Knowing you have a blood clotting disorder can cause a lot of stress. While having a clotting disorder such as factor V Leiden may not mean you will get a blood clot, the possibilities and unknowns may add anxiety. For women who have factor V Leiden while pregnant can add lots of worry and concern. We at Prescription Hope want to provide resources and support to those women who must deal with factor V Leiden while pregnant.
What is a Blood Clot?
Your body does a great job at repairing itself when a wound or injury occurs. Whether on the surface of the skin or inside, the body immediately gets to work. When a wound happens to a blood vessel, the body sends platelets to the spot of the injury. These platelets are blood clotting cells. They join together to block the hole and provide an initial slowing down of the bleeding. Once the platelets position themselves, enzymes react with proteins such as factor V to begin creating a clotting material called fibrin. The fibrin holds the platelets in place and creates a seal over the wound.
After the body creates enough fibrin, a new protein shows up to halt the fibrin production process. Activated protein C (APC) deactivates factor V to stop the fibrin. Meanwhile, enzymes continue to repair the injured spot plugged up by the clot.
However, a body suffering from a blood clotting disorder may not stop the production of fibrin as necessary.
What is a Blood Clotting Disorder?
A blood clotting disorder, also known as thrombophilia occurs as a result of an imbalance in blood-clotting proteins. If the clots do not dissolve or a person’s body creates clots without injuries, dangerous complications may occur.
While some blood-clotting disorders result from health factors, others happen as a result of genetic mutations.
What is Factor V Leiden?
One such genetic mutation involves the factor V protein which is vital to the blood-clotting process. The factor V protein helps in a reaction process with the enzymes present to create fibrin. Unfortunately, those with factor V Leiden have a problem.
While factor V protein helps in creating fibrin, APCs provide the signal to stop creating more fibrin. Those with factor V Leiden have a genetic mutation which changes the structure of the factor V protein. This means the protein resists the APC signal and continues to create fibrin even after being told to stop. The protein may take longer to wind down in making fibrin, creating excess clotting in the blood vessel.
What Risks Are There with Blood Clots?
A blood clot that dissolves poses no risk. However, blood clots that remain and break off can travel through the bloodstream. If the blood clot travels, a person may develop deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a pulmonary embolism (PE).
DVT occurs when a person forms a blood clot in one of the deep veins. This usually happens in the legs, though it can also show up in the liver, kidneys, intestine, or brain.
A PE is a blood clot that stops the flow of blood to an artery located in the lung. Most of the time, the blood clot begins in a deep vein such as in the leg, and then travels up to the lung. PE may be life-threatening and must be treated immediately. Likewise, working to prevent blood clots in the legs will also reduce the risk of PE occurring.
While blood clots and factor V Leiden do result in risks, women who have factor V Leiden while pregnant must be aware of the added risks and treatment options.
Blood Clotting During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman’s body must develop a special balance between a healthy flow of blood and powerful blood clotting to resist blood loss. Early on in pregnancy, a woman’s body works to prevent excessive bleeding from the mother while protecting her child. Later on, the body prepares for birth by protecting itself against excessive bleeding in labor. This means the body’s clotting factors increase and protein S, which regulates the breaking down of clots, decreases. Progesterone adds to the situation by causing blood vessels to dilate. This can cause pooling of blood in areas like the legs.
The risk of blood clots rises throughout the pregnancy, during delivery, and then for about six weeks after birth. However, a woman’s body is uniquely powerful in maintaining a balance during and after the birth process.
What Can Increase the Risk of Blood Clots for Women Who Have Factor V Leiden While Pregnant?
While most women will not suffer from a blood clot during pregnancy, certain factors may increase the risk. The most common risk factors for DVT and PE include cesarean section as the method of delivery and obesity.
Doctors and researchers have highlighted the association between obesity and blood clotting risk. Experts highly recommend the management of obesity to help prevent thromboembolism.
Factor V Leiden While Pregnant
Pregnancy often happens smoothly and without serious complications. However, women must be aware that risks do exist in pregnancy. As discussed earlier, some of the most serious issues women face while pregnant include the heightened risk of blood clots, or thrombosis. According to the CDC, women are five times more likely to get a blood clot when compared to those who are not pregnant. If left untreated, a blood clot could lead to situations such as DVT or PE. To put it in perspective, about one pregnant woman in 1,000-1,500 will suffer from a blood clot.
Women who have factor V Leiden while pregnant are at an 8-fold increase of suffering from a deep vein thrombosis during pregnancy. This means a pregnant woman’s body has a higher tendency to create thrombosis, which is a blood clot limiting the flow of blood within a blood vessel.
Women who have factor V Leiden while pregnant must recognize the symptoms of thrombosis and understand the treatment options available to them.
