Unexpected pregnancies reported among weight loss drug users

The rise in unexpected pregnancies among women taking weight loss medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro has caught attention, with many sharing their experiences on social media platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and TikTok, referring to their babies as "Ozempic babies" or "Mounjaro babies."

Despite being on birth control or struggling with fertility issues, women have reported getting pregnant while taking these medications. Deb Oliviara, for example, discovered she was pregnant just two months after starting Ozempic, despite not consistently taking her birth control pill and facing previous fertility challenges. This trend has been noticed by reproductive and obesity medicine experts, who attribute it to weight loss correcting hormonal imbalances and certain drugs potentially reducing the effectiveness of birth control pills.

However, experts warn against using weight loss drugs to intentionally get pregnant due to potential risks, including miscarriage and birth defects. While weight loss medications can aid fertility by addressing issues like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity-related insulin resistance, their primary role is in weight loss rather than enhancing fertility directly.

Certain weight loss drugs, such as tirzepatide found in Mounjaro and Zepbound, have been found to decrease the efficacy of oral contraceptives, necessitating the use of backup birth control methods like condoms. Semaglutide, present in Ozempic and WeGovy, has a milder effect on contraceptive efficacy but still requires caution.

Overall, experts advise only using weight loss medications if medically indicated and stopping them immediately if pregnancy is suspected. While stories of unexpected pregnancies while on these medications exist, the risk of unintended pregnancy is generally low with proper contraceptive use.

[Information sourced from USAToday.com]