Fitting Bariatric Surgery into Reproductive Life Plans

In the U.S., 40% of patients undergoing bariatric surgery are women of reproductive age. Bariatric surgery can alleviate many obesity-related conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and pregnancy complications; thus, clinical guidelines recommend that women delay pregnancy for 12 to 18 months after bariatric surgery (NEJM JW Womens Health Mar 2017 and multiple citations). To evaluate contraceptive practices and conception rates among reproductive-aged women who underwent bariatric surgery, researchers analyzed data from 710 participants in a multicenter prospective cohort study at 10 U.S. hospitals between 2005 and 2009.

During the first year after bariatric surgery, 42% of women had unprotected intercourse while not trying to conceive…