Contraceptive choices for women before and after bariatric surgery

Abstract Up to 80% of patients undergoing bariatric surgery are women and most of them are in childbearing age. Weight loss in those patients results in increased fertility in a short time postoperatively. Although women after bariatric procedure have an improved maternal and fetal outcome during pregnancy and in the postpartum period compared to women with untreated obesity, conceiving during the time of rapid weight loss is associated with higher rates of nutritional deficiencies and obstetric complications. Therefore women who receive surgical treatment for obesity are advised not to conceive for the following 12–18 months both to ensure optimal weight loss and to begin pregnancy with optimal nutritional and vitamin status. Before choosing a contraceptive method, both safety and efficacy in the pre– and post–weight loss period should be considered. The UK Faculty for Sexual and Reproductive Health advises using long-acting reversible contraceptives for the first 2 years after surgery.