Im having gastric bypass surgery and need contraceptive advice.?

Question

My husband and I are 6 years TTC. Im having gastric bypass surgery soon and I am concerned about a pregnancy too soon. I know I have to wait and I have no issues with that. My husband is the problem. My doctor said a contraceptive and a barrier method. My hubby refuses to wear a condoms because we have TTC so long that he sees it as a blessing if we get pregnant. I know Im in control and I can with hold if I need to, but as he is my husband, I dont see this as really fair. Ill do what I have to though. Can I use a diaphram if Im going through weight loss? Dont you have to keep getting re-fit as you shrink? Any thoughts on how to drive this point through to him?

Answer 1

I would think getting pregnant immediately after major abdominal surgery would be dangerous for you.  Tell him that you need him to wear a condom for your safety, and if he still refuses, then he's not taking your needs into account.  At that point, I think you should have absolutely no guilt cutting him off from s*x.  I know it seems mean, but so is insisting that you take a pretty major physical risk.

Maybe you could also have your doctor talk to him about the risks of you getting pregnant right after abdominal surgery.

Answer 2

I was never told to use a contraceptive AND barrier method.  I use the birth Control patch (Ortho-Evra) and we've never had a problem!  I've known several people to get pregnant within 6 months of thier surgeries but they were all on the pill.  Diaphrams can be tricky due to the fitting issue.  Having a baby after Gastric Bypass is very difficult.  It's easy to concieve but the pregnancy is considered high risk and you may well end up on bed rest for most of your pregnancy causing you to gain back some of that weight that the surgery cause you to lose.  

I had my surgery in Oct 2007.  Zero complications.  120 down in 9 1/2 months.  40 more pounds to go!

Good Luck!  I certainly hope the surgery is all you want it to be and more.  I hope that eventually you can have the child you are waiting so badly :0)

Answer 3

I used the nuva ring and didn't have any problems, oral contraceptives I have heard may not be reliable after gastric bypass, so I didn't even try to take a chance there. ask your doctor about the nuva ring (haha that sounded like an advertisement!)