Q. Does weight loss
surgery affect fertility?
A. Yes, it does. For many years, fat
was thought to be nothing more than energy storage.
It is now recognized that fat is actually a very
hormonally active tissue, producing both female
hormones (like estrogen) and male hormones (like
testosterone). This is why some obese women have
male hair patterns (like facial hair) and why
some obese men have female attributes (like breast
tissue).
As you lose weight, the hormonal effect
of excess fat decreases. This may result in a
substantial increase in your fertility. Although
we would never describe bariatric surgery as a
treatment for infertility, many women who were
previously unable to become pregnant find that
they become fertile after substantial weight loss.
This is one more reason why it is so
important to use an effective form of birth control
for the first 18 months after surgery! |
