title: A Survey of Bariatric Surgical and Reproductive Health Professionals' Knowledge and Provision of Contraception to Reproductive-Aged Bariatric Surgical Patients.
abstract: Over 80 % of bariatric surgical patients are women with obesity in their reproductive years. Obesity adversely affects fertility; the rapid weight loss following bariatric surgery can increase fecundity. Current guidelines recommend avoiding pregnancy for up to 24 months following surgery, but little is known about current contraceptive care of women who undergo bariatric surgery. Two surveys were undertaken with bariatric surgical and contraceptive practitioners in England to establish current contraceptive practices in both groups.
  
  
  
  Two anonymous on-line surveys were sent to all 382 members of the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (BOMSS) and an estimated 300 contraceptive practitioners in the North East of England.
  
  
  
  The BOMSS survey elicited a response rate of 17 % (n = 65), mainly from bariatric surgeons (n = 24 (36 %)). Most respondents (97 %) acknowledged the need to educate patients, but contraceptive information was only provided by 7 % (n = 4) of respondents in bariatric surgical clinics. Less than half of respondents were confident discussing contraception, and the majority requested further training, guidance and communication with contraceptive practitioners. The majority of respondents to the contraceptive practitioner survey were general practitioners (28 %, n = 20). Three quarters of respondents reported little knowledge of bariatric surgery, and many reported not seeing women with obesity requiring contraception before (66 %, n = 45) or after surgery (71 %, n = 49).
  
  
  
  There is a need to increase knowledge levels of contraception within bariatric surgical teams and to understand why, despite increasing levels of bariatric surgery, women do not seem to be appearing for advice in contraceptive settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Well-being, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK. yitka.graham@sunderland.ac.uk.|Department of General Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK. yitka.graham@sunderland.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Yitka N H
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6206-1461
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.affiliation: Department of Sexual Health, New Croft Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Hospitals Foundation Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, UK.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK.
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Well-being, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hinshaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gatiss
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK.
authors.forename: Kamal K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mahawar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Well-being, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McGarry
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Health and Well-being, University of Sunderland, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, UK.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilkes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000193:education*; D066231:Surgeons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents
keywords: Bariatric surgery; Contraception; Fertility; Pregnancy