Factor V Leiden? - implications for pg, the pill etc

[katepol]

Hi
I have recently found out that my daughters may have inherited Factor V Leiden (it is a blood clotting abnormality). Now I know that loads of people probably have this and don't know etc etc, but wondered how much influence it could have on them.

Could they take the Pill, does Factor V lead to a higher miscarriage/still birth risk?Doe sit increase risks in childbirth?

Anyone know anything? GP seemed vague...

The best person to see is a haematologist who specialises in clotting. Most GPs will not know enough about this to advise, and should be willing to refer you/your daughters.

Your daughters will to be offered a genetic test when they're in their late teens / early twenties to find out if they have indeed inherited it. If positive they'll then be given all the advice they need. (My dss are still tiny and this is how it'll work for them - though I expect gp will need prompting.)

I found out I had inherited Factor V Leiden when I was 6 months pregnant. As I had been on the pill for a number of years and had been on many long haul flights, they deemed me to be low risk, in spite of of the Factor V. They did put me on a low dose of aspirin for the rest of my pregnancy though. It shouldn't have a major impact on your daughter's lives.

hello i am 35 and have leiden V and i only discovered this when i lost a pregnancy at 13 weeks. not sure whether the leiden v had anything to do with it. when i fell pregnant again i opted to take clexane blood thinning injection and now i don't have to take anything. it depends whether anyone in the family has had any history of dvt then they may suggest baby aspirin. Haemotologist would be able to advise.

You do need to talk to someone who knows all about his. My cousing has Leiden, and another one....which puts her at even more risk. Her dd has just Leiden, and can't use Oestrogen containing OCs. IIRC the POP is OK, and she will need closer monitoring during pregnancy.

But to put this into perspective the cousin had two totaly normal pregnancies, and was onlt diagnosed much later in life....about 20 years after her pregnancies

Thanks ladies.
As I suspected, there are no hard and fast rules about this.
My dd's paternal grandfather has it, so it is only a possibility they do too. I think your replies have convinced me that they (or rather I) don't need to find out for sure till they are older and the pill and pg become relevant.
Ta very much

Hi Katepol just to reinforce the point. I do have a factor V deficiency and am lifelong anticoagulants. I had to come off the pill, but have successfully carried 1 pregnancy and now in the 7th month of the 2nd. Yes its a pain but compared to most complaints that can be lifelong it doesn't really get in my way at all. Get yourself a very good Haematologist - they'll give you the advice you need.

I also have Factor V Leiden, and have had literally hundreds of DVTs. Nevertheless, I have a healthy 2-year-old (just had to inject myself a couple of times a day while pg) so all things are possible! My DS will need to get tested when he's in his late teens - for some reason apparently there would be no issue for him prior to that even if he's inherited it.

HTH.