Background: An important population of patients who undergo biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) are fertile women. A consensus is needed with regard to contraceptive therapy after BPD by evaluating the risks of pregnancy, the safety of oral contraception and the changes in fertility after this bariatric surgery.
Method: From May 1997 until May 1998, 40 women who underwent a BPD were included in a prospective study evaluating the hormone status preoperatively and postoperatively after 2 and 7 days, 3 and 6 months and 1 year. An extensive questionnaire, with regard to fertility and obstetric history, was sent at least 2 years after inclusion. A literature search was performed to understand the complex physiology of hormone changes after excess weight loss, as well as absorption and metabolism of oral contraceptives.
Results: Our laboratory results are consistent with hormone changes found in the literature, which show that rising levels of serum sex-hormone-binding globulin, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone and decreasing levels of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate result in an improved fertility status, regulated through complex interactions, in particular with the gonatotropin-releasing-hormone pulse generator. The questionnaire shows the use of different types of contraception. From the 9 patients who only used oral contraception, 2 patients developed an unforeseen pregnancy after BPD. Although miscarriages and neonatal complications were seen in other patients in our hospital, none of these problems were seen in our study.
Conclusion: Pregnancy should be avoided for 12 to 18 months after BPD. Fertility increases after BPD. As oral contraception is most popular and less reliable, we strongly believe that large multi-centre, prospective, randomized studies are necessary to come to a consensus about the use of contraceptive therapy after BPD.