The age of deaths as a result of congestive heart failure in [female][female] with rheumatic heart disease is compared in 103 parous and 49 nilliparous women. When all cases 18 yrs. or older are considered, it is significantly older in the former than the latter, 43.7 to 39 yrs. When only those patients who lived to the end of the reproductive period, ca 40 yrs. of age, are considered, there is no significant difference. Multiple pregnancies cannot be shown to reduce the age of death. No appreciable increase in cardiac hypertrophy follows pregnancy. Pregnancy appears to have no delayed deleterious effect on the course of heart disease.