Contraception
Pregnancy and thinking about starting a family is a wonderful time full of expectation and hope. If you or your partner have an underlying heart problem – it is also important to plan when to have a baby. Some people choose not to have a baby at all and this decision is always respected and supported too. It is not a good idea to have an unplanned pregnancy if you have a heart problem. It is important therefore to use appropriate contraception that is safe for you and your heart condition.
There are different types available and it is important to discuss with your cardiologist or cardiac nurse specialist which method is best for you. For people who have an increased risk of blood clots it is important to use progesterone only methods and to avoid using contraceptives with oestrogen in.
Many contraceptives can be accessed via your GP with referral on to hospital where necessary. Your local sexual health clinic can also provide these services and further advice, including screening for sexually transmitted infection. You can find your local sexual health clinic here:
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health/find-a-sexual-health-clinic
The following links will take you to the Sexwise website and provide further information about each method of contraception, including in detail the pros and cons of each method available.
Which method of contraception is right for me? | Sexwise
Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) – Contraception – Sexwise
Emergency contraception: emergency pills and IUD – Contraception – Sex
Additional Information
Pre-pregnancy planning
If you are considering starting or adding to your family then you can arrange to be seen in your local cardiac maternity clinic to discuss what this means for you. You will see a team of people including an obstetrician and cardiologist who both specialise in pregnancies in people with an underlying heart problem. There will be specialist midwives and cardiac nurse specialists available for help and support as well. It is important to make sure that you are able to make an informed choice and that all of your medical needs and medications that you take are known about and planned for.
What to do if you find out you are pregnant
You will need to let your GP know and book into your local maternity services as normal. If you have been seen by the cardiac maternity service for pre-pregnancy counselling you will have been given instructions on who to call to let them know. If the pregnancy has not been planned or you have not seen the cardiac maternity team before please call the ACHD nurse specialists on 0151 254 3333 and let them know you are pregnant. Please call this number regardless of your age or where you are normally cared for. They will make sure that you are referred to the most appropriate cardiac maternity service. They will also ask you what medications you are taking. If you are taking a drug called warfarin they will organise for you to be seen quickly so that you can be given the correct advice as to what to do.
Cardiac maternity services
There are three cardiac maternity services in our Network.
St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester
The Liverpool Women’s Hospital in Liverpool
Blackpool Victoria Hospital in Blackpool
Click here to find out more about our cardiac maternity services (Link to page 5.7)
The cardiac maternity teams are experts in managing pregnancies in people with a heart problem. They will assess your risks and will advise about your care during your pregnancy and what should happen when it is time for your baby to be born. Some people with more complex heart problems may need to be reviewed by them periodically throughout the pregnancy so that you can still deliver locally with advice from the specialists. In people with very complex heart disease it is likely that the cardiac maternity service will take a lead in managing the pregnancy throughout and may want you to deliver in the cardiac maternity centre which might not be close to home.
Here are some useful links about pregnancy and contraception from external sources
The Somerville Heart Foundation have a leaflet about pregnancy and contraception for people with congenital heart disease. You will need to register for free in order to access them. Home – Somerville Heart Foundation
Little Hearts Matter have a leaflet about sex, relationships and contraception for people living with a single ventricle: Sex & Relationships with half a heart – Little Hearts Matter
The British Heart Foundation have produced three articles:
- Pregnancy and your heart:Pregnancy and your heart: why it’s important to plan ahead – BHF
- Contraception and pregnancy Contraception, pregnancy and pre-eclampsia – BHF
- Can I have a baby if I have a heart problem Can I have a baby if I have a heart condition? – BHF
Hospitals
Alder Hey Childrens Hospital
Manchester Royal Infirmary
