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Women on social media are sharing their stories of ‘Ozempic babies’—accidental pregnancies that are happening to people while taking the weight loss drug, Ozempic.
In these videos, many of the women claim that they were using birth control when they fell pregnant and suggest that the drug may have interfered with their usual contraception.
But how true are these reports? Like most information on social media, these stories are largely anecdotal and lack any substantial medical proof.
For this reason, we’ve got Perinatal Specialist GP, Dr Kavita Krishnan, to clear up the Ozempic babies rumours.
Can Ozempic Cause Unplanned Pregnancies?
According to Dr Krishnan, it’s unlikely that Ozempic is actually interfering with people’s contraception.
“The good news is that there is no current evidence to suggest that Ozempic directly impacts the hormones involved in ovulation or contraception,” Dr Krishnan tells marie claire Australia.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t get pregnant while using the drug.
Why Are People Getting Pregnant On Ozempic?
The reason people might be getting pregnant while using Ozempic has more to do with the drug’s effect on the gastrointestinal system than its effect on birth control.
“Ozempic (Semaglutide) primarily acts within the gastrointestinal system to regulate blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes,” Dr Krishnan explains.
“As this is also where the combined oral contraceptive is absorbed, there is the possibility that the side effects of Ozempic, like nausea and vomiting, could impact the absorption of the combined oral contraceptive pill and thus reduce protection.”
However, it’s worth noting that this effect shouldn’t extend to IUDs, such as the Mirena or Kyleena.
According to Dr Krishnan, these contraceptives “work locally in the uterus and are not absorbed through the gut so it is unlikely that their contraceptive functions would be affected by Ozempic.”
Another reason people might find themselves with a surprise pregnancy is to do with weight loss, which according to Dr Krishnan “can sometimes be enough to improve fertility—due to improving hormonal regulation.”
It’s worth noting that in Australia, Ozempic is currently only approved to treat Type 2 Diabetes.
“It is an amazing medication for this but it has the potential to really prevent long term sequelae and deterioration,” Dr Krishnan warns. “It has a serious side effect profile.”
While there’s no current evidence that suggests Ozempic interferes with contraception, Dr Krishnan says that it’s still “always a good idea to be prepared and communicate openly with your healthcare provider.”
What Happens If I Get Pregnant While Taking Ozempic?
Dr Krishnan says that it’s better to avoid pregnancy while using Ozempic. This is because the drug has been shown “to be teratogenic in some early animal studies,” which means that it has the potential to cause birth defects.
While this might be alarming to anyone who has fallen pregnant while using Ozempic, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your pregnancy will be effected.
To be as safe as possible, we recommend consulting your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
What Actually Impacts Our Fertility?
When it comes to pregnancy, everyone seems to have their theories and if its not Ozempic then it’s a specific diet, supplement or exercise routine that saw someone conceive.
Dr Krishnan warns against this type of thinking, noting that “women are trained to think of fertility as one big overarching clock looming over their sexual lives until menopause.”
“It is important and empowering that we understand our bodies to truly have choice.”
According to Dr Krishnan, “fertility is determined by conditioned which favour ovulation and implantation.”
“This involves a hormonal cascade involving four hormones—FSH, LH, Progesterone and Oestrogen. These hormones act on/in three organs—the pituitary gland, the ovaries and the uterus to produce an egg and then if fertilised, to have that embryo implant.”
“Sometimes this hormonal cascade can be interrupted which results in perhaps no egg release. IF no egg is released – we cannot get pregnant.”
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