birth control?

 So I have heard that BC pills are no longer effective after gastric bypass... I was wondering what you do for BC... also I know that you are supposed to wait some time before getting pregnant.  I was just wondering what that period is is it a year or is it more? Not that I am planning on getting pregnant I just like to be prepared.

I just had my first consultant with my suregon today and he told me to wait at least a year before getting pregnant after the surgery. According to him he said its best to do this because your body is ridding itself of extra storage (fat and other stuff) and when you throw a new baby into the picture that baby is trying to gain as many nutrients as possible and with your body trying to get rid of everything he said the baby might not get the nutrients it needs. As for the BC pill I'm not sure on that one, I use the Nuva ring so I dont have that issue.

From what I understand it's not absorbed as well, but you can start taking it at a month out.  I would talk to your surgeon and then your ob/gyn.

I posted about this a while back.

Oral contraceptives aka the Pill are not absorbed properly following gastric bypass surgery, so other methods are more reliable in preventing pregnancy. The reason for waiting at least a year before concieving is because the ketones released during rapid weight loss can be extremely damaging to a fetus.

Hope that helps.

That was so informative!  Thanks!!

Hey Amber,

After surgery i switched from the pill to the Nuva Ring. Personally, i LOVE it but other people have said they had issues with it slipping and other things. Ive been on it for 5 months now and have had no problems at all (i also love not having to take a pill every day lol) . There are a couple different options so just talk to your Doctor and yall can work out what will work best for you :) Also, i was told no pregnancy until 18months post op.

Good luck with everything!
-Courtney

The pills are effective - for those who say 'they are not' where is the scientific proof? As far as Ive found there have been no studies. I was reading the other day that since birth control pills do not need stomach acid to dissolve and dont need a specific part of the intestines (as with the vitamins we malabsorb) there is no reason they shouldnt be absorbed. I have been on oral BC since surgery and have no babies... so its worked fine for me.
No matter what form of BC you choose suregons will say to use a backup menthod for the first 18 months... that is how long they advise you do not get preggers.
Its very important to read the information with your BC, my OB said many people (non-WLS) who get preggers on BC is because they did not follow the instructions properly... each form works differerntly so its important to know what you should (or shouldnt!) be doing.

My surgeon and ob both say that oral bc is fine!  I've been on it almost 6 months now and haven't had any problems, but like Jennifer says they recommend you use a backup method as well.

 I have had a Mirena IUD in since March of 2007.   It's the best birth control I've ever used and I've used just about everything....pill, patch, ring, etc.  

My insurance covered the whole process and in the long run it's cheaper than standard birth control because you use it for 5 years but if you want to have it removed before then, you can.  

If you want any more info about it, just let me know!  

~Emily~

Hey Emily. Do youhave kids already? I'm considering Mirena and my doc just gave me info on it but I have no kids as of yet.