Question:
here is something a freind of mine told me:
you should stop your birth control pill a coupple of weeks prior to surgery to avoid blood clot ? but i feel this is a total NON SENCE ? the last thing we wanth is to become pregnant just before surgery ? any idea about that ? — carou1313 (posted on June 4, 2001)
June 4, 2001
It is fairly common practice to stop birth control pills prior to surgery
because of the risk of a blood clot. There are other acceptable methods of
birth control that will not complicate surgery, for example the IUD
— Margaret S.
June 4, 2001
If you are commited to having serious, life-altering
surgery - perhaps you could commit to avoiding intercouse
for a couple of weeks before the surgery?
There are other ways to be intimate that don't result in pregnancy.
Or use extreme caution - condoms and foam?
It seems to me that this is an easy to solve problem in light of what you
are undertaking otherwise.....
— [Anonymous]
June 4, 2001
My doctor also requires getting off birth control the three weeks prior to
surgery and not getting back on for at least one cycle afterwards. One of
the most common complications of surgery is blood clots. Blood clots are
also a common side effect of the pill. Why would you want to put yourself
at that risk for a few nights in the sack? We are talking about your life
here. If you look at the memorial page most of those people DIED from blood
clots. You have made a wonderful choice to change your life by having this
surgery. Don't play against yourself and question your doctor's orders. The
sacrifices you have to make now will be worth the end results. Good luck!!
— Rebecca L.
June 4, 2001
Please don't listen to what a friend says on this issue - talk to your
surgeon! Per my surgeon's advice, I took my pills the day before surgery,
and was back on them two days after surgery. - Kate -
— kateseidel
June 5, 2001
I've heard that you should use two forms of birth control after surgery for
a year or so just to make sure you do NOT get pregnant. I think this is an
excellent idea, though not necessarily easy, convenient, or fun. But,
neither is what might happen if you become pregnant while losing drastic
amounts of weight. Call your surgeon with your question. His office will
get back to you with the appropriate answer. You can always use a couple
of other types of birth control just before surgery if need be also.
— Cindy H.
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