When you’re trying to conceive, it’s important to know how to avoid exposure to drugs that could affect your baby. And this is especially true for drugs like Ozempic (semaglutide) and Wegovy (a higher-dose semaglutide), which were approved only for diabetes but are used off-label for weight loss.
Studies in animals showed that these drugs can cause harm to a fetus. This is why the FDA recommends that people stop using these medications two months before they plan to become pregnant.
Pregnancy
Ozempic is a drug used to treat high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. The drug is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 agonist). It works by increasing the amount of insulin your body makes when your blood sugar is high.
It also can help keep your blood sugar low, which may decrease your risk of serious health problems. However, it can cause side effects, including a sudden drop in your blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), diarrhea, and nausea.
These side effects may occur more often when you take Ozempic along with other medicines that can cause low blood sugar, such as sulfonylureas or insulin. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms while you’re taking Ozempic, so they can monitor your blood sugar level.
Studies in animals show that semaglutide and other glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists can cause issues with fetal development. In particular, they can lead to miscarriage and birth defects. Animal studies also found that these drugs impacted growth in pregnant rats, rabbits, and monkeys.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding provides a wide range of benefits to your baby, including protection against illnesses like asthma and diabetes, as well as obesity, tooth decay, ear infections, persistent diarrhea and many others. It also builds a strong immune system and boosts your infant’s IQ.
Your baby’s first milk, called colostrum, is thick and protein-rich and full of antibodies that protect your infant from illness. It lasts for several days after birth and then gradually changes to mature milk, which is a clearer, less-thick liquid.
You can start breastfeeding your new baby as soon as you’re ready. You may choose to tandem nurse (breastfeed your baby and an older child at the same time) if you want to provide both children with the benefits of breastfeeding.
Nursing while pregnant is safe and normal for most women. However, you should talk to your health care provider before making any changes to your routine.
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that starts in your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland found at the front of your neck and below your voice box (larynx). Your doctor will check for signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer during your visit.
Your doctor may do an ultrasound, a test that makes images of your thyroid and surrounding tissues. He or she may also do a biopsy, which involves removing a small amount of thyroid tissue and checking it for signs of disease.
He or she might also check your throat, larynx (voice box) and lymph nodes for swelling or lumps. The doctor will ask you about your health habits and past illnesses and treatments.
Thyroid cancer can be cured if it’s caught early. Women who have had thyroid cancer are often able to have children. However, it’s not clear whether pregnancy affects your response to treatment or your risk of recurrence or death from thyroid cancer.
Other side effects
Whether you’re taking Ozempic to manage diabetes or you’re interested in its off-label uses, OB-GYNs don’t recommend it while pregnant. That’s because the drug may cause a woman to lose weight that can affect her baby, explains Julia Belluz in Vox.
Semaglutide is a new class of medications that mimics a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) to help people lose weight. It’s available in two forms — Ozempic, used to treat type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy, a higher dose of semaglutide approved for weight loss.
Both drugs are injected under the skin, usually once per week. They can help improve blood sugar, along with diet and exercise.
But they may also increase the risk of low blood sugar and problems with your kidneys. You may need to use a lower dose of this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you have these side effects.
The drug can also raise your risk of thyroid tumors, which is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration. Talk with your doctor if you think you might have a tumor.