Weight loss surgery is an exciting prospect for a woman who has tried many diets and can not decrease her obese weight. However, for a woman contemplating weight loss surgery who is still of childbearing years, it is very important to understand the impact that the surgery can have on fertility.

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

First, it is important to understand this surgery. Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that is available to extremely overweight people. It does have a number of complications and can be a dangerous procedure. It is, therefore, very important to know the risks and the details of the surgery before deciding to undertake this process. During the surgery, a surgeon reroutes the food that you eat past your stomach and into a small bag. This bag only accommodates a very small amount of food and allows you to eat tiny portions. In general, people consume about 500 calories a day after the surgery. This creates a dramatic and sustained weight loss for people who have had an impossible time losing weight and are in a potentially life-threatening weight situation.

Obesity Surgery and Conception

When a woman is extremely overweight, she will often find that she doesn't ovulate at all, or that she doesn't ovulate regularly. After the surgery, most women will find that they begin to ovulate regularly again and will increase their chances of becoming pregnant. The surgery, and the dramatic weight-loss do have a large impact on the body, however. Most doctors recommend that patients wait at least 18 months after the surgery before trying to conceive. This will give the body time to adjust to the new weight loss and will help you to be ready to sustain a pregnancy.

Birth Control and Bypass

While many women might not consider this side effect, birth control can be a very tricky issue after having bypass surgery. Since the pouch only absorbs a small amount of food each day, women may find that their bodies can't absorb enough of the pill to make it effective. Another birth control choice, the diaphragm, can also have its complications after surgery. The diaphragm needs to fit exactly right, and the fit becomes less perfect as you lose weight. Therefore, if you use the diaphragm, you'll have to continue to go to your doctor to have it adjusted as you lose weight. Most doctors recommend that women who have bypass surgery use multiple forms of birth control for at least 18 months after the surgery. This is something important to consider if you are going to have the procedure done.

Pregnancy and Bypass

Some women who become pregnant after weight-loss surgery do experience complications. In general, researchers have been happy to see that these problems do not occur the overwhelming amount of the time. However, sometimes women can experience bleeding in the stomach, anemia or problems with providing the baby with enough room to grow. In general, the weight loss has been found to help women rather than to hinder them. It helps pregnant women to avoid gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, Cesarean births and very large babies. Sometimes women who've had this surgery experience problems with the glucose tolerance test and with prenatal vitamins. The doctor needs to know that you've had the surgery, so that he can alter these items. He can give you a fasting blood sugar test instead of the regular glucose tolerance test and he can prescribe vitamins that are specifically designed for women who've had the surgery.

Bypass surgery is only for people who are at least 100 pounds overweight and who are experiencing complications due to their large size. When bypass surgery is done, it certainly can help a person to feel and look better. They may increase their chances of conceiving and of delivering a healthy baby. They must, however, understand the risks involved and work with a doctor every step along the way.