Congenital Heart Disease and Women’s Health across the Lifespan: Focus on Reproductive Issues

Discussions about sexuality and reproduction are an important part of transition planning and must be done with an awareness of the adolescent’s developing understanding and maturity. Pregnancy imposes a hemodynamic load on the heart which may lead to cardiac, obstetric and fetal/neonatal complications in women with CHD. Pre-pregnancy counselling must include an assessment of maternal and fetal risk according to several well-developed models. Counselling should also include discussions about fertility and alternatives to pregnancy when appropriate. Recommendations for contraception must be made according to the patient’s cardiac lesion. In caring for women with CHD during pregnancy a multidisciplinary Cardio-Obstetrics team is recommended to optimize care. More research is needed into the long-term impact of pregnancy on the prognosis of patients with CHD. As women with CHD increasingly survive into old age, more attention will need to be directed towards the treatment of menopause and acquired heart disease in this population.
Source: Canadian Journal of Cardiology - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research