Sex & Pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery

Are you thinking about gastric bypass surgery and wondering if you can still get pregnant?
We’ll tell you more about what to expect. Dr. Frits Berends, Gastrointestinal Surgeon at WeightWorks, with more than 20 years of experience and thousands of successful surgeries, regularly receives questions from women about pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery.
“I understand quite well that women worry about this.
A stomach reduction changes the size of your stomach and often the location of your small intestine.
It’s natural for women to wonder if that can cause harm when you also have a growing child in your belly. Fortunately, I can reassure these women: it is certainly possible to get pregnant after gastric bypass surgery. However, timing is important. It’s also good to know what to watch out for when you’re pregnant.” In this article, we discuss when you can have sex again after a gastric bypass. We also explain pregnancy and the risks after gastric bypass surgery.

Sex after gastric bypass surgery, when can it be done again?

After gastric bypass surgery, you can have sex whenever you feel ready.
So there is no deadline attached.
It doesn’t matter whether you had a gastric bypass, a mini gastric bypass or a gastric sleeve.
It makes no difference.
People often feel fitter and more confident after surgery, which can have a positive effect on their sex life.
But, do give your body time to recover after surgery.

Getting pregnant after gastric bypass surgery: is it still possible?

After gastric bypass surgery, you can certainly get pregnant (again).
In fact, fertility often improves greatly.
There are a few things to keep in mind, though.

• 1-year wait: Wait to get pregnant after gastric bypass surgery for 1 year after surgery.
  During the first year, your body is recovering from the surgery.
  You are often still losing weight and getting used to a new lifestyle.
  That is not an ideal time to also have a growing child in your belly.
• Recover well: Losing weight in the first year is quite fast and can be associated with nutrient deficiencies such as vitamins and supplements, protein, iron and calcium.
  During pregnancy, on the other hand, you need more vitamins.
  After stomach reduction, you already have to try hard to get all the vitamins.
  It is also important that you get enough nutrients when you are pregnant so that your baby can grow properly.
  Therefore, it is important that you recover well yourself first and your blood levels are good.
• Nutritional supplements: Becoming pregnant after gastric bypass requires extra attention in the area of dietary supplements: take supplements that are suitable for people with gastric bypass and get advice on this from a doctor.
  Ordinary vitamins from the drugstore are not suitable for someone with a small stomach.
  They sometimes even contain too high concentrations of vitamin that are harmful.
• Increased fertility after gastric bypass surgery: After gastric bypass surgery, fertility increases in many women.
  Even if your period was off or irregular for a long time before surgery, it often returns quickly – within a few days or weeks – after surgery.
  This means your chances of pregnancy increase.
• Contraception: After gastric bypass, “the pill” (“oral contraception”) is less reliable.
  Because your intestinal tract is shorter, the pill is sometimes not absorbed as well, which can lead to unwanted pregnancy.
  Therefore, it is better not to take the pill as birth control after gastric bypass.
  The pill is also less reliable if you have a lot of diarrhea or vomiting.
  Discuss with your doctor what alternatives there are for you, such as: an IUD, implanon or the contraceptive pill.

Pregnancy risks after gastric bypass

Although the chances are very small, there are pregnancy risks after gastric bypass surgery.
There is a small risk of an internal hernia (intestinal hernia) during pregnancy after gastric bypass.
With an intestinal hernia, the small intestine can become trapped.
This causes pain and sometimes vomiting.
The risk of a bowel hernia depends on the technique used to insert the gastric bypass.
Also, the risk depends on how the surgeon has closed the areas where a hernia may develop.
In the best centers, the risk of a hernia is only 1-2%.
The risk of a bowel hernia is highest with classic Gastric Bypass (9RY-Gastric Bypass) and lower with Mini-Gastric Bypass (OAGB).
No bowel hernias can occur with a Gastric Sleeve.
Thus, if you have abdominal symptoms during pregnancy, it is important to get checked out immediately.
As already mentioned, there is also a greatly increased risk of vitamin deficiencies during pregnancy.
Vitamin and nutrient deficiencies are not good for your growing baby.
Therefore, after any gastric bypass, it is always recommended that you have your pregnancy checkup with a gynecologist, not just an obstetrician.
A natural (vaginal) delivery is not a problem after a stomach reduction, nor is a cesarean section.
Of course, if it is necessary, you can always consult with the doctors at WeightWorks.

What if I have additional questions about pregnancy after gastric bypass surgery?

Thinking about your health, your lifestyle and getting pregnant.
We understand there is a lot on your mind and you want to know what to expect.
You worry about health risks during pregnancy.
Or what is the right time for you to get pregnant.
These are very understandable concerns you have.
At WeightWorks, we answer all the questions you have so you can make good choices for yourself.
During the screening sessions you can ask all your questions to the practitioners.
If you would like to come for a consultation with us, please discuss a referral with your primary care physician.

Want to know if you qualify for gastric bypass surgery?

Then do the Quick Scan! Find out quickly and easily if gastric bypass surgery may be an option for you by doing our Quickscan.
It’s a handy tool that helps you assess whether you meet the criteria for gastric reduction surgery.