Are you obese, and considering having a baby? If so, here’s another reason to consider weight loss surgery. New research suggests that these procedures may actually increase the chances of getting pregnant. In fact, women who become pregnant after weight loss surgery were shown to be healthier, in general.

According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), undergoing bariatric surgery may normalize obese women’s menstrual cycles and hormone levels. This may increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant. Weight loss due to these procedures may contribute to reduced risks of premature delivery. There may also be reduced risks of delivering babies with low birth weights, or exceedingly large-bodied babies. Medical experts still consider natural weight loss the preferable method for overcoming obesity, though.

Post-Surgery Pregnancy Pros & Cons

Clinical studies illustrate the proposed benefits of weight loss surgery for pregnancy. Nationwide, 150,000 women of child-bearing age had weight loss surgery from 2002-2005 (the years covered by the study). These procedures may reduce the risks of problems for mothers and their newborn children. Among these conditions are high blood pressure and diabetes.  Obese women not undergoing weight loss procedures were more likely to deliver babies with complications.

Gastric bypass surgery was the specific procedure linked to increased fertility. With this procedure, the stomach’s size is reduced, enabling food to avoid entering part or all of the small intestine. Gastric bypass surgery may alter patients’ digestive systems by reducing the volume of food that can be eaten and digested. After having bariatric surgery, medical experts advise patients to wait one year before becoming pregnant. But according to Melinda Maggard, a surgeon and a study researcher, some patients were able to get pregnant earlier, without any problems. These procedures may also be effective for overweight, but not obese, women having trouble becoming pregnant.

Researchers warn patients not to undergo these procedures just for a fertility boost.  In addition, losing excessive weight through bariatric surgery may actually lead to unplanned pregnancies. That’s because the patients’ previous birth control doses may not be absorbed as well. As such, post-surgical female patients may want to consider alternative birth control methods.