How Weight Loss Surgery Can Improve Fertility Outcomes
July 1, 2024
Categories: Bariatric Surgery, Women's Health
Tags: bariatric surgery, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
The medical profession knows that women at both ends of the weight spectrum may have difficulty conceiving. Women who weigh too little can struggle to become pregnant, and so can those who weigh too much. However, a “just right” weight can have a positive impact on fertility. What you may not know is that bariatric surgery may offer the best long-term solution for a healthy mom and baby.
Weight has a significant impact on fertility. A woman who has a healthy level of body fat will see improved regularity in her cycles and in ovulation. This can eliminate some of the common causes of infertility.
“A woman with a higher BMI who wants to become pregnant may struggle,” says Eric Krebill, MD, of Trinity Health Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery – Grand Haven. “Bariatric surgery can help a woman who is qualified lose a significant amount of body weight, more than with medication alone. Surgery plus lifestyle changes can provide a long-lasting and effective solution for maintaining a healthy weight and increasing fertility.”
Dr. Krebill and his team counsel women to use multiple forms of birth control after surgery until body weight stabilizes. “Women often don’t realize that fertility can increase quickly, within just a few weeks,” Dr. Krebill notes. “We recommend that a woman wait 12-18 months after surgery before conceiving. Using multiple forms of birth control can help prevent surprise pregnancies that occur as weight drops and cycles become more regular.”
Why is a surprise pregnancy not the best choice? “It is generally understood in the medical profession that a healthy maternity weight will benefit baby as well as mom,” Dr. Krebill says. “It will reduce the risk of a C-section. It will also help reduce the complications of high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. It’s not ideal for a woman to be gestating a baby while she’s actively in a calorie deficit. Choosing to reach and maintain a healthy pre-natal weight is wise for mom and baby.”
Once a woman achieves a healthy weight, it becomes safer to consider pregnancy. “There is no long-term drug use involved in maintaining a healthy weight once a woman has stabilized after surgery,” Dr. Krebill observes. “Since the medical profession still does not know exactly how weight loss drugs impact unborn babies, we like to make sure those drugs are not in use when a woman becomes pregnant.”
Our bariatric teams coordinate with primary care and ob-gyn specialists to help ensure the best possible outcomes for mom and baby.
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If you would like to learn more about how bariatric surgery could help you achieve a healthier lifestyle, call 844-423-7564 or register for our free seminar today.