Babies on Ozempic: When Weight Loss Pills Surprise Fertility

What's the Scoop on Ozempic?

Ozempic and similar drugs (known as GLP-1 receptor agonists) were created to help manage blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.

What makes Ozempic so popular globally is that it helps with weight loss by making you feel fuller longer and slowing down how quickly your stomach empties.

Ozempic is a medicine used to treat diabetes. Although it's not officially approved for weight loss, some doctors may prescribe it "off label" to help patients lose weight. There's also a higher-dose version of the same medication called Wegovy, which has been approved specifically for treating obesity, but it's not yet accessible for use.

Can Weight Impact Baby-Making?

Obesity disrupts the delicate hormonal balance that controls the menstrual cycle.

Women with a body mass index (BMI) over 27 are three times more likely to have trouble getting pregnant because they may not ovulate regularly.

Conditions like type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which are often associated with obesity, can also lead to fertility issues.

Women with type 2 diabetes are more likely to be obese and face challenges with fertility and miscarriages.

Similarly, women with PCOS often struggle with obesity and difficulty conceiving due to hormonal imbalances that cause irregular periods.

In men, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (a group of conditions that raise the risk of heart disease and stroke) can negatively impact fertility.

Low levels of testosterone resulting from obesity or type 2 diabetes can affect sperm quality.

Let's Explore: Can Ozempic Mess with Baby Plans?

Losing weight is important for people who are overweight to stay healthy. It can help with issues like irregular periods and even increase the chances of getting pregnant for women who are overweight.

Some women who take a medication called Ozempic for weight loss have reported unexpected pregnancies. This has made some experts think that Ozempic might affect how well birth control pills work. However, it's not clear if there's a direct link between Ozempic and birth control failure.

For men with type 2 diabetes, being overweight, and having low testosterone levels, drugs like Ozempic have shown promise in helping them lose weight and boost testosterone.

Thinking About Baby Plans? Steer Clear of Ozempic

It's not certain if semaglutide could be harmful during pregnancy. However, research with animals suggests it's best not to use it during pregnancy because it might pose risks for fetal development.

That's why the Therapeutic Goods Administration advises women who could get pregnant to use contraception while taking semaglutide.

Likewise, guidelines for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) recommend that healthcare providers ensure women with PCOS using Ozempic also use effective contraception.

The guidelines suggest stopping semaglutide at least two months before planning to get pregnant.

For women using Ozempic to manage diabetes, it's important to discuss alternative ways to control blood sugar levels when planning for pregnancy.

Uh-Oh! Can You Get Pregnant on Ozempic?

If you get pregnant while using Ozempic, figuring out what to do can be really tough. It's especially hard because we don't know for sure how this drug might affect the baby.

Although there isn't a lot of scientific evidence available, a study looking at pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who were taking diabetes medications, including GLP-1-RAs like Ozempic, found some comforting results. The study didn't show a major increase in the risk of serious birth defects in the babies born to these women.

If you're a woman who is thinking about using or currently using semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic) before, during, or after pregnancy, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you figure out the best way to manage your diabetes while keeping your baby safe.

If you're planning to get pregnant, there are steps you can take to boost your baby's health, like taking folic acid before you conceive to lower the risk of certain birth defects, and quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol.

Sometimes, pregnancies happen unexpectedly while using Ozempic, and while these "Ozempic babies" are certainly a joy, their mothers may not have had the chance to take these important steps to give them the healthiest start in life.

Disclaimer: 

Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Corrections to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or products you obtain through this article or others.