Work

Congenital Heart Disease and Pregnancy Priorities

Year: 2022

Type: editorial

Abstract: W omen rarely make decisions about preg- nancy based on its physical and physiologic consequences alone.These opinions evolve over a woman's lifetime and are influenced by society, her peers and partners, and stories she hears from other women and, in this era, from social media.Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are no different in this regard.As medical and surgical advances have improved outcomes in our CHD patients, many perceive pregnancy as just another normal milestone that they can accomplish.Historically, pregnancy counselling for adult CHD (ACHD) women has not been consistent.As ACHD physicians, we have anecdotes of women who have undergone reproductive sterilization for simple cardiac defects.Many ACHD women have stories of successfully carrying multiple pregnancies after defying their physicians' recommendations.These experiences have caused a mistrust in the "expertise" that our medical opinions offer.

Source: JACC Advances

DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2022.100113

Author: Anita Saraf

Institutions: University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Cardiovascular Issues in Pregnancy

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,950