Ozempic and Fertility: Ozempic Babies, Safety, and More

Currently, there’s no reason to believe Ozempic^® causes infertility. In fact, the medication could potentially improve fertility since it helps manage type 2 diabetes and treats obesity, both of which are linked to fertility issues.

Ozempic may also regularize your menstrual cycle if you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), making it easier to get pregnant. But more research is needed.

We’ll dive into Ozempic and fertility, including how the medication can affect your menstrual cycle, whether it messes with birth control, and what the fuss over ”Ozempic babies” is all about.

There are no studies showing that Ozempic can negatively impact fertility. And the prescribing information given by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t mention it.

The drug may actually improve fertility because it can help treat conditions linked with fertility issues. Here’s what we know so far.

Obesity and Weight Loss

Research has linked obesity with infertility. Weight loss can improve fertility problems for people with obesity.

For example, several studies suggest that women with excess weight or obesity take longer to conceive and have a higher miscarriage rate than those in a “normal” or “healthy” weight range.

Women with obesity are also twice as likely to have irregular menstrual cycles compared to women without obesity.

It’s possible losing weight on Ozempic may help your periods become more regular and improve your fertility in the long run.

However, losing a significant amount of weight — which can happen on Ozempic — can wreak havoc on your menstrual cycle.

How Weight Loss Affects the Menstrual Cycle

One survey involving self-reported questionnaires found that weight changes, including weight loss, are associated with irregular menstrual cycles among women with obesity and abdominal obesity (obesity around the center of the body).

Additional research shows that significant weight loss can lead to temporary amenorrhea, when your periods stop altogether.

So, on the flip side, you may find losing weight on Ozempic causes your periods to become irregular or stop, which can make it harder to get pregnant. This might not happen for everyone, though, and it’s unclear how long periods tend to remain irregular with this medication.

Learn more about how Ozempic may affect your period in our guide.

Ozempic and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition in which the ovaries and adrenal glands produce more male hormones than normal and cysts develop on the ovaries.

PCOS can cause:

• Irregular periods

• Infertility

• Weight gain

Ozempic may improve fertility if you have PCOS. In a 2023 study, 27 women with obesity and PCOS took a weekly 0.5-milligram semaglutide injection for three months. Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Ozempic, BTW.

At the end of the experiment, almost 80 percent of the women lost at least five percent of their body weight, and 80 percent of those women experienced normalized menstrual cycle lengths.

A normal-length menstrual cycle may make it easier to figure out when ovulation occurs and get pregnant.

Type 2 Diabetes, Ozempic, and Fertility

Just like obesity, type 2 diabetes is associated with infertility.

Research shows that type 2 diabetes can cause infertility, change the length of your menstrual cycle, and change the age you start menopause. This may be because type 2 diabetes is linked to PCOS.

Breaking it down: Insulin resistance can lead to having too much insulin in the blood. This can result in hormonal changes and trigger the body to produce an excess of male hormones, which could cause the ovaries to not release an egg.

Ozempic can help you manage diabetes, but it’s unclear whether this improves fertility. Though, in theory, it could. 

The term ”Ozempic babies” has been doing the rounds on social media. It refers to the surprise pregnancies women are reporting on Ozempic despite having a history of fertility trouble.

Does Ozempic increase fertility, then? It may. These surprise pregnancies might be due to the positive effects weight loss can have on fertility. Ozempic might also reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills (more on that next).

It’s not just Ozempic, either. Women taking other glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 drugs) have reported unexpected pregnancies, too.

So, while there isn’t much scientific proof that Ozempic can improve fertility — and it isn’t a fertility treatment — some women are reporting better fertility as a side effect of taking the medication.

It’s unclear if Ozempic can affect hormonal birth control. There aren’t any studies on it, and the prescribing information the FDA gives doesn’t mention it.

However, Ozempic delays stomach emptying — slowing down the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines. This could impact how the body absorbs medications, including oral contraceptives.

Plus, other diabetes and weight loss medications like Mounjaro^® and Zepbound^® may negatively impact birth control effectiveness. So, it’s not too far of a leap to assume that Ozempic might do the same.

What does this mean for you? Tell your prescribing healthcare provider or OB/GYN if you take oral contraceptives. They can let you know if you should use a different method of contraception — like condoms or an IUD (intrauterine device) — while on Ozempic.

There aren’t many studies on Ozempic and pregnant women, so it’s unclear if it’s safe to take during pregnancy. It’s generally recommended you stop taking Ozempic at least two months before you start trying to get pregnant.

If you’re taking Ozempic off-label for weight loss, you’ll probably be advised to stop taking it when you want to try for a baby and during pregnancy.

If you’re taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, things get a little trickier. Since poorly controlled diabetes can be harmful to a fetus, your healthcare provider will assess your personal situation.

Your provider might advise you to stay on Ozempic if the benefits outweigh the potential risks. Alternatively, they may recommend a different diabetes medication to help you manage your blood sugar levels (glucose).

If you’re already on Ozempic, let your healthcare provider know if you’re planning on trying for a baby soon. They can tell you if you should stop taking it (and when).

Our guide to Ozempic and pregnancy goes into more detail.

Let your healthcare provider know right away if you become pregnant while taking Ozempic. They can assess your personal situation and let you know the best course of action. This may include stopping Ozempic.

If you’re taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes, your healthcare provider may recommend a different medication or possibly suggest continuing Ozempic if the benefits outweigh the risks.

If you’re taking Ozempic for weight loss or weight management, you’ll probably be advised to stop taking the drug while pregnant. 

Don’t be shy about reaching out to a healthcare provider to talk through your semaglutide and fertility concerns. They can let you know whether Ozempic could affect your fertility, taking into account your personal circumstances.

Here are some final FAQs and answers about Ozempic and fertility:

• Does Ozempic cause infertility? More research is needed, but from what we know so far, it doesn’t look like Ozempic can cause infertility.

• Does semaglutide affect fertility? Semaglutide may improve fertility. It can treat obesity and help manage type 2 diabetes, which are linked to fertility problems. It can also help normalize the length of your menstrual cycle if you have PCOS.

• Can you get pregnant on Ozempic? Yes. It’s possible to get pregnant on Ozempic. Let your provider know right away if this happens. If you’re taking Ozempic for weight loss, you’ll probably be told to stop taking the drug during pregnancy.

If you’re planning on trying to conceive within the next two months or so, you’ll likely be advised against taking Ozempic. But if you’re planning on expanding your family further into the future, Ozempic can help you lose weight before that time comes.

Beyond Ozempic, there are other weight loss drugs to consider, like metformin.

Take our free online weight loss assessment to get help finding the best treatment for you.