Contraceptives Post Op

I'm jumping through the last loop for the insurance (6 months weight loss with a dr) and expect to have RNY early July. WOO HOO I'm very concerned about pregnancy post op and for the next few years. Oral contraceptives aren't effective in post op bypass patients, so I'm forced to look for another option. I tried Depo-provera a few years ago and had a horrible experience. I got cystic acne on most of my body and I menstruated for the ENTIRE three months. I've considered the patch, but I'm concerned that the high dose of hormones will give me migranes. It took me a long time to find an oral contraceptive that didn't give me migraines and spontaneous tears. I'm seeing my ob/gyn May 9th to discuss an IUD. I haven't found anything online that talks about bypass patient success with an IUD. Do any of you ladies have anything to share with me? We all know that our fertility rate goes through the roof post op. I welcome the rapid weightloss!!!! Postponing pregnancy and subsequent motherhood is very very VERY important to me. I'm 27, working full-time, attending college full-time and my better half is doing the same exact thing. We're both graduating next year and want to postpone children for at least the next 3 years.

I have Mirena...have since before surgery. I love it!!! I lost 150 in 10 months after surgery...that was my goal weight and continued to lose afterward after 47 pounds. So didn't hinder me at all. I feel it is no worries period for me. I don't have a cycle anymore since being on the Mirena, don't think about it actually at all. I prefer this since, I had bad experience with Depo myself, Norplant bad experiences, the pill bad experiences. I personally like the no worry part, no thinking. Tracey

Thanks! That's great news, Tracey. I don't have any children, so I'm hoping that doesn't present a problem. This is definitely my method of choice. I guess that's another question for everyone.... Has anyone had success with an IUD even though they haven't ever had children? I've read that women who haven't carried a child struggle to keep the device in place.

Hey Alison. Speaking from a woman who can relate working full-time and full-time for two years, and now in nursing school full-time and currently 5 1/2 months pregnant, 2 1/2 years post-op... your best bet at this point just might be the NuvaRing. I personally quit using it because it gaveme extremely long periods, but I have female issues and that is a rarity. most women I have talked to during my nursing rounds are pretty happy with it. Some surgeons debate the whole oral contraceptives thing post-op, but I figure if we malabsorb food, we malabsorb meds, so the Ring is really the best option. The Patch is really only intended for women under 190 pounds. It does contain a high dose of estrogen, which isn't necessarily a good thing, and also poses a risk for blood clots. Really only you can decide what's best for you, but you might be pleasantly surprisised with the NuvaRing... hope this helps... ~ Monica

most drs will not give you a IUD unless you have already had a child. good luck with this issue.I got pregnate post op 2 years on the ring

It really depends on the physician weather or not they will insert an IUD in a patient that has never delivered through the birth canal. We do insert in our office, but we have to dialate the cervix and can become kind of painful. Most times we use a cervical block. We have also had alot of non gastric bypass patients get pregnant on the Nuva Ring. Depo Provera I don't think is such a good choice. Not just because of hte weight gain but because of the bleeding profile it has. I also had a bad experience using it. I have used the Orth Evra patch. I liked it because it was extremely easy and I did not ever have to remember to take a pill everyday. The reason why they say it is for women under 190 is because they only did studies on women mostly und that weight. I just had a problem with it falling off. I used Yasmin BCP's now, for the last 2 years. I have no problems, only that sometimes I forget. So if I were to get pregnant, it would more then likel be my fault. If I was medically able to, I would go for a Mirena. Especially if you are in a monogomous relationship and not alot of infections. I wished they still made Lunelle injection, the once a month birth control. That has been the best I have ever used until they started messing with the dosages. Anyway, good luck in your search for contraception! Tricia