The risk of fetal harm increases from one pregnancy to any future Rh-positive fetuses in subsequent pregnancies. In fact, if you are Rh-negative, your doctor will likely suggest you have a RhoGAM shot after a miscarriage , especially in the first trimester, within 72 hours.

This will help prevent the antibodies from circulating any further and reduce future risks. A RhoGAM shot acts almost as a vaccination , which introduces the body to a dosage of a virus that is too small to cause serious illness.

Thus, the body learns to fight the virus effectively and prevents major reaction or sickness if exposed later which is called Rh sensitization.