News | Study Warns Popular Weight-Loss Drugs May Pose Pregnancy Risks; Contraception Awareness Needed
A new study from Flinders University in Australia warns that increasing numbers of women of reproductive age are using popular GLP-1 receptor agonist weight-loss drugs, but most are not using effective contraception, potentially posing risks to pregnancy and fetal health.
Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the study analyzed primary care records from more than 1.6 million women aged 18 to 49 between 2011 and 2022. During this period, 18,010 women received their first GLP-1 prescription, and only 21% reported using contraception.
GLP-1 receptor agonists were originally used to treat type 2 diabetes. In recent years, their appetite-suppressing and weight-loss effects have made drugs such as Ozempic highly popular on social media and in the consumer market. Most prescriptions are now for people without diabetes, particularly women.
“In 2022 alone, more than 6,000 women started GLP-1 drugs, and over 90% had not been diagnosed with diabetes,” said lead author Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak. “These drugs are highly effective for weight management, but they are not risk-free during pregnancy.”
Within six months of starting GLP-1 treatment, 2.2% of women became pregnant unintentionally. Pregnancy rates were highest among younger women with diabetes and women without diabetes in their early 30s. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were twice as likely to become pregnant, possibly because weight loss improved fertility even when pregnancy was not planned.
The study also found that contraception significantly reduced the risk of unintended pregnancy during treatment.
Although direct human data on GLP-1 drugs during pregnancy remain limited, an earlier University of Amsterdam systematic review of animal studies found possible fetal growth restriction and skeletal abnormalities.
“The United Kingdom already clearly advises women using GLP-1 drugs to avoid pregnancy and use effective contraception, but this advice is not yet routinely implemented in Australian clinical practice,” Associate Professor Grzeskowiak said. “Reproductive health must become part of routine assessment and counseling when prescribing these drugs to women of reproductive age.”
The researchers called for clearer clinical prescribing guidelines and standardized advice to help physicians ensure safe and effective GLP-1 use in women.
“Before using a GLP-1 drug, discuss the risks and benefits thoroughly with a general practitioner and take it only as prescribed by a qualified medical professional,” Grzeskowiak added.
The researchers also stressed the need for further studies of long-term effects on pregnancy and fetal development.
News | Study Warns Popular Weight-Loss Drugs May Pose Pregnancy Risks; Contraception Awareness Needed
News | Study Warns Popular Weight-Loss Drugs May Pose Pregnancy Risks; Contraception Awareness Needed
A new study from Flinders University in Australia warns that increasing numbers of women of reproductive age are using popular GLP-1 receptor agonist weight-loss drugs, but most are not using effective contraception, potentially posing risks to pregnancy and fetal health.
Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the study analyzed primary care records from more than 1.6 million women aged 18 to 49 between 2011 and 2022. During this period, 18,010 women received their first GLP-1 prescription, and only 21% reported using contraception.
GLP-1 receptor agonists were originally used to treat type 2 diabetes. In recent years, their appetite-suppressing and weight-loss effects have made drugs such as Ozempic highly popular on social media and in the consumer market. Most prescriptions are now for people without diabetes, particularly women.
“In 2022 alone, more than 6,000 women started GLP-1 drugs, and over 90% had not been diagnosed with diabetes,” said lead author Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak. “These drugs are highly effective for weight management, but they are not risk-free during pregnancy.”
Within six months of starting GLP-1 treatment, 2.2% of women became pregnant unintentionally. Pregnancy rates were highest among younger women with diabetes and women without diabetes in their early 30s. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were twice as likely to become pregnant, possibly because weight loss improved fertility even when pregnancy was not planned.
The study also found that contraception significantly reduced the risk of unintended pregnancy during treatment.
Although direct human data on GLP-1 drugs during pregnancy remain limited, an earlier University of Amsterdam systematic review of animal studies found possible fetal growth restriction and skeletal abnormalities.
“The United Kingdom already clearly advises women using GLP-1 drugs to avoid pregnancy and use effective contraception, but this advice is not yet routinely implemented in Australian clinical practice,” Associate Professor Grzeskowiak said. “Reproductive health must become part of routine assessment and counseling when prescribing these drugs to women of reproductive age.”
The researchers called for clearer clinical prescribing guidelines and standardized advice to help physicians ensure safe and effective GLP-1 use in women.
“Before using a GLP-1 drug, discuss the risks and benefits thoroughly with a general practitioner and take it only as prescribed by a qualified medical professional,” Grzeskowiak added.
The researchers also stressed the need for further studies of long-term effects on pregnancy and fetal development.
Source:
Collected online