Stopping birth control pills?

I went to a seminar by a surgeon different from mine (thought I would switch but I would have to do the NUT and psych visits all over to use THEIR specialists). Anyway, this surgeon says he requires 2 forms of birth control but makes his patients stop bc pills a month before and after surgery to lessen the possibility of blood clots. Has anyone had to stop their birth control pills for surgery?

 I am on estrogen replacement therapy and my surgeon wanted me to stop it 6 weeks ahead and 6 weeks after but I felt I could not due to quality of life issues - I could only imagine having insomnia, hot flashes, and emotional issues before surgery in addition to the pre surgery emotions and teh same after surgery - dealing with recovery and food issues.   So I asked if there was anything else I could do because my cardiologist had said he saw no reason to go off the hormones as it shouldn't be a problem.  So my surgeon asked me if i would be willing to take Lovonox shots for 28 days after I am released from the hospital.  I agreed - not looking forward to the shots for 28 days because they cause extensive bruising but I could not give up the HRT either.  I must admit that I am a 6 days away from surgery and I am nervous - more nervous about complications than the actual surgery.

The greatest risk of death from these surgeries is from a blood clot.  BC pills increase the risk of blood clots.  They are a controllable risk factor.  If I were you..I would quit the BC pills and use an alternate method for a few months.  Besides..its not like your gonna feel great for the first few weeks after anyways!!

OK, my doc did not mention anything about stopping BC - but I think I am going to ask him about it now!  :)

I was required 30 days before. It worked out great because we were ready to be done with kids so hubby got a vasectomy the day I started the pre-op diet and got the all clear 2 weeks after my surgery

I'm SO glad to be off of BCP!

Mine recommended for me to stop the month before and not start bac****il a month after surgery for the blood clot reasons.  I didn't see any reason to take any chances since that is one of the higher risk of complications so I stopped for that time frame.

So really, after reading post after post of different requirements, I think I have the most liberal surgeon out there! He said I could stop them for a month post surgery if I wanted, but that I didn't have to. He told me that you were at a certain risk for blood clots just from having surgery- any surgery- and that the increased risk from birth control pills was so marginal that he didn't require stopping. We did go over whether or not I have any other risk factors for clotting though, so maybe that made the difference...

 So glad you posted - starting to think I am the only one who is staying or stayed on hormones - granted not BC pills but stil lhormones.  Hoping everything turns out okay for me as it did for you.  Please keep me in your thoughts - surgery is next Tuesday.

I'll be thinking about you for sure. Best of luck! It's the best thing I've done for myself.

I didn't have to stop them either. Just missed one night, the night after my surgery.
No problems. My doc also said the type of pill I was on and the risk were so marginal it was find to not quit.

Good luck!