Taking The Birth Control Pill After Weight Loss Surgery

Thursday, 03 June 2010 07:49

For women taking an oral birth contraceptive (the birth control pill) after weight loss surgery may need to take extra precautions in order to avoid pregnancy, due to malasorption in some patients.

According to the Associated Press, the birth control pill is currently the most common form of contraceptive for American women. New warning guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that women who have had some types of weight loss (bariatric) surgery may be unable to absorb some or all of the birth control pill's main active ingredient, which may leading to an unintended pregnancy.

Weight loss surgery patients are advised not to have children until at least 2 years after their bariatric procedure, due to health risks, especially fetal malnutrition. A 2005 issue of Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing stated that after women received bariatric surgery, their fertility increased and many women also began ovulating again, due to the weight loss. Because of this, especially if a female patient is on the birth control pill, patients and their partners are advised to use a second form of birth control during sexual intercourse.

The CDC also states that others at risk for adverse health during an unintended pregnancy include women with diabetes; breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer; hypertension; and heart disease, which are all health problems associated with obesity. The risk for these other co-morbidities decrease with weight loss after bariatric surgery.

This is one of the first studies and guidelines about using birth control after weight loss surgery. To read the complete guidelines for "U S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use" from the CDC and the World Health Organization, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr59e0528a1.htm?s_cid-rr59e0528a1_e.

For more information on pregnancy after weight loss surgery, visit the Baby Center's article here: http://www.babycenter.com/0_seven-facts-about-pregnancy-after-weight-loss-surgery_1504874.bc?page=1.