Ozempic Babies!?
If you haven't heard of the term "Ozempic Babies" then read on! Not only have there been cases of unplanned pregnancies with GLP-1 RAs (glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist), now the medications in this class are being used by fertility specialists for preconception care plans. Experts believe that this trend likely comes from increased fertility due to changes in weight, insulin sensitivity and hormones. Specialists predict the biggest impact of GLP-1 weight loss for fertility among women will be in the subset of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as these medications will likely help these women to have more regular cycles. Obesity treatment is also important for women who are seeking in vitro fertilization, since many IVF clinics have a body mass index (BMI) cutoff of 40 kg/m2.
When To Stop These Medications Pre-conception
If taking these medications for fertility treatment, with few exceptions, it is important to stop them prior to conception. According to the respective manufacturers, Ozempic should be stopped at least 2 months prior to conception and Mounjaro should be stopped 1 month prior to conception. It is also important to note that rapid weight regain could occur when stopping GLP-1s, which presents pregnancy challenges such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and others.
Safety Of GLP-1 Medications Pre-conception And During Pregnancy
What about the safety of GLP-1's prior to conception and during pregnancy? Early looks at small human data sets, involving semaglutide and earlier short-acting GLP-1s, and their impact on the risk for birth defects are "reassuring" as quoted by experts. Given that there may be cases where continuing these medications during pregnancy may offer benefits that outweigh the risks, there are currently registries for pregnancy exposure to these medications to help measure their safety during pregnancy. In summary, research for the use of GLP-1 medications during pregnancy is ongoing.
Given that weight loss while taking GLP-1 medications takes time (about 1 year to reach plateau), it is important to think about this ahead of time should this be a desired treatment to improve fertility. Patient's should look at obesity as a disease, and not a personal failing and realize that optimizing one's health now will make for both a healthier pregnancy as well as a healthier child long-term. As previously stated, from the limited data available there have not been increased reports of fetal or maternal complications from Ozempic use during pregnancy. However, more high quality data are required to better understand the impact of exposure to Ozempic or use around the time of conception and during pregnancy.
There you have it, how GLP-1 medications can be used to improve fertility. If you liked what you've read and you'd like to read more on GLP-1 medications, we'd suggest giving the following blog posts a read in addition to this one:
HAPPY READING!
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