Pregnancy and Bariatric Surgery

Obesity significantly hampers reproductive health through hormonal imbalance, conception failures and pregnancy complications. However, a well-recognized treatment for obesity, metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), offers substantial health benefits, namely, improved fertility and resolution of other weight-related co-morbidities. Post-bariatric pregnancy also entails potential risk. Experts recommend a delay of 12–18 months after MBS before conceiving to stabilize post-operative weight loss. Furthermore, proper nutrition, vitamin supplementation plus close follow-up with high-risk obstetricians and bariatric teams are necessary to either mitigate or manage unique bariatric considerations during pregnancy.