Weight-loss drug Ozempic could lead to birth defects, doctors warn

Experts said there were plausible reasons that women might become pregnant because of the drug, but urged caution.Prof Charles Kingsland, chief medical officer at Care Fertility, said:  “The drug Ozempic has a product licence for the treatment of diabetes. There is little data on its use in pregnancy or for those wishing to get pregnant, and, as such, it should not be used in these cases.“It may help in weight loss, which is an independent factor for fertility enhancement, but the drug should not be used as an aid to lose weight for those wishing to enhance fertility.”Losing a few pounds lowers hormone levelsMany experts believe that it is not the drugs themselves, but the benefits they bring, that are behind the unexpected pregnancies.Fat cells produce oestrogen, which can have a negative impact on fertility, so losing a few pounds can help lower hormone levels and regulate menstruation and ovulation, with some women reporting their periods return “like clockwork”.The drugs also work by delaying the stomach from emptying, which could prevent oral contraceptives from being absorbed effectively by the body. Many of the GLP-1 agonist treatments have side-effects of vomiting and diarrhoea, which could also lessen the impact of contraceptives – and several studies have shown that weight loss boosts sexual function and activity.‘Women with obesity may struggle to conceive’Dr Nerys Astbury, senior researcher in diet and obesity at the University of Oxford, said: “Excess adiposity, known as overweight or obesity, can disrupt regular menstruation, ovulation, and implantation of fertilised oocytes, and women living with obesity are more likely to have problems in conceiving, to suffer miscarriage, and are less likely to deliver live infants.“Losing a modest amount of weight, equivalent to 5-10 per cent of initial body mass, can correct anovulation due to obesity, and there is evidence that this increases chances of conception.“Whilst some doctors are prescribing Semaglutide off-label to women with PCOS is not clear whether it’s safe to use in women during pregnancy, and should not be used as a method to treat infertility until research demonstrating safety and effectiveness is available, and until regulatory approval for use in those before and during pregnancy.”Ozempic’s producer, Novo Nordisk, recommends women should stop taking the weight-loss drugs at least two months before a planned pregnancy.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/23/celebrity-weight-loss-drug-could-lead-to-birth-defects/

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