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The impact of bariatric surgery on menstrual patterns.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Teitelman, M; Grotegut, CA; Williams, NN; Lewis, JD
Published in: Obes Surg
November 2006

BACKGROUND: Obesity and anovulation are common medical problems in the United States. Anovulation in obese patients primarily manifests with irregular, sporadic or absent menstrual bleeding. Weight loss of at least 5% has been shown to reverse obesity-related anovulation. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of bariatric surgery on infertility in morbidly obese women and to identify factors associated with return of normal menses following bariatric surgery. METHODS: A survey of patients was collected from the bariatric surgery data-base at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. 410 women under the age of 40 were sent questionnaires. 195 patients completed the questionnaire, and 29 patients had incorrect addresses without a forwarding address, resulting in a 51.2% response rate. Patients who reported menstrual cycle lengths >35 days were considered abnormal. 92 of the 195 responders were considered anovulatory preoperatively, based on menstrual history. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in postoperative BMI, BMI decrease or age at surgery between the survey responders and non-responders. There was a significant difference between these 2 groups in time since surgery (P=.01). Both groups had a decrease in BMI of >18 kg/m(2). The mean menstrual cycle length preoperatively among those categorized as ovulatory and anovulatory was 27.3 and 127.5 days, respectively. Of the 98 patients who were anovulatory preoperatively, 70 patients (71.4%) regained normal menstrual cycles after surgery. Those patients who regained ovulation had greater weight loss than those who remained anovulatory (61.4 kg vs 49.9 kg, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Anovulation resulting in abnormal menses is a common problem in morbidly obese premenopausal women. The menstrual cycle disorders may completely resolve after bariatric surgery. Thus, infertility due to anovulation among morbidly obese women could potentially be viewed as an additional indication for bariatric surgery.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Obes Surg

DOI

ISSN

0960-8923

Publication Date

November 2006

Volume

16

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1457 / 1463

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surgery
  • Oligomenorrhea
  • Obesity, Morbid
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Body Mass Index
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Teitelman, M., Grotegut, C. A., Williams, N. N., & Lewis, J. D. (2006). The impact of bariatric surgery on menstrual patterns. Obes Surg, 16(11), 1457–1463. https://doi.org/10.1381/096089206778870148
Teitelman, Melissa, Chad A. Grotegut, Noel N. Williams, and James D. Lewis. “The impact of bariatric surgery on menstrual patterns.Obes Surg 16, no. 11 (November 2006): 1457–63. https://doi.org/10.1381/096089206778870148.
Teitelman M, Grotegut CA, Williams NN, Lewis JD. The impact of bariatric surgery on menstrual patterns. Obes Surg. 2006 Nov;16(11):1457–63.
Teitelman, Melissa, et al. “The impact of bariatric surgery on menstrual patterns.Obes Surg, vol. 16, no. 11, Nov. 2006, pp. 1457–63. Pubmed, doi:10.1381/096089206778870148.
Teitelman M, Grotegut CA, Williams NN, Lewis JD. The impact of bariatric surgery on menstrual patterns. Obes Surg. 2006 Nov;16(11):1457–1463.
Journal cover image

Published In

Obes Surg

DOI

ISSN

0960-8923

Publication Date

November 2006

Volume

16

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1457 / 1463

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Surgery
  • Oligomenorrhea
  • Obesity, Morbid
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Female
  • Body Mass Index