While GLP-1s are not approved for fertility treatment, their ability to promote weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity may help restore ovulation and menstrual regularity in women with obesity—though they should not be taken during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
If you’ve been following the news recently or if you’ve been active on social media, you may have heard about the Ozempic baby boom — a new term that is being used to describe the increase in women reporting unplanned pregnancies after starting a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic. The apparent increase in “Ozempic babies” is leading many to ask, “does Ozempic affect fertility?” and “can you take Ozempic while pregnant?”
According news outlets like CNN and Newsweek, among several others, women who struggled with low fertility or infertility are now part of the emerging “Ozempic baby boom.” GLP-1 medications are effective for achieving clinical weight loss, helping patients reach an average weight loss of 15 to 20 percent of their total body weight. For women with obesity, clinically significant weight loss can rebalance estrogen, which is implicated in fertility, as well as restore ovulation and restore a regular menstrual cycle.
GLP-1s and Fertility
Although GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are not currently considered a standard treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), they can support significant weight loss, which may help restore regular menstrual cycles and ovulation in women with obesity — especially those whose PCOS affects estrogen levels. Insulin resistance is also common in women with obesity and PCOS, and because PCOS disrupts ovulation, weight loss can help reduce this disruption and improve reproductive function.
GLP-1 medications improve insulin sensitivity, which many believe supports more optimal functioning of the reproductive system. While there is no clinically significant empirical evidence that definitively shows a direct relationship between a GLP-1 and fertility, the metabolic effects of GLP-1s could enhance a women’s ability to become pregnant.
Can You Take Ozempic While Pregnant?
No, taking Ozempic or any other GLP-1 medication while pregnant is not recommended. The FDA classifies medications based on risk to pregnancy, and Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications have been labeled as a Class C drug per the FDA:
- Category A: No risk in human studies
- Category B: No risk in animal studies
- Category C: risk cannot be ruled out. There are no satisfactory studies in pregnant women, but animal studies demonstrate a risk to the fetus; potential benefits of the drug may outweigh the risks.
- Category D: Evidence of risk
- Category X: Contraindicated
If you are a woman with obesity and taking a GLP-1, pregnancy is not recommended until the GLP-1 is terminated. The active ingredient in Ozempic is semaglutide, and — as noted in a National Library of Medicine fact sheet — there is little data on semaglutide’s safety and human pregnancy outcomes. This may lead some women to wonder about when to stop a GLP-1 before pregnancy. Semaglutide’s manufacturer clearly articulates and advises that women stop taking semaglutide at least two months prior to trying to conceive.
Taking Ozempic after Pregnancy
For women considering breastfeeding, caution is warranted when considering taking Ozempic after pregnancy — or any other GLP-1 medication. To date, there is limited data on postpartum mothers and breastfeeding; the FDA is currently not approving the use of a GLP-1 medication because of the limited data on lactation. The decision to resume a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic postpartum should be considered carefully and in collaboration with your healthcare provider.
For women with obesity who are trying to get pregnant, weight loss can improve the chances of conceiving. While GLP-1s are an effective weight loss strategy, they are not the only approach. Creating sustainable, long-term lifestyle changes like following a healthy eating plan and incorporating 150 minutes of moderate exercise are important.
As part of a healthy eating plan, scientifically formulated nutrition beverages, meal replacements and snacks are effective ways to jumpstart your journey toward healthy eating. Biocare’s nutritional composition can help satisfy your daily recommended allowance (RDA) for macronutrients and micronutrients. With its caloric range of 130 – 170 calories per serving, Biocare is a nutrient-dense option. It contains probiotics and prebiotic fiber to promote gut health and includes 30 grams of high-quality whey protein per serving to help maintain lean muscle mass; two servings provide 100 percent of the recommended daily intake of 26 vitamins and minerals.
Prior to starting any weight loss program, whether it includes anti-obesity medication or not, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider to make sure your desired weight loss strategy is right for you.
About the Author: Dr. Dawn M. Sweet has over 20 years of experience in the field of communication. Dr. Sweet has given several invited talks to and workshops for academic and private sector audiences on the role of nonverbal and verbal communication in achieving positive outcomes and mitigating bias. Her research has been published in several top ranked peer-review journals, and it has been featured on NPR’s River to River / All Things Considered, Buzzfeed, and Science Daily. Her research has also been used to inform expert testimony.
