Pregnancy considerations after metabolic and bariatric surgery.

The prevalence of obesity-and the number of patients seeking treatment for this chronic, progressive disease-continues to rise. Bariatric surgery has long been an effective management option. The population of patients who undergo metabolic weight loss procedures consists predominantly of women and demonstrates a decreasing mean age, and as a result, more patients are undergoing surgery during their reproductive years and subsequently pursuing pregnancy. Although pregnancy following bariatric surgery is associated with improved outcomes compared with pregnancies complicated by uncontrolled obesity, it carries unique risks and potential complications, requiring more frequent and involved monitoring that may not be widely recognized among health care providers. This article reviews current guidelines for the management of patients after bariatric surgery, focusing in particular on those who conceive following these procedures.