Question:
Should I stop taking Birth Control Pills prior to surgery?

I have been taking birth control pills for quite a few years now and have heard that they increase the risk of getting blood clots. With my surgery about six weeks away would it be a good idea for me to go off the pill now and use a different form of birth control prior to surgery to lessen my chances of developing clots ? Also, how long after I have my surgery shoould I begin taking them again? Thank You.    — Cissy C. (posted on June 16, 1999)

June 16, 1999
Hi...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get answers to questions like this from your own surgeon!!! You should be following his/her advice about something as important as this. My surgeon had me stop taking birth control prior to my RNY, but not prior to my hernia operations later on, so there can be differences. Anything relating to medications, pre-op instructions, etc. should be obtained from your surgeon, not a bunch of people on the internet. There is way too much variation out there for something so important.
   — [Anonymous]

June 19, 1999
your question made me think...i was on depo-provera for a year pre-op...that is the 3 month injection...i did not stop taking them or even ask the dr...and i developed a blood clot...i wonder if one has to do with the other...i would recommend stop taking them and use condoms...i would want my system as clean as possible going into this...i stopped taking depo, after surgery b/c i was on treatment for the blood clots...a few months ago i switched to ortho-tricyclen and i stopped loosing weight...now i am back on depo and it working like a charm again...but like the other person said ask the dr... take care, michelle 6-2-98 317#, 6-19-99 173#
   — michelle N.

September 9, 2004
Kaiser in South San Francisco asked us to stop birth control pills 2 months before surgery.
   — Shrinking M.

September 9, 2004
Kaiser in South San Francisco asked us to stop birth control pills 2 months before surgery.
   — Shrinking M.