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Navigating the world of fertility can be complex. This is especially true when considering medications like Ozempic.
If you’re wondering about the relationship between Ozempic and fertility, you’re not alone. Though Ozempic is a drug approved for type 2 diabetes treatment, women are finding it has other uses.
Some women have reported unintentionally getting pregnant while taking Ozempic. This raises questions for others about an “Ozempic pregnancy” and “Ozempic babies”. Could Ozempic be the solution to your fertility struggles?
Let’s dive into what is currently known about semaglutide and pregnancy. We’ll look at Ozempic and fertility, and the important considerations surrounding this medication.
Key takeaways
- Ozempic (semaglutide) is a medication primarily used for managing type 2 diabetes.
- Ozempic is also being unofficially used for weight loss.
- Ozempic may indirectly improve fertility in some women. This is because it addresses weight-related issues and insulin resistance. But there is limited direct evidence of its impact on fertility.
- Due to the lack of research on semaglutide and pregnancy, it’s generally not recommended for women who are pregnant or TTC.
- If you’re taking Ozempic and trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide. This anti-diabetic medication is approved for use in type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists.
These mimic the action of a natural, appetite-regulating hormone called GLP-1. They work in a few different ways:
- Increased insulin secretion and sensitivity: Semaglutide helps the body produce more insulin and use it more efficiently.
- Inhibited glucagon released and suppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis: It reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
- Slowed gastric emptying: Semaglutide slows down the rate at which food moves through the gut. This helps you feel full longer and reduces your appetite.
In short, semaglutide works by stabilizing blood sugar levels and reducing your appetite.
Beyond its approved use in type 2 diabetes, it’s also sometimes used off-label for weight management in obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
And recently, some women have reported unintentionally getting pregnant on Ozempic. This has led to speculation about its ability to potentially boost fertility.
How might Ozempic affect female fertility?
The connection between Ozempic and fertility is fresh on the scene. It came to light when people on social media shared their experiences of getting pregnant on Ozempic without actively trying, giving rise to “Ozempic babies.”
However, it’s important to understand there is limited research on Ozempic’s direct effect on fertility.
One likely explanation for these reported pregnancies is the link between type 2 diabetes, weight, and fertility.
Research shows that approximately 85% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. And this is strongly associated with:
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Anovulation
- Hormonal disruptions
- Infertility
- Pregnancy complications
Studies find that women who are significantly overweight (74% over their ideal body weight) experience anovulation in nearly 9% of their cycles.
Know more: Anovulation: Everything you need to know about the #1 cause of infertility
This is due to several factors.
1. Increased adipose tissue
This happens when you have excess body fat. Too much of this tissue can lead to a boost in your body’s conversion of androgens to estrogens. The result? Higher estrogen levels and irregular cycles.
Know more: Estrogen Dominance and How Does It Affect the Body?
2. Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia
Excess weight can lead to insulin resistance. And if you’re insulin resistant, your body becomes less responsive to insulin. This means the body needs more insulin to lower blood sugar. This leads to hyperinsulinemia (meaning you have high levels of insulin in your bloodstream).
These conditions often occur together, and both of them contribute to excess androgens in the body.
3. Hormonal imbalances
Studies show that being overweight or obese leads to hormonal imbalances that show up in a few different ways.
- Decrease in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)
- Decrease in growth hormone (GH)
- Decrease in insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP)
- Increase in leptin levels
These hormonal imbalances can disrupt the neuro-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. And this axis plays a key role in reproductive function.
This is why Ozempic is sometimes used off-label in PCOS, a condition that involves insulin resistance and overweight/obesity. Studies show Ozempic’s ability to promote weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity. And these could indirectly improve fertility in some women.
Even modest weight loss (2-5% of total body weight), can improve ovulatory function. This can then boost the likelihood of spontaneous pregnancy.
One study showed that significant weight loss can happen with semaglutide. In this study, nearly 2,000 adults with a BMI of 30 or more were either given semaglutide or placebo. (Lifestyle changes were implemented as well in both groups.)
