Question:
Will WLS improve fertility chances?

My husband and I have just been through feritility testing and were told last week to give up. I was told that while my FSH levels were normal, my Inhibit B level was too low. Inhibit B is a hormone that fertility doctors have just started testing. He told me that even with in-vitro we would only have about a 20% chance of getting pregnant. Does anyone know if WLS will improve our chances of conceiving? Thank you!    — hanovermomma (posted on September 23, 2002)

September 23, 2002
Oh sweetie, I've been where you've been. My husband and I were trying for 9 months, the old fashioned way before I "thought" I was pregnant. I started missing my periods and thought, this is it. Only to find out that because of my weight gain, I wasn't ovulating. Which happens to a lot of us. Both my surgeon and ob/gyn have told me that after WLS I'll be fertile mertile, because estrogen gets stuck in fat cells, when I lose the weight the estrogen will then be able to go where it needs to. But after WLS I should have no problems what so ever getting pregnant. I have to wait for 18mths-2yrs and then we can try again. I know that as long as your uterus is in good shape you should have no problems getting pregnant. I hope this helps you and good luck.
   — Heather B.

September 23, 2002
WLS improved my chances for sure!!! I had 5 doctors tell me I'd never have kids and in July I found I will be a mommy in March. If that wasn't enough I got pregnant while I was on birth control. I had my surgery 6/01 AND i HAVE LOST 140 POUNDS
   — Tiffini P.

September 23, 2002
Let me just say this. . .at my seminar, one of the things the surgeon told us was, if you don't want to get pregnant after this surgery, you better make darn sure you are on good birth control. He said a wonderful side effect of this surgery was being able to conceive. So sit back, relax and let nature take its course!!
   — Kathy S.

September 24, 2002
Obesity does affect some women's chances, however not all. In my case I was obese AND I have PCOS, and I missed my periods for 1.5 years prior to surgery. Like many women, I got my period the day after surgery and figured it was a fluke- however- it remained regular since. We waited a year (00-01) to start trying like they suggested, only to find I need my GB out (01) ... so we waited until that was over, and then just ditched the condoms.... We then ACTIVELY started trying in April (02) really going by the "book" figuring out actual "ripe" dates and such- needless to say- we are now EXPECTING in April 03. So it did increase our chances. However, I do not know anything about your particular infertility- you'd have to do some research to see if weight loss would increase your chances like it does with someone with PCOS. If weight loss was KEY, then you could say that it should help your chances. Know what I mean?
   — Karen R.

October 18, 2002
We tried for four years to concieve. We tried IUI, fertility drugs, shots, etc..nothing worked. I had my RNY October 9, 2001, lost 98 pounds and April 1, 2002 I became pregnant! I am 31 wks. pregnant and doing great! Baby is doing great! Hugs, DP
   — D P.