Pregnancy puts extra demands on the heart and blood vessels. For women with elevated Lp(a), this extra strain may increase the risk of complications such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and reduced blood flow to the placenta.

What research shows

• About 1 in 5 women have elevated Lp(a) levels.
• Women with high Lp(a) have up to twice the risk of developing preeclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine).
• Large studies have also linked elevated Lp(a) to preterm birth and reduced placental blood flow.
• These women are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease later in life, particularly after menopause.

Why this matters

An elevated Lp(a) level doesn’t cause symptoms, but during pregnancy, genetic cardiovascular risk factors can become more pronounced because the heart works harder and blood pressure naturally increases.

That’s why many experts now recommend testing for Lp(a) in women who:

• Have a history of preeclampsia or pregnancy-induced hypertension.
• Have experienced preterm birth or a baby with low birth weight.
• Have family members with early-onset heart or vascular disease.

Pregnancy itself does not cause high Lp(a), but it can reveal an existing genetic risk that otherwise remains unnoticed.

Sources
Scientific sources and medical references. The information on this page about lipoprotein(a), pregnancy, pregnancy-related complications, and cardiovascular risk in women is based on reliable medical and scientific sources:

European Heart Journal (2023)
Research on lipoprotein(a), placental blood flow, and cardiovascular risk.
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology (2024)
Studies on lipoprotein(a) and pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia.
https://www.ajog.org

Circulation (2022)
Scientific evidence on pregnancy, vascular function, and long-term cardiovascular risk.
https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/circ

Journal of the American Heart Association (2023)
Pregnancy complications as predictors of future cardiovascular disease.
https://www.ahajournals.org/journal/jaha

European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
Guidance and clinical insights on cardiovascular risk in women, including pregnancy-related risk factors.
https://www.escardio.org

Hartstichting (Dutch Heart Foundation)
Patient-oriented information on pregnancy and heart health.
https://www.hartstichting.nl/gezond-leven/zwanger-en-je-hart