Many patients undergoing bariatric surgery are unmarried and some couples have not conceived. Bariatric surgery is often indicated in these people because of cosmetic reasons, PCOD, depression and infertility. Bariatric surgery through weight loss alleviates the co-morbidities and reduces the risk posed by increased weight during pregnancy. Post surgery, there is a normalisation of female hormones in PCOD patients and regularisation of the menstrual cycle. This boosts fertility and increases the chances of a normal conception. Also men undergoing a bariatric surgery often report increase in libido and there have been documented increase in testosterone levels and sperm count associated with weight loss. Hence, bariatric surgery is a fertility enhancing procedure and poses no problem in conception after the surgery.
However, the timing of conception after surgery has to be carefully considered. Most surgeons recommend a minimum period of one year post surgery before attempting to conceive. This is because before one year, conception can interfere with the weight loss process and also lead to growth retardation in the developing foetus. The catabolic effect of bariatric surgery coupled with increased demands of pregnancy can impose health risks for the mother and precipitate nutritional deficiencies. After a year, the weight has stabilised and patients are well adjusted to maintain adequate nutrient intake. Thereafter, pregnancy poses no risk and a pregnant lady has to take all the required supplements as in a normal pregnancy. The lady might gain less weight than expected in a normal conception but developing baby is normal in weight and the complication rate is no more than in an average pregnancy.