Reproductive health of women electing bariatric surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the reproductive health history and characteristics of women having bariatric surgery and to determine whether this differs by age of onset of obesity.


METHODS
Retrospective and cross-sectional analyses of self-reported survey data.


METHODS
Six sites of the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery-2 study.


METHODS
The study included 1,538 females having bariatric surgery.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Reported polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy and fertility history, contraceptive use, and plans for pregnancies.


RESULTS
Mean age was 44.8 years (range, 18-78 years); mean body mass index was 47.2 kg/m2 (range, 33.8-87.3 kg/m2). PCOS had been diagnosed by a health care provider in 13.1% of subjects. Of women who had tried to conceive, 41.9% experienced infertility and 61.4% had a live birth after experiencing infertility. In the whole group, prior live birth was reported by 72.5%. Women who were obese by 18 years old were more likely to report PCOS and infertility and less likely to have ever been pregnant, compared with women who became obese later in life. Future pregnancy was important to 30.3% of women younger than 45 years, whereas 48.6% did not plan to become pregnant in the future. In the year before surgery, 51.8% used contraception.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reporting of obesity by age 18 appears to be related to reproductive morbidity. Women undergoing bariatric surgery have important reproductive health care needs, including reliable contraception and counseling about plans for postoperative pregnancy.
Gosman
Gabriella G
GG
University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: ggosman@mail.magee.edu.
King
Wendy C
WC
University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Schrope
Beth
B
Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York.
Steffen
Kristine J
KJ
Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Fargo, North Dakota.
Strain
Gladys W
GW
Cornell University, Weill/Cornell School of Medicine, New York, New York.
Courcoulas
Anita P
AP
University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Flum
David R
DR
University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
Pender
John R
JR
East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina.
Simhan
Hyagriv N
HN
University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017584:Reproductive History; D018456:Reproductive Medicine; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult