Health First’s NewFit is a nationally accredited comprehensive weight-loss program. That means that, along with three surgical procedures – gastric bypass, sleeves and bands – it embarks on extensive pre- and post-operative care for medical and surgical weight-loss patients.

Obesity changes hormone levels in men and women. In young women, it can lead to PCOS, an imbalance of reproductive hormones that leads to menstrual dysfunction and irregular ovulation. Conception rates fall, miscarriage rates rise, and pregnancy complications increase. (Not all PCOS sufferers are obese.)

A NewFit administrator posted a query to the Facebook group, asking women to share their experiences of fertility, pregnancy and motherhood following weight-loss surgery. Several responded.

“Many women of childbearing years who come to us do so because they want to get pregnant,” says NewFit Surgeon Nathan Allison, MD. “We have patients who have failed to conceive naturally – they’ve gone to fertility clinics, unsuccessfully, having spent a significant amount of money out of pocket. Some over $50,000.”

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