Contraception for women with congenital heart disease.

Barrier methods of birth control are less efficacious than other methods but pose significantly less risk of systemic complications for women with congenital heart disease. These methods require a motivated patient and a cooperative partner. Male contraception was not discussed in this article but certainly should be considered when counseling a couple. At present, essentially the only permanent option for male contraception is a vasectomy, but other methods are under investigation. Sterilization is not recommended uniformly in women with cardiovascular disease when pregnancy is feasible and not contraindicated. It may be considered an option for women with contraindications to pregnancy, but these patients may also be at increased risk from the sterilization procedure.