Women who become heavy with child after weight-loss surgery are prone to be healthier and less likely to have a baby born with complications, compared to obese women, according to a study published in the November 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Obese women encounter more problems regarding getting pregnant, but a weight loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery) may boost their chances of conceiving a baby. Researchers found that the surgery normalized their menstrual cycles, as well as hormone levels. "There is some suggestion of increased fertility," said lead author Dr. Melinda Maggard, a surgeon and researcher at the Rand Corp think tank in Santa Monica, CA.

In the study, researchers from RAND Health, the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, looked at 75 previous studies that examined health-related problems among women who had undergone weight loss surgery and their kids.

The research, requested by several obstetricians and gynecologists, revealed that fertility improved in women who had undergone this type of surgery. However, the evidence offered was limited in scope. Early studies have disclosed that fertility rates rose in obese women who lost weight with nonsurgical techniques.

"Large numbers of women in their childbearing years may undergo bariatric surgery, which may change fertility following weight loss, alter nutritional requirements during pregnancy, or impact contraception to prevent pregnancy," the authors said.
In spite of their reduced frequency, complications attributable to weight loss surgery can happen during pregnancy. The most common complication is an internal hernia that leads to intestinal issues, the report said.

Nearly all surgeons recommend women to become pregnant at least 12 months after undergoing bariatric surgery.

The findings also showed that women who had bariatric surgery, compared to obese ones, had reduced risks of giving birth before 37 weeks of gestation or delivering a low birth weight baby.