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Perception and Practice of Bariatric Surgery and Reproductive Health in Women: a Cross-sectional Study of Chinese Bariatric Surgeons

Obesity Surgery volume 33, pages 1545–1552 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

Background and Purpose

Western studies have explored bariatric surgeons concerning their views on bariatric surgery (BS) and reproductive health, but Asian data were lacking. The aim of this study was to explore the perception and practice of bariatric surgeons on the reproductive health of female patients who underwent BS in China to better guide clinical practice and improve clinical outcomes.

Method

An online questionnaire of 31 questions developed by bariatric surgeons was collected by sending to one online communication group (WeChat group) whose members are Chinese bariatric surgeons.

Result

A total of 87 bariatric surgeons from mainland China were surveyed. Almost all (97.7%, 85/87) surgeons considered the reproductive health conversation for women who underwent BS to be important or very important. Only 1/4 of surgeons routinely discuss reproductive health–related issues with patients, and only 56% of doctors always ask patients for postoperative contraception. Less than 20% of bariatric surgeons have full knowledge of postoperative contraception, and nearly 40% of them believe that gynecologists should be responsible for providing contraception. More than 35% of bariatric surgeons have never been involved in the co-management of pregnancy in patients with a history of BS.

Conclusion

Although most bariatric surgeons are aware of the importance of female reproductive health, there is a large gap in the perception and clinical practice of bariatric surgeons in terms of reproductive health. It is necessary to further strengthen the education of bariatric surgeons and enhance multidisciplinary cooperation with gynecology, obstetrics, and other disciplines to bring better clinical outcomes.

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Data Availability

All relevant data are within the paper.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Jun-Cheng Yang and Gang Chen contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Jun-Cheng Yang, Gang Chen, Cuo Leng & Xiao Du

  2. Department of General Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College, The Fifth People’s Hospital affiliated to Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Gang Chen

  3. Department of General Surgery, Ya’an People’s Hospital, Yaan, 625000, China

    Xiao Du

Authors
  1. Jun-Cheng Yang
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  2. Gang Chen
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  3. Cuo Leng
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  4. Xiao Du
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiao Du.

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Ethical Approval Statement

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Key Points

• The large gap in the perception and practice of bariatric surgeons in reproductive health.

• For bariatric surgeons, the importance of reproductive health remains to be improved.

• Multidisciplinary cooperation should be involved for a better health outcome.

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Yang, JC., Chen, G., Leng, C. et al. Perception and Practice of Bariatric Surgery and Reproductive Health in Women: a Cross-sectional Study of Chinese Bariatric Surgeons. OBES SURG 33, 1545–1552 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-023-06514-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-023-06514-5

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