While women with mild aortic stenosis may be able to bear children without unusual difficulty, pregnancy is not recommended for those with severe forms of this defect. Also, it is important that the stenosis be repaired before pregnancy occurs because patients with mild or no symptoms before conception may show serious and even life-threatening effects as pregnancy progresses, especially during the second and third trimester. Women with prosthetic aortic valves should be aware of the risk of warfarin on the fetus. Warfarin has been demonstrated to cause birth defects.

Anyone with congenital heart disease, repaired or non-repaired, should consult with their cardiologist prior to becoming pregnant to review the risks.