WTF are Ozempic babies? Can Ozempic affect fertility?
In this article
What's the lowdown?
Ozempic baby meaning = women who have had unplanned pregnancies while taking ozempic
It is not a fertility medication or meant to be used as one
There has not been enough research into Ozempic and fertility, pregnancies or birth defects
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is a medication manufactured by the Novo Nordisk pharmaceutical company licensed for use in type 2 diabetes. Its active ingredient is called semaglutide. Semaglutide is a synthetic version of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonist, which occurs naturally in our body.
GLP-1 reduces sugar levels in the blood by increasing the production of the hormone insulin, which is why Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes. However, there is also another desirable effect of the medication….weight loss. Ozempic also reduces appetite and slows down the digestion of food, keeping you full and helping with weight loss1.
Ozempic can only be given with a prescription either through the NHS or privately, from online pharmacies or weight loss clinics. It is an injected medication and the dose starts from 0.25mg and can be increased slowly to a maximum dose of 2mg1, depending on the side effects.
What are Ozempic babies?
You might have heard about the Ozempic baby boom on the news, on social media or by word of mouth. Ozempic babies are surprising women everywhere!
An Ozempic baby is not a technical term, but one coined by social media, to describe unexpected pregnancies in women taking Ozempic or other types of GLP-1 medications.
As this is a fairly new drug and pregnancy phenomenon, there are no facts or figures on how many pregnancies were a result of Ozempic, but it seems like Ozempic babies are on the rise.
Does Ozempic affect fertility? Does semaglutide affect fertility?
It is important to note that Ozempic is not a fertility medication nor does it boost fertility, but does seem to have implications on fertility through a positive link between weight loss and menstrual cycle regulation.
It is not disputed that weight gain is a clear factor in irregular or loss of periods. While the exact mechanism behind Ozempic and improved fertility isn’t clear, we think it is likely because weight loss can help to regulate our hormones1.
Regular periods are a good sign of fertility. Regular periods mean you are ovulating each month and without ovulation, there is no pregnancy. So by losing weight and regaining regular periods, it is likely to increase chances of fertility because you are ovulating more.
A study found that 80% of their participants who lost weight with semaglutide also started getting regular periods too2! There is also emerging research that Ozempic and other GLP-1s can be beneficial for women with PCOS, which is a cause of reduced fertility3. If Ozempic can help women with PCOS have regular periods and ovulation, this may be another way it improves fertility.
Other than that, the research is light!
Ozempic babies birth defects
In any pregnancy, there is a background risk of 3-5% of having a birth defect. There have been no studies looking into the risk of birth defects in Ozempic babies born to people who are using Ozempic for weight loss.
One pregnant woman reported continuing to take her semaglutide 3-4 weeks into her pregnancy and the baby was born without birth defects4, but there’s not a huge amount of research.
One larger study has looked at the rate of birth defects in women with type 2 diabetes who were using GLP-1 medications like Ozempic before they became pregnant5. This study showed that there was a higher risk of birth defects compared to women without type 2 diabetes but it doesn’t tell us whether the birth defects are caused by the diabetes or the Ozempic medication. Frustrating right?
The manufacturer of the medication found an increase in birth defects in animal studies when semaglutide levels reached toxic ranges in the mother. However, they were unable to work out if the birth defects were due to the semaglutide or any other factor.
It is recommended to stop taking Ozempic at least 6 weeks before trying to conceive as it roughly takes this amount of time to clear it from your bloodstream. Ozempic labelling recommends at least 8 weeks between stopping the medication and trying to conceive3.
If you’ve found out about your surprise Ozempic baby while taking the medication, stop it straight away!
Is there a link between Ozempic and birth control effectiveness?
Again, I’m sorry I cannot give you a straight answer because we simply do not know.
However, we have theorised.
Ozempic reduces appetite by slowing down how quickly food leaves your stomach, which means you stay full for longer3. However, this can cause the side effects of Ozempic including vomiting and diarrhoea. Vomiting and diarrhoea can make oral contraceptives like the pill less effective6. We don’t know how Ozempic affects non oral contraceptives like the implant, injection, hormonal coil, patch or vaginal ring.
There has been one study looking into the interaction between Ozempic and the concentration of oestrogen and progestogen in the bloodstream in post-menopausal women with type 2 diabetes who were given oral contraceptives. They found that semaglutide did not decrease the concentration of the hormones reaching the bloodstream so they decided that oral birth control was still effective while using Ozempic7.
Sadly, this was the only study we could find so we would not feel comfortable saying there is no link. We need to wait for more research to confirm this finding.
Is it safe to take Ozempic while pregnant? Will it affect the baby?
Again, there has not been enough research into the drug semaglutide to give you a definitive answer. In medicine, we base our guidelines and recommendations on evidence, and if there is not enough research, we cannot suggest it is safe. There was a preliminary study by the Food and Drug Administration on animals that found that Ozempic could potentially harm your baby.8
Long story short, no, Ozempic has not been deemed safe to take while pregnant yet, and until we have more research, it’s best to stay clear. So if you find that you are an Ozempic Mum, please stop it as soon as possible!
Summary
Ozempic is a relatively new drug. We know that it is licensed to be used for treating type 2 diabetes but can also help shed some pounds. Many women have been part of the Ozempic baby boom recently which could be attributed to weight loss, regulation of menstrual cycles and return of ovulation.
What we do not know is how Ozempic affects pregnancy or baby outcomes simply due to a lack of research currently, but this could definitely change in the future.
We would advise against using Ozempic as a fertility medication but if you have worries about your fertility or getting pregnant on Ozempic, speak to our medical team. They are very knowledgeable and can answer any questions you have.
Dr Fatema Dawoodbhoy
Fatema is currently training in London as an Academic doctor, with a special interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is passionate about championing women to understand their bodies better and prioritise their health. She understands the importance of clinically accurate articles and has been writing engaging and educative medical content for 5 years.
Our medical review process
This article has been medically reviewed for factual and up to date information by a Lowdown doctor.
