Sildenafil

Date: March 2024, Version 2.0

Quick read

Sildenafil is sometimes used in pregnancy to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

What is it?

Sildenafil (Revatio®) is used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Benefits

What are the benefits of taking sildenafil in pregnancy?

Women with PAH are usually recommended to avoid pregnancy due to a high risk of life-threatening complications. If a woman with pulmonary arterial hypertension becomes pregnant treatment with sildenafil can lower the risk of complications.

Risks

Are there any risks of taking sildenafil in pregnancy?

There are no clear risks of taking sildenafil in pregnancy.

Alternatives

Are there any alternatives to taking sildenafil in pregnancy?

No. Sildenafil is only prescribed in pregnancy if it is needed for treatment of PAH.

No treatment

What if prefer not to take medicines during pregnancy?

Pregnant women with PAH will require ongoing drug treatment to reduce the chance of life-threatening complications. Women will be able to discuss any concerns about their treatment plan with their pulmonary hypertension team.

Will I or my baby need extra monitoring during pregnancy?

Women with PAH will be very closely monitored during pregnancy, regardless of what medication they are using, to ensure that they remain well and that the baby is growing as expected.

Are there any risks to my baby if the father has taken sildenafil?

We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father took sildenafil before or around the time your baby was conceived (note: sildenafil [e.g. Viagra® and Vizarsin] is also a treatment for erectile dysfunction in males).

Who can I talk to if I have questions?

If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your healthcare providers, in particular the pulmonary hypertension team, your obstetrician, or GP. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.

How can I help to improve drug safety information for pregnant women in the future?

Our online reporting system (MyBump Portal) allows women who are currently pregnant to create a secure record of their pregnancy, collected through a series of questionnaires. You will be asked to enter information about your health, whether or not you take any medicines, your pregnancy outcome and your child's development. You can update your details at any time during pregnancy or afterwards. This information will help us better understand how medicines affect the health of pregnant women and their babies. Please visit the MyBump Portal to register.

General information
Sadly, miscarriage and birth defects can occur in any pregnancy.

Miscarriage occurs in about 1 in every 5 pregnancies, and 1 in every 40 babies are born with a birth defect. This is called the ‘background risk’ and happens whether medication is taken or not.

Most medicines cross the placenta and reach the baby. For many medications this is not a problem. However, some medicines can affect a baby’s growth and development.

If you take regular medication and are planning to conceive, you should discuss whether your medicine is safe to continue with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. If you have an unplanned pregnancy while taking a medicine, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible.

If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please make sure that the person prescribing it knows that you are pregnant. If you have any concerns about a medicine, you can check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Our Bumps information leaflets provide information about the effects of medicines in pregnancy so that you can decide, together with your healthcare provider, what is best for you and your baby.