What causes an anencephaly?
It is still not known what causes anencephaly. It is probably triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (Sadler 2005). We nevertheless know that taking Folic Acid can prevent anencephaly. Some medicines (the pill, valproic acid, antimetabolic drugs and others) lower Folic Acid levels, hence taking them increases the risk of giving birth to a child with anencephaly (Sadler, 2005).
