The evidence on GLP-1s and pregnancy has grown from social media anecdotes to formal clinical guidance in three years. Here are six notes on how it changed.
- 2023: Reports of an “Ozempic baby boom” started as social media posts, with experts speculating that the drugs affect contraceptive absorption or fertility or that weight loss improves the odds of conceiving. There were no data on birth defects or miscarriage because pregnancy and the intent to become pregnant were exclusion criteria in clinical trials.
- 2024: A February 2024 study found women with Type 2 diabetes who were taking GLP-1s when they conceived or in early pregnancy did not have a greater risk of major congenital malformations than those taking insulin. Researchers said confirmation was needed, including in women without diabetes. At the time, Wegovy’s label said to stop the drug at least two months before trying to get pregnant.
- 2025: More patients were asking physicians for weight loss drugs to avoid pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and preterm birth, while others attributed unplanned pregnancies to the drugs. Little was confirmed about how GLP-1s affect fertility and pregnancy.
- Early 2026: A report on the drugs’ potential benefits noted evidence that GLP-1s may indirectly support fertility through weight loss and may regulate menstrual cycles and support weight loss in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, with trials in progress.
- August 2026: An international panel’s review of 34 studies found no study reporting an increased risk of congenital anomalies among about 1,538 exposed pregnancies, most inadvertent and limited to the first trimester. Direct evidence existed for only 18 of 32 clinical questions. The panel recommended stopping the drugs as soon as pregnancy is confirmed, advised women taking tirzepatide to use nonoral contraception and found no clear evidence for specific washout periods.
- October 2026: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued an advisory advising against use during pregnancy and recommending patients stop one to two months before conception, but saying patients may be able to resume injectables while breastfeeding with infant monitoring and should avoid oral GLP-1s.
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