title: Contraceptive counseling for women who undergo bariatric surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Women are counseled to avoid becoming pregnant for 12-24 months after bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to assess contraceptive counseling and use in women who undergo bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered survey was completed by women aged 18-45 years at a postoperative clinic visit >2 months after bariatric surgery at an urban teaching hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 69 respondents, 94.2% knew to avoid pregnancy for at least 12 months after surgery. However, 16.3% did not use any contraception 2-12 months after surgery. The most common contraceptive methods used were condoms (30.6%) and oral contraceptives (16.3%). Longer-acting reversible contraceptives were used less frequently; for example, only 4% of women used intrauterine devices. Only 21.2% of respondents were referred to an obstetrician/gynecologist for contraceptive counseling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many women who undergo bariatric surgery are not using very effective contraceptive methods or any contraception. There is a clear opportunity to improve counseling and increase use of more effective contraception in this population.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: Sheila K
authors: SK
authors: Mody
authors: Michele R
authors: MR
authors: Hacker
authors: Laura E
authors: LE
authors: Dodge
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Thornton
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Schneider
authors: Sadia
authors: S
authors: Haider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology; D012731:Sex Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015431:Weight Loss; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult