Bariatric Surgery and Birth Control

[pprimeau1976]

OK, here is a situation that hits close to home:

Suppose you have a couple and the wife is morbidly obese and has been all of her life. She decides to have bariatric surgery in order to live a healthy life. The purpose of the surgery is to make her stomach “smaller” in order to help her to 1) lose the weight and 2) develop healthy habits. Over the course of two years her stomach will eventually stretc, but the doctors inform her that if she gets pregnant during the course of those two years, her body would not be able to provide the nourishment the growing baby requires and could result in health complications for the mother as well.

My question is, would the use of artificial birth control be acceptable if there were concerns for the mother’s and the baby’s health? How does one clearly decide intent in this case? I see both sides, but I also see where NFP can be used as well.

 

[puzzleannie]

assuming that the mother is undergoing any procedure, therapy, drug regimen etc. that is essential to her health, and assuming that this therapy would be dangerous to a potential pregnancy, the couple should abstain from sexual relations during that time, until the issue is resolved. They can do this either periodically, using NFP as a guide to safe times, or permanently until her condition is resolved. ON the husband’s part this is what used to be referred to as behaving like a gentleman. ABC is never the correct moral decision, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the intent, unless it is prescribed as a therapy for a medical condition, not for contraception, and the contraception is an unintended side effect. Bear in mind, as a search of threads discussing that specific question will point out, there are better alternatives in most cases to ABC as a therapy for endometriosis, fibroids, excessive periods and other conditions for which it is commonly prescribed.

 

[litllulu]

OK, here is a situation that hits close to home:

Suppose you have a couple and the wife is morbidly obese and has been all of her life. She decides to have bariatric surgery in order to live a healthy life. The purpose of the surgery is to make her stomach “smaller” in order to help her to 1) lose the weight and 2) develop healthy habits. Over the course of two years her stomach will eventually stretc, but the doctors inform her that if she gets pregnant during the course of those two years, her body would not be able to provide the nourishment the growing baby requires and could result in health complications for the mother as well.

My question is, would the use of artificial birth control be acceptable if there were concerns for the mother’s and the baby’s health? How does one clearly decide intent in this case? I see both sides, but I also see where NFP can be used as well.

I would first question the moral implications of the surgery. Why don’t you ask the AAA forum if bariatric surgery is acceptable in the first place. It may be a form of mutilation, much like sterilization. I have had that question myself; I know some people who have had it and it considerably changed their quality of life.

 

[1ke]

My question is, would the use of artificial birth control be acceptable if there were concerns for the mother’s and the baby’s health?

No.

How does one clearly decide intent in this case?

Intent is irrelevant. The Church teaches contraception is always wrong.

Always means always, as in no exceptions.

When a couple has a just reason to postpone pregnancy, periodic continence may be used-- aided by the scientific knowledge gained through observing fertility signs… NFP.

I see both sides, but I also see where NFP can be used as well.

There is only “one” side-- Truth. And, the Truth is that contraception is never an option. Periodic continence with NFP is.

 

[JLSacred]

I’m sure this surgery is morally permissable, as is plastic surgery. Artificial contraception, however, is forbidden in all cases, except when it is being used to treat some other condition, such as endometriosis.

Didn’t that fellow on one of the morning shows have this type of surgery? I’ve heard it can have alot of complications.

 

[BlestOne]

I don’t think this is as much of an issue as it appears to be. First of, I had a friend that had this and she was told she had to abstain for at least the first 6 months anyway. If a person is willing to go through this, there is plenty of time to start charting and get used to “fertility signs.” Second, if a person is that obese, many times their mobility is severely limited, so abstaining is already in practice. Even if a person did go ahead with this surgery, which is not morally wrong in the least, They probably should listen to their doctor about abstaining at least the first 6 months and then as they get past the 6 month mark, they should practice NFP. ABC especially the pill (but also the “ring”, shots, implants, etc.) are most likely very bad for them at this point as it changes their hormone levels and can interfere with the ability to lose the weight they are trying to lose and would be contraindicated by their physician.

 

[jack_hawkins]

ABC doesn’t stop you losing weight…

 

[gmarie21]

Why doesn’t she get the lapband instead. Her stomach isn’t cut, a rubber band is put around it so that only a certain amount of food can enter. I have family members who have done both and both have lost weight at the same speed. The lapband isn’t a lifetime change and has the same outcome. Also, I believe a pregnancy wouldn’t be an issue b/c the band can be moved to allow the stomach to hold, and therefore absorb, more nutrients.

