Mohammad Jamal, MD, FACS Surgical Weight Loss Center at Spotsylvania Regional |
Obesity has been linked to infertility and studies show bariatric
surgery may treat one of its most common causes - polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal imbalance that affects up to 10% of women of child-bearing
age – 33-50% of whom are overweight or obese.
Not many patients come to a bariatric surgeon to treat infertility
problems, but women with morbid obesity, who are infertile secondary to PCOS,
may have a surgical option. Many other studies have shown bariatric surgery can
improve or resolve a multitude of diseases and conditions, and now infertility
appears to have joined the list.
Recent clinical research from the University of Iowa Hospitals and
Clinics showed that nearly all morbidly obese women enrolled in the study, who
were diagnosed with PCOS-related infertility and desired children, became
pregnant within three years following gastric bypass surgery. Doctors advise
women not to try to conceive until at least 18 months after bariatric surgery
due to surgery-related changes that could affect fetal development.
Before surgery, the women had an average body mass index (BMI) of 52,
and after surgery had an average excess weight loss of nearly 60%. Menstruation
corrected in 82% of the women and nearly 80% no longer had Type 2 diabetes. In
addition to infertility, PCOS increases the risk of obesity, insulin resistance
and Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, irregular menstrual cycles and miscarriage.
Obese women who become pregnant may suffer from a complication of gestational
diabetes, which passes on an increased risk for early diabetes and obesity to
their children.
Significant weight loss also reduces the risk of pregnancy related
complications, which is another important consideration. Though this is a small
study, it has a big result and should be an area for more investigation and
should be discussed with morbidly obese women who are having difficulty
conceiving – especially those who have failed conventional methods of conception
including hormonal treatments and in-vitro fertilization.
Bariatric surgery has been shown to be the most effective and long
lasting treatment for morbid obesity and many related conditions. People with
morbid obesity have BMI of 40 or more, or BMI of 35 or more with an
obesity-related disease such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.
According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS),
more than 15 million Americans have morbid obesity. Studies have shown patients
may lose 30-50% of their excess weight 6 months after surgery and 77% of their
excess weight as early as one year after surgery.
The most common methods of bariatric surgery are laparoscopic gastric
bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Bariatric surgery
limits the amount of food the stomach can hold, and/or limits the amount of
calories absorbed, by surgically reducing the stomach’s capacity to a few
ounces.
If you have more questions about obesity-related infertility, metabolic
disease, or bariatric surgery, contact Dr. Mohammad Jamal with the Surgical
Weight Loss Center at Spotsylvania Regional at 540.423.6600 or visit their
website at fredericksburgweightloss.com.
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