Gastric Bypass and Getting Pregnant?
Gastric bypass surgery — which essentially changes the size of your stomach to dramatically cut down on the amount of food you eat — shouldn’t make it more difficult for you to conceive. In fact, just the opposite may be true. By losing weight, you’re likely to dramatically improve your odds of getting pregnant. That’s because obesity, which is the most common chronic disease in the US today, leads to an imbalance of hormones, which can muck up your ability to ovulate. No ovulation, no pregnancy. Losing even 10 percent of your body weight can have a dramatic effect on rebalancing those hormones so you begin to ovulate normally.
One recent study found that among extremely obese women who underwent gastric bypass, those who wanted children were able to conceive within three years of the surgery. If you do choose to get pregnant after having gastric bypass, be sure to consult with a nutritionist, since the surgery can affect your body’s ability to absorb certain important nutrients. But the weight loss itself is a positive step for your own health and your family’s.
Plus More From The Bump:
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.
