Clots, Meds, and Pregnancy

Question

I am 27 and have residual blood clots in my left arm from 2006. They have not dissolved properly and still show up on my ultrasounds of my arm. I am currently on warfarin pills, after having been off of them for awhile from a doctor’s thoughts that the clots were not dangerous anymore. I have a new doctor now that is worried that the clots are still in my arm. I have a normal d-dimer level and nothing is indicating that I am currently clotting in any blood tests.
I am recently engaged and will be practicing NFP once married. I am worried about becoming pregnant. I am really looking forward to having kids, but I worry about the effects of this medicine on any baby. I worry about having healthy pregnancies. Can you provide any advice for me? I imagine charting will help me to know exactly when I am pregnant so that I can switch to a different medicine right away, but I am so worried. What should I do before and during any pregnancy? Would I be considered high-risk?

Thank you so much for your help. I feel so overwhelmed with all this.

Mary

Answer

Last Updated: May 8, 2022
Dear Mary,

The residual clots are probably not a danger. What you, your doctor and, perhaps, a hematologist need to determine is what your clotting risk will be on the future, both pregnant and non-pregnant.

If you need to be on a blood thinner while not pregnant then warfarin is the usual choice. If you need to be on one while trying to conceive and while pregnant then Lovenox injections make the most sense (with a possible transition to heparin at 36 weeks).

In health,

George Delgado, M.D.

Answered By:

George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
George Delgado, MD, President and Founder of Steno Institute and Medical Director of Culture of Life Family Services (COLFS), San Diego, is a Professional Member / Supporter of CANFP. Board certified in both family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, Dr. Delgado received his medical degree from the University of California, Davis, and completed his residency at Santa Monica Hospital/UCLA. Dr. Delgado is a Natural Family Planning Medical Consultant, trained in NaProTechnology. He and wife have four children and seven grandchildren.

Read more related questions

Long Term Health Issues of Chronic Low Progesterone

Hi—I was diagnosed with low progesterone, after noticing ongoing random (not premenstrual) minor brown spotting a couple times per month. I now take 200 mg…

Anxiety Returning to Cycles Postpartum

I am eight months postpartum and still breastfeeding my child although we supplement with formula and she eats solid foods twice daily. Lately, I’ve been…

What to Expect Stopping Pill at 52

What can you expect coming off the pill at 52 and what are the chances of becoming pregnant? Shuri

Want Better Option Than Pill—But it is all I am offered

My name is Jourdan and I am 18, never sexually active, and with no history of breast cancer or cervical cancer in my family (I…

Clots, Meds, and Pregnancy

I am 27 and have residual blood clots in my left arm from 2006. They have not dissolved properly and still show up on my…

Worried What this Bleeding Means

I started my period on April 3 and finished on the 6th of April. I started spotting a dark brown sticky discharge (mucus) with little…

Preparing to Use NFP In Future Marriage

My boy friend and I are planning on getting engaged within the next year, and married about a year or so after that. I have…

Can I Use NFP While Taking Tamoxifen

I am 48 and perimenopausal with periods every 26 to 60 days. My husband and I used NFP during most of our married life, but…

Pharmacist Seeks Advice for Inducing a Period Post Pill

I am a pharmacist in Alberta Canada and am hoping you will be able to help me. I have a patient who stopped her Diane…

Periods Have Not Returned After Stopping Pill

I have come off the pill because I got so that I was not having a period on my free week. It has been a…

Why Am I Spotting?

My last cycle began February 13th. I had intercourse on February 26 around midnight. My cycle is due March 13, which is Friday. I started…

Tail End Brown Bleeding

I am 36 years old and engaged to be married soon. My fiance and I are practicing chastity and I have begun charting with a…

Create An Account

This is not a membership, this is an account for our CANFP website. If you decide you would like to sign up for one of our memberships later, you can do so with or without this account.

First Name *
Last Name *
E-mail *
Username *
Password *
Confirm Password *
Edit Profile
Information
Subscriptions
Payments
Order History
Downloads
Shipping and Billing
Donations
Settings
Login Information
Notification Settings
Notification Subscriptions
Profile

CANFP conducts varied outreach programs to the community at large, in addition to serving our members (NFP users, teachers, and advocates).

CANFP provides education programs tailored to the audience, not only on Natural Family Planning, but on the wide variety of topics related to it.

Programs can be continuing education for NFP Professionals, introductory information for a lay audience of youth or adults new to the topic, or specifically tailored to the interests of a professional audience, such as educators, physicians, or clergy. Content is faith based or secular, whichever is suitable for situation.

CANFP offers a variety of resources for those just discovering Natural Family Planning, as well as to meet the varied needs of our CANFP Members. Most resources are available to any visitors to our site. Some resources do ask you to register as a site user in order to access them, others are available only to CANFP Members.

CANFP statewide conferences, regional events offered in collaboration with local partners, events featuring CANFP speakers, or exhbit, as well as other events throughout the state of interest to our NFP community.  Come meet one of our experts at one of these events or book a speaker for your own upcoming event.

CANFP depends on the gifts, talents, and generosity of our members and supporters. The success of our mission depends on the collaboration of our members. Please consider contributing your time treasure and talent through CANFP to share the good news of NFP with the world! Both volunteer and contracted positions available.

Stay informed by joining our email list

* indicates required
Which role(s) best describes you?