Abstract
Background: Although pregnancy and delivery are important issues in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD), pediatric cardiologists may be facing difficulties in providing sufficient patient education on sexual activities.
Objective: To elucidate current problems and future challenges regarding preconception counseling in ACHD.
Methods: We reviewed medical records of female ACHD older than 14 years who visited our outpatient clinic for routine clinical follow-up from January 2011 to December 2011. The collected data included diagnoses, surgical histories, symptoms, physical examination findings and the presence of documentation on patientsʼsexual behavior and the chosen contraceptive methods.
Results: Of the 21 patients included in this study, neither sexual behavior nor the chosen contraceptive methods were documented on 13 patients (62.0%). Four patients (19.5%) were interviewed on sexual behavior, but received no advice on contraception. Contraceptive methods were chosen upon interview result in only 4 patients (19.5%), which included barrier method in 2 patients and ultra-low-dose oral contraceptives in 2 patients. Not all patients with higher maternal cardiovascular risk scores received adequate patient education on sexual activities.
Conclusion: Preconception counseling by pediatric cardiologist for female ACHD was insufficient in our university hospital setting. An interdisciplinary approach including cardiologists, obstetricians, nurses, and midwives would be helpful for effective ACHD patient education on sexual activities.