 

[BlestOne]

ABC doesn’t stop you losing weight…

ABC contains hormones and that does affect the rate at which you can lose weight not to mention that it messes with your natural hormone balance thus making it harder for your body to do what it needs to do.

 

[Teakafrog]

ABC doesn’t stop you losing weight…

Yes, it can. As any woman with hormonal imbalances can tell you (and that is exactly what any hormonal ABC does–alters your hormone levels) it can and does. Estrogen causes your body to hold on to fat. Do some research before making snide comments, there is a scientifically proven link between estrogen levels and the accumulation of body fat.

 

[hasikelee]

Yes, it can. As any woman with hormonal imbalances can tell you (and that is exactly what any hormonal ABC does–alters your hormone levels) it can and does. Estrogen causes your body to hold on to fat. Do some research before making snide comments, there is a scientifically proven link between estrogen levels and the accumulation of body fat.

This estrogen dominance is in some ways responsible for weight gain during menopause.

 

[DL82]

I would suggest you look very carefully at the real reasons for needing bariatric surgery in the first place.

Why is your wife morbidly obese, and how do you define ‘morbidly’? The definitions used by many doctors are extremely narrow. You say that your wife (I assume it is you you are talking about, or your friend Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo ) has been morbidly obese all her life. Well, some people are just naturally built that way, and sometimes it doesn’t effect their health all that much. Does your wife weigh so much that it is impossible for her to exercise, that it causes her joint pain, that you are unable to be intimate, or that she is unable to fit through normal doors/beds etc? If not, then maybe she just needs to appreciate that that’s the way her body naturally is, and you both need to accept that she is a beautiful woman who is loved unconditionally by God and her spouse.

Much of the research into non-morbid obesity shows that there is little to be gained by drastic weight-loss. While it is true that overweight people have a higher incidence of heart problems, it is also true that bald men have a higher incidence of heart problems. Having a hair transplant won’t improve your heart problem, because both the hair loss and the heart problem are symptoms of hormonal issues that are deeper and harder to solve. For many obese people, it’s the same. Knowing that you may have an increased risk of heart problems though helps you to take steps, through diet and exercise, to solve them.

On the other hand, if your wife weighs 400+lbs and is really struggling with living a normal life, you need to address the real causes of this weight gain. Does she have a pathological relationship with food? Is it the sin of gluttony at the level of the will that you need to address, or is there some other sinful pressure on your wife that makes her seek comfort in food instead of in you and in God and the Church? Addressing the weight issue surgically without tackling the under-lying problem will just lead to further problems with her relationship with herself and with food.

St John Climacus offers good advice on overcoming obesity:
“The following are the signs, the stages, and the proofs of practicing stillness in the right way — a calm mind, a purified disposition, rapture in the Lord, the remembrance of everlasting torments, the imminence of death, an insatiable urge for prayer, constant watchfulness, the death of lust, no sense of attachment, death of worldliness, an end to gluttony, a foundation for theology, a well of discernment, a truce accompanied by tears, an end to talkativeness, and many other such things alien to most men.” - St. John Climacus

Often, when people struggle with their weight, they run around from one thing to another. Yo-yo dieting increases weight difficulties, as do fad exercise regimes. Practice stillness, learn to be content, learn to be content with having the body you have, and with insatiable urge to use your body, soul and spirit to do good in the world (not just her, both of you). And before you even realise it, your wife will go back to being the weight she was created to be.

Bariatic surgery was designed to be an absolute last resort, for super-morbidly obese people, people who can’t even MOVE they are so heavy, to lose weight quickly if they were in imminent risk of death. It’s sad that it’s been touted as a cure-all for lack of self-control or poor body image in recent years.

 

[smswife]

My quick thoughts re: bariatric surgery:

“If your right hand offends you, cut it off”

Or, if your appetite and access to food causes you to eat gluttonously despite your desire to change that behavior, surgery may be the best and most morally appropriate choice. It’s called avoiding the near occasion of sin.

And please don’t forget that this is MAJOR surgery with a high rate of mortality and complications. Some may think it’s an “easy” way to lose weight, but it isn’t.