Symptoms of Thrombosis or Signs of Factor V Leiden While Pregnant
While symptoms of thrombosis may differ, some of the most recognizable ones include:
- Pain in the leg (usually calf or inner thigh)
- Swelling in the leg or arm
- The swift change in mental state
- Numbness or weakness on a side
- Chest pain
A person who recognizes one or more of these symptoms should immediately speak to their doctor to diagnose whether it is a blood clot or something else. If a pregnant woman is suffering from DVT, their doctor may provide useful treatments.
The presence of DVT or PE may result in testing, including a genetic test for factor V Leiden. If the patient tests positive for a genetic mutation such as factor V Leiden, then their doctor will determine proper treatment methods.
Treatments for Factor V Leiden While Pregnant
Treatment of factor V Leiden depends on the history of DVT and PE present in the patient’s medical history. If the patient has never had DVT or PE, then most likely their doctor will not prescribe any further medication or treatment.
Likewise, if a person has only had one DVT or PE, then they may only be prescribed an anticoagulant such as warfarin until the DVT or PE is treated. It is not usually recommended to treat a person who has factor V Leiden with a blood thinner for the rest of their life.
As for women who have factor V Leiden while pregnant, treatments may vary. If she has never suffered from DVT or PE before, her doctor may refrain from prescribing any medication and opt to closely observe. However, if she has previously had thromboembolism, her doctor may place her on a regimen of blood thinners.
Blood Thinners During Pregnancy
While warfarin often gets prescribed to those who have a history of DVT or PE, it cannot be prescribed to pregnant women. Evidence points to a risk of birth defects and bleeding problems for the child. However, evidence suggests that taking warfarin while breastfeeding may be safe for your baby.
Since doctors do not recommend warfarin during pregnancy, an alternative exists. For those women with factor V Leiden while pregnant, another blood thinner may be necessary through the course of pregnancy. One suggested anticoagulant is Lovenox.
Lovenox
Lovenox is an IV or injection anticoagulant treatment. Much like heparin, Lovenox works by binding to antithrombin, a small protein molecule involved in blood clotting. This helps keep the body from producing abnormal blood clots. Unlike heparin, Lovenox lasts up to 12 hours. On the other hand, heparin needs to be given more often, and usually in a hospital setting. Considering its effects are more unpredictable, Lovenox makes a great alternative for at-home use.
Normally, Lovenox is administered daily by an injection into fatty tissue, such as the stomach. Most people can easily administer the shot themselves after a short training tutorial by a nurse or doctor.
Currently, Lovenox does not seem to show adverse fetal or pregnancy effects. In 2002, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stated “Lovenox (enoxaparin sodium) therapy appears to be safe and efficacious for pregnant women who are candidates for either prophylactic or therapeutic heparin.”
This may mean some peace of mind for women who have factor V Leiden while pregnant. Women who reduce the risk of blood clotting can then focus on providing a healthy and safe environment for their babies.
How to Get Warfarin or Lovenox
Those who purchase warfarin or Lovenox, whether through insurance, rebate programs, Medicare, or out-of-pocket often deal with high costs and strain on their budget. Considering the importance of this medication, nobody should have to choose between their prescription medications or their bills.
Instead, finding affordable options or low-cost drugs could be the difference between having what you need or not being able to provide support to a loved one.
While various programs exist to help those with needs for medications, such programs are often messy and complex. People seek out rebates and government programs but find themselves buried in paperwork and phone calls. Many prescription assistance programs come with complex variables. Unfortunately, people get lost and confused trying to find affordable anticoagulant medication.
At Prescription Hope, we offer an affordable and simple process to get affordable meds every month.
How It Works
Those who wish to apply can visit PrescriptionHope.com. After becoming familiar with what Prescription Hope offers, you are welcome to complete and submit an online enrollment form. Once you submit the enrollment, Prescription Hope can pre-qualify you as soon as we determine we can assist based on the information provided.
After we receive all the requested paperwork from you and your healthcare provider, the first order of medication often arrives within 2 to 4 weeks. We will then place refills ahead of time so that you receive your medication on a regular schedule.
Medications typically arrive in a 90-day supply, directly to your home or healthcare provider’s office, depending on the requirements of the pharmaceutical company that ships your medication.
Prescription Hope’s Mission is to Help You Get Warfarin or Lovenox
Prescription Hope dedicates itself to helping those with blood clotting disorders such as factor V Leiden get the affordable meds they need at a reasonable monthly rate. We know both warfarin and Lovenox provide vital, lifesaving anticoagulation for a person with blood clotting disorders, but we also know the expenses. Most importantly, we understand the necessity of Lovenox for women who have factor V Leiden while pregnant. We desire every member to live without the stress and worry of paying too much for their prescriptions. After all, we refuse to believe anybody should have to choose between warfarin and the costs of living.
We provide a simple, consistent monthly rate of $70.00 per medication for over 1,500 medications. This means that not just people with factor V Leiden can benefit from what we offer. Our heart is to help you get access to affordable prescription medications.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with factor V Leiden while pregnant and are looking for cost savings on drugs or affordable blood thinner medications such as Lovenox, then please visit us at www.PrescriptionHope.com to learn more about how we can save you money every month!
