Dr. Fett - birth control

[miachic]

Mornin Dr. Fett! My husband and I have been talking about different forms of birth control. I currently have an IUD and for various reasons (none which I'll go into detail about right now) I am thinking of switching to something else. I have a few months to decide because I don't go back for my annual appt with my OB until July-ish.

I wanted to ask you what you thought about birth control in the post PPCM patient? I was on birth control pills 5.5 years before getting pregnant with my son. I got pregnant the first cycle off the pill. We were going to wait for my body to have a few cycles off the pill but God had other plans in mind I guess.

I know the pill gives a person a higher risk of developing blood clots, etc. Would the pill be contraindicated in a PPCM patient? Also, do you know of any link between pregnancy-induced heart conditions and the previous use of birth control pills? I'm just curious if there's been any research done on the effect on the heart of taking birth control pills for a long period of time?

Thanks in advance.

From - the ever inquiring and curious mind of Emily :)

[JAMESFETT]

Any form of birth control measures is acceptable when weighed against the risks of a subsequent pregnancy if normal heart function has not been reestablished yet. You will want to explore these with your provider. We use depot, injectable, oral, barrier, and of course tubal ligation or vasectomy.

James

[Kelly]

Dr. Fett,
My heart has returned to normal function and I am not currently in a relationship, but would like to start taking some form of birth control again just in case. I talked to my ob/gyn about it and he suggested the depo provera shot, but when I asked my cardio, he said not to because of possible side effects. Neither of them recommend the pill for me. Do you have any other suggestions for me to ask them about? I am currently on coreg, zestril, aldactone, and baby aspirin. I am 1 year post dx and EF of 55%.

[JAMESFETT]

We frequently use Depot-Provera in someone with a similar situation. Perhaps you would like to talk more with your doctors about it; seems to me your OB-Gyn has a good read on it. Low-dose estrogen oral contraceptive also would be acceptable. We also use various forms of hormonal and non-hormonal intra-uterine devices. So great that your heart function has returned to normal. I would think you have quite a few options on BC.

James

[Kelly]

Thanks! I will follow up with my cardiologist at my appt in a few weeks. From what I have read on these boards, my Dr. seems to be overly cautious about everything... so I'll talk with him and find out why he thinks it's such a bad idea.