Also, many women have become pregnant and delivered healthy babies after this type of surgery. I would think that a pregnancy would be safer once weight has stabilized after surgery than when morbidly obese.

 

[hasikelee]

OK, here is a situation that hits close to home:

Suppose you have a couple and the wife is morbidly obese and has been all of her life. She decides to have bariatric surgery in order to live a healthy life. The purpose of the surgery is to make her stomach “smaller” in order to help her to 1) lose the weight and 2) develop healthy habits. Over the course of two years her stomach will eventually stretc, but the doctors inform her that if she gets pregnant during the course of those two years, her body would not be able to provide the nourishment the growing baby requires and could result in health complications for the mother as well.

My question is, would the use of artificial birth control be acceptable if there were concerns for the mother’s and the baby’s health? How does one clearly decide intent in this case? I see both sides, but I also see where NFP can be used as well.

I would be interested in who relayed the information that such a surgical procedure is done for 1) losing weight and 2) developing healthy eating habits.

Last time I checked, the surgery was reserved for those patients who are going to directly die from severe obesity and who do not respond to other treatments.

The complication rate and death rate is sky high. There are also issues with the patient attempt to consume the same amount of food, resulting in a burst stomach and/or staples.

Also, if a woman is that obese, it is very likely that she has numerous other illnesses and complications. Fertility can be affected in many cases.

I am especially interested in the scientific studies used to conclude that due to decreasing the size of the mother’s stomach would deprive the baby.

Everything sounds very speculative.

 

[ElizaE]

ABC especially the pill (but also the “ring”, shots, implants, etc.) are most likely very bad for them at this point as it changes their hormone levels and can interfere with the ability to lose the weight they are trying to lose and would be contraindicated by their physician.

Yes some women can gain weight on ABC (like a few pounds) but to be honest, it has more to do with the fork to the mouth procedure than the ABC. Many people will look for any reason to say that it’s not their fault that they are overweight. I just finished a month at the diabetic clinic and I cannot tell you how many people said that all they ate was salads when their weight was 10 or 20 lb heavier from their last visit.

We had numerous patients that had the lap band… one lost all of 30 lb and another all of 10 lb after a year. Lap band does not fix the old unhealthy habits and if you cannot understand that eating makes your BMI go up, treatment will help very little. I am sorry I am a bit harsh tonigh (I am usually a softy with my patients and try to really evalutate what is wrong and help them fix their unhealty eating behaviours) but I guess I am having a bad night. Also there are some studies coming out that lap bands may cause liver cancer and liver disorders. This is disturbing and people should not think that this procedure is benign and a quick fix.

I was really going to comment on the whole physicians will not give you ABC right after you have this procedure… this is BS. If you want it, they will give it.

 

[Maria1212]

Contraception would be wrong under these circumstances, but it is always better to check with a trusted priest and get a second opinion, than to rely on these forums for medical advice. Spiritual objections aside, if someone is extremely obese, NFP would be much more effective than hormonal ABC. The level of hormones in the pill and other hormonal ABC (like the ring) are based on the assumption that the woman taking them is 130 pounds. As a result, these would not provide enough hormones to prevent pregnancy in the case of extremely obese women. Moreover, the risk of dangerous side effects from ABC rises if the woman is obese.

I agree with the posters who recommended NFP, or abstaining, but recommend seeking a second opinion from a different doctor.

Sincerely,

Maria1212

 

[DL82]

My quick thoughts re: bariatric surgery:

“If your right hand offends you, cut it off”

Or, if your appetite and access to food causes you to eat gluttonously despite your desire to change that behavior, surgery may be the best and most morally appropriate choice. It’s called avoiding the near occasion of sin.

And please don’t forget that this is MAJOR surgery with a high rate of mortality and complications. Some may think it’s an “easy” way to lose weight, but it isn’t.

Except, of course, that these texts have never been taken literally. It is the desires that we need to cut off, not the physical organs. From the earliest times in the Church, the command to cut off hands or become castrated has been understood to be a spiritual not a literal command. Making oneself a eunuch physically is a one-off act of passion that can be regretted later. Becoming a eunuch through consecrated celebacy is a living, rational and bloodless sacrifice.

The same is true of beating gluttony, surely?

 

[Genesis315]

Obesity is a disease or a sin (depending on who you talk to). Pregnancy is a blessing from God.