The average change in body weight from week zero to week 68 was -14.9% in the semaglutide group. The placebo group? Only -2.4%.
The weight loss of semaglutide may indirectly benefit fertility in some women. But it’s important to understand that, at this time, it is not a direct link. The anecdotal reports of pregnancies while taking Ozempic are not evidence enough that Ozempic itself boosts fertility.
These pregnancies could be due to other factors like:
- Improved overall health
- Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, sleep, stress management)
- Changes in other medications
- Coincidence
More research needs to be done on Ozempic’s direct effect on female fertility.
Now let’s talk about Ozempic and male fertility.
How might Ozempic affect male fertility?
Research on the effects of semaglutide on male fertility is even more limited.
Some studies suggest that semaglutide may modulate testicular function. There’s also some evidence that it may increase testosterone levels in diabetic and obese patients with functional hypogonadism (a condition marked by low testosterone levels due to deficiency of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis).
Part of this is indirectly due to weight loss and lowered inflammation. Though some evidence suggests that Ozempic has a direct effect at the testicular level.
However, another study found that semaglutide does not have any effect on reproductive hormones in healthy men.
The verdict is still out on how Ozempic can affect male fertility. But one thing is clear: more research is needed.
Should you take Ozempic when trying to get pregnant?
Some initial research suggests that semaglutide may be safe during pregnancy, but more data is needed. That’s because Ozempic’s effects on a developing fetus aren’t fully understood. As a result, it’s not recommended in women who are actively trying to conceive or who are pregnant.
In some cases, if your doctor has prescribed Ozempic as a part of a weight-management plan and you want to get pregnant, you need to stop taking Ozempic 2 months before trying to conceive.
And if you’re on Ozempic and unintentionally get pregnant, notify your doctor ASAP. They can give you personalized guidance and monitor your pregnancy closely.
FAQs
Because of the limited research on semaglutide and pregnancy, Ozempic isn’t recommended during pregnancy or while trying to conceive. Talk with your healthcare provider about any benefits and risks.
Some research shows that Ozempic may indirectly increase fertility. This is largely due to it’s ability to aid with weight loss and insulin sensitivity.
There isn’t currently enough research to determine whether semaglutide has a direct link to an increase in fertility.
There isn’t any current evidence that Ozempic can make you infertile.
Some doctors may prescribe Ozempic before pregnancy as part of a weight loss plan. But the general consensus is that Ozempic should not be taken when TTC. This is due to limited research about the potential risks to yourself and your fetus.
“Ozempic babies” have been a popular topic on social media. There are stories of women unintentionally getting pregnant while taking Ozempic.
These pregnancies may have happened thanks to the weight loss and blood sugar stabilization of Ozempic. But there is no evidence that Ozempic has a direct effect on fertility.
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- Semaglutide, a glucagon like peptide-1 receptor agonist with cardiovascular benefits for management of type 2 diabetes
- The effect of semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly on energy intake, appetite, control of eating, and gastric emptying in adults with obesity
- What Doctors Think About Prescribing Wegovy and Ozempic for Weight Loss
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- Impact of obesity on infertility in women
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- Obesity, estrogens and adipose tissue dysfunction – implications for pulmonary arterial hypertension
- Insulin Resistance and Hyperinsulinemia
- Decreased sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP-1) in extreme obesity
- Leptin and Obesity: Role and Clinical Implication
- Emerging insights into Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis regulation and interaction with stress signaling
- Weight Loss and Improvement in Comorbidity: Differences at 5%, 10%, 15%, and Over
- Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity
- Is there a role for glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists in the treatment of male infertility?
- Semaglutide early intervention attenuated testicular dysfunction by targeting the GLP-1-PPAR-α-Kisspeptin-Steroidogenesis signaling pathway in a testicular ischemia-reperfusion rat model
- The Effects of the New Therapeutic Treatments for Diabetes Mellitus on the Male Reproductive Axis
- Effects of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 on the Reproductive Axis in Healthy Men
- Safety of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Other Second-Line Antidiabetics in Early Pregnancy
