Family planning

For most female patients, yes. But it is not advisable while you’re recovering from your heart transplant. You should use contraception during this time. Your transplant team will be able to advise you when it is safe to consider pregnancy and discuss safe methods of contraception with you.

For most patients, yes, but it needs to be planned properly with your transplant team. This is because you may need to change your medications as well as give your body time to heal properly.

Pregnancy after a heart transplant needs to be planned and you will need care at an obstetric unit that is used to dealing with higher risk pregnancies

Your transplant team will usually suggest that you wait at least one year before trying for a baby. This is to give you time to manage and adjust your medication and make sure your heart transplant is functioning as it should be. You should use contraception during this first year. Your transplant team will discuss safe methods of contraception with you.

Some types of immunosuppressant medicines can damage the baby as it develops in the womb. If you are a woman and you are planning to have a family, you MUST speak to your transplant team before you start trying for a baby, as some of your medicines may need to be changed.

If you are a man and you are planning to have a family, please speak to your transplant team as your immunosuppression may need to be altered.

Learn more about medicines

Even if your transplant is working well, there may be a higher risk of problems for you, your transplant and your baby.

You will need your immunosuppression monitored regularly during pregnancy as your drug dose is likely to increase. Without these precautions there is a risk of acute rejection during pregnancy.

There is a higher risk of complications in pregnancy and of small birth weight babies but, with care, the outcomes for mother and baby are usually good.

You will need close monitoring by your transplant team and obstetricians (birthing doctors). These doctors may suggest that you plan to have the baby in a hospital close to your transplant team, in case there are problems with your transplant at the time you give birth.

This will depend on the medicines you are on. Please speak to your heart transplant team.

Yes. If you are a man and you are planning to have a family, please speak to your transplant team as your immunosuppression may need to be altered.

Some transplant medicines can harm the child inside the womb. It’s important to speak to your transplant team so that they can give you more advice and see if your medicines need to change. If you speak to your transplant team before planning a family, the risk of problems with child development is low.