Unexpected Arrivals: Ozempic, Pregnancy, And A Whole New Set Of Concerns

On the surface, these babies seem like miracles. They’ve certainly surprised a lot of people, both those who had trouble conceiving before and those who were not even trying for a baby. 

All this meant that of late, she hadn’t been regularly taking a contraception pill. Doctors had prescribed her Ozempic due to weight-related mental-health issues, and she not only hit her weight goal but also got another surprise, too. 

“It was very much a surprise and the only pregnancy, aside from my first, that didn’t come after a loss,” Deb revealed. So had it been a coincidence, or did Ozempic play a part in proceedings? 

You see, technically they’re not fertility drugs. Their use is bringing babies kicking and screaming into the world all the same, though, and you can imagine the surprise of users when those pregnancy tests prove positive. 

It continued, “These popular weight-loss drugs both contain an active ingredient in these medications called semaglutide, which impacts the area of the brain that controls satiety.” They come celebrity-approved, too. 

But what’s causing this side effect? Dr. Iman Saleh, the director of obesity medicine at Northwell’s Bariatrics Department has some answers . He also happens to be an obstetrician and gynecologist. 

“Even if it's a 5, 10 pound weight loss,” the doctor elaborated, “this can actually have patients resume ovulation and be able to get pregnant. Our fat cells produce estrogen, and estrogen can have a negative effect on our ovaries.” 

Certain weight-loss drugs are correcting these issues, and as a result, kickstarting the fertility of the woman taking them. In essence, it’s all to do with how ovulation cycles work.

“Once you lose that weight,” the doctor said, “even if it's very slight, [patients] become more fertile and get pregnant.” And apparently, Ozempic and similar drugs are inadvertently very good at helping to facilitate that outcome. 

While they’re not going to remove obesity entirely, in 2023 USA Today reported such drugs can help users take off 15 or 20 percent excess weight: a life-changing amount. Especially, it seems, in terms of ovulation. But how does this change manage to bypass birth control? 

“And therefore the absorption of patients on birth control can affect the efficacy of the birth control,” she concluded. So, in layman’s terms, weight-loss drugs are reducing the effectiveness of birth-control pills. 

Another added, “I’ve struggled with infertility issues because of PCOS/ insulin resistance/obesity and while I’m still overweight, I finally got a positive test!” The internet is swimming with similar stories. 

“[I] had decided to stop trying to conceive two years ago, and during that time started Ozempic and lost 70 pounds.” Another woman spoke to USA Today about her experiences. 

Doctors discovered her condition when they sought an explanation for her difficulties conceiving. To combat PCOS they prescribed the diabetes drug metformin, which shares an ingredient with Ozempic. Four months later she was pregnant.

Glatfelter said, “I was told it was a miracle.” And that’s how she got her son. And while all these stories sound positive, there may be some causes for concern, too. 

To begin with, there just isn’t enough data to intentionally take such a risk. There’s still an ongoing investigation to monitor what effects the drugs could be having on expecting mothers.

“Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant were exclusion criteria in our trials with semaglutide in both obesity and type 2 diabetes,” Novo Nordisk informed People magazine in an official statement. 

Of course, then there are the official warnings from other experts in the field. These concerns come from trials of weight-loss drugs, some of which produced some worrying results when tested on animals. 

Apparently, the animals who were part of the tests experienced birth defects in some cases, and on other occasions whole miscarriages. It’s worth noting, though, human testing was not performed. 

An OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at Fertility Centers of Illinois, Dr. Allison Rodgers, is one of those specialists to offer such a warning. She spoke with USA Today on the issue in 2024. 

“But people need to be careful,” she warned, “because there could be dangerous consequences if taken while pregnant, given the drugs can linger in your system.” 

You know your own body best and if something changes, you should listen to it. Next, you need to be completely transparent with your doctors: let them know if you suspect or discover a pregnancy. 

Obviously when it comes to medication and pregnancy, your health — and that of your potential baby — is of the utmost importance. Clear communication with your doctor can save you a lot of potential issues in the future. 

“A woman’s ‘contact’ with her antenatal care provider should be more than a simple ‘visit,’ but rather the provision of care and support throughout pregnancy,” the WHO wrote. One of its specialist medics Dr. Anthony Costello, explained further. 

This naturally extends to medication and anything that might change the way an expectant mother’s body changes during pregnancy. Doctors can help you plan ahead if you need to change any aspect of your ongoing care.

Novo Nordisk’s currently doing just that. According to People magazine it currently has an ongoing study to evaluate how safe Ozempic and Wegovy are for pregnant patients. This, though, will take time to complete. 

It reads, “May cause fetal harm. When pregnancy is recognized, discontinue Wegovy.” Ultimately, these weight-loss medicines have only recently started to be used, so there are still some unforeseen research gaps. 

Studies conducted in test tubes revealed that tirzepatide does have an active effect when it comes to conflict with oral contraception. To a greater degree than semaglutide, it delays the stomach’s ability to clear itself, creating delayed gastric emptying.

USA Today reported that despite baby boom reports, semaglutide — the common ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy — doesn’t cause delayed gastric emptying to the same extent. And as a result, there’s no warning of a conflict with orally-taken contraceptives. 

Dr. Kurian elaborated, “The birth-control pill is still getting digested; the absorption rate may just be different in people, which would make its impact on the ovaries different too.”

The doctor recommends using backup contraceptives such as condoms even if you’re taking oral contraception. She also considers the online “baby boom” stories to be something of a storm in a teacup. 

It’s a complicated issue for sure, but the takeaway from all of this is that you should only use weight-loss medicine if your doctors approve it, rather than simply to increase the odds of pregnancy.

And there are other ways to lose weight and enhance your lifestyle without Ozempic and its alternatives. For example, a healthy diet can assist weight loss, though don’t forget to consult your doctor about any drastic changes. 

Full-fat milk can be a constituent part of a poor diet; conversely, switching to low-fat or even fat-free alternatives can go a long way. Don’t forget to do the same with other milk products you consume as well. 

Peas, beans, and other legumes are also high in healthy proteins. You should try to avoid added sugars though, cut back on salt intake and cut saturated and trans fats from your diet if your doctor or nutritionist agrees. 

He continued, “And the single best thing you can do to improve your health is… drumroll please… exercise!” That doesn’t mean you have to push yourself to the limits of endurance, though. 

“Finding ways to incorporate physical activity into your lifestyle, whether it’s in the form of structured exercise or spending less time sitting, should be a function of how well it suits your values and preferences,” she said. 

But weight-loss pills and their ability to assist with pregnancies certainly raises some promising applications for the future. Perhaps experts haven’t really unlocked all their secrets. Not yet, at least.  

The biggest problem posed by these medicines is a lack of clarity, which is important to every patient, regardless of their plans to conceive. And ongoing research should remedy this situation in the near future.