Timing of gestation after bariatric surgery: should women delay pregnancy for at least 1 postoperative year?

Bariatric surgery is both a popular and highly effective treatment for obesity. Pregnancy after these procedures has proved safe, with certain gestational complication rates lower than those associated with pregnancy in the obese. Current recommendations suggest delaying pregnancy until after the first postoperative year to avoid gestation during the rapid weight-loss phase. However, few controlled studies have examined the effects of postoperative pregnancy timing on gestational complications and outcomes. We discuss the current recommendations regarding timing of pregnancy after bariatric surgery. No conclusive evidence exists suggesting that pregnancy during the first postoperative year is unsafe, although more research is needed. Future studies should examine the safety of early postoperative pregnancy and determine whether or not its gestational complication rates are lower than those associated with obesity. Until the influence of pregnancy timing on post-bariatric surgery perinatal outcomes is better understood, clinicians should take into account all relevant data, consult with their postoperative patients, and create reproductive timelines best suited to individual needs.