Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex After Bariatric Surgery

How long do I have to wait to have sex after bariatric surgery?

How long do I have to wait to have sex after bariatric surgery?

Like all surgeries, the recovery period is very individual…as is the time to resume sex after bariatric surgery.  If the bariatric surgery was performed “open” as opposed to laparoscopically the recovery time will take a little longer. Patients are advised to listen their doctors as well their bodies.  Some patients are able to resume their sex life within a week to ten days and some take many weeks, even months.  The “rule of thumb” for sex as well as other physical activities; if the patient is not experiencing pain or discomfort there is no reason to abstain. However if a patient feels uncomfortable during sex or other strenuous  physical activities, have them wait a bit longer before they try again.

Most patients do report an increase in libido and improved sex life after weight-loss, and weight-loss also improves fertility for many men and women. Needless to say, improved fertility, and increased libido/sexual frequency requires careful attention to birth control.

For both the health of the developing fetus as well as the mother, pregnancy post-surgery is best deferred until the weight-loss stops and the mother’s weight stabilizes.

It should be noted that for those patients with minimal sexual experience or for couples that have had long interrupted sex lives, shyness, shame, body image dissatisfaction are realities and prudent bariatric counseling is essential.

QUESTIONS MOST PATIENTS ARE EMBARRASSED TO ASK

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Kelly A. Johnson, RD, LD, Awarded National Bariatric Board Certification

Kelly A. Johnson, RD, LD, CBC

Kelly A. Johnson, RD, LD, CBC

Kelly A. Johnson, RD, LD, a registered and licensed dietitian from Houston, Texas, has been awarded Board Certification by the American Association of Bariatric Counselors (AABC).

After completing a specialized training and education program in bariatric science she was recently credentialed as a Board Certified Bariatric Counselor (CBC).

Ms. Johnson currently serves as a clinical dietitian/nutritionist at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center in Houston. She is an integral member of their NewStart program’s interdisciplinary bariatric surgery team. She provides outpatient bariatric nutrition counseling for weight-loss-surgery patients.

Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Texas in Austin. She then completed a specialized dietetic internship within the Baptist Heath System in San Antonio.

Recognition of the obesity pandemic and the need for specialized competency in bariatric science inspired her post-graduate training and certification with AABC. Her clinical experience, scholarship and commitment to public health will further the AABC global mission of providing best practices in the care and treatment of those suffering from obesity and related disorders.

American Association of Bariatric Counselors

For more information, please contact Carrie Moraites, Fellows Coordinator:

Email: carrie.moraites@aabc-certification.org
Website: www.aabc-certification.org 

AABC Developing Standards for Centers of Therapeutic Excellence

AABC DirectorSheryl Phillips, MPH, RDN, CBC, CDN, Director of Standards and Compliance for the American Association of Bariatric Counselors has announced the development of the Centers of Therapeutic Excellence (COTE) initiative.

Director Phillips said, “We are developing the standards and criteria to identify centers that have kept pace with emerging bariatric science and provide best counseling practices. Centers with bariatric science trained professionals that have the sensitivity, skills and training to recognize and treat the biological mechanisms, psychological processes and social influences of obesities.”

AABC has appointed a specialized advisory board comprised of some of their distinguished senior fellows and staff executives that will collaborate with Director Phillips in the development of COTE; Shaimaa Alasfour MD, CBC, Denise Hall PhD, CBC, Joseph Indelicato PhD, Clara Jerez MD, CBC,  Dale Jerez MD, CBC, Michelle Kasson Ph.D, Michelle Matoff Psy.D, LCSW, CBC,Carrie Moraites, Louise Petrou CBC.

AABC fellows that recognize the importance of the COTE initiative and would like to participate in the development can contact:  sheryl.phillips@aabc-certification.org or carrrie.moraites@aabc-certification.org

Visit https://aabc-cote.org/

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