Did You Get Pregnant While Taking GLP-1s? Here's a New Study

I've noticed a common thread running through many of the GLP-1 forums and social media groups I follow. Women are getting pregnant while taking medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, Mounjaro, Saxenda, Trulicity, and Victoza.

In many cases, the posts start the same way:

• "We'd been trying for years."

• "I thought I couldn't get pregnant."

• "I was waiting to start fertility treatment."

Then comes the surprise positive pregnancy test. The phenomenon has become common enough that some people have even nicknamed these unexpected pregnancies "Ozempic babies," though it's important to remember that no GLP-1 medication is approved as a fertility treatment.

The bigger concern often comes after the excitement. Many women realize they've been taking a GLP-1 medication for weeks before discovering they're pregnant. Since current prescribing information recommends stopping these medications before pregnancy, the immediate reaction is often panic.

A major new study from researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health may provide some reassurance.

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What the Harvard Study Found about Pregnancy and GLP-1s

Researchers analyzed 3,572 pregnancies involving women who were taking GLP-1 receptor agonists before conception. Among them were 1,467 women with type 2 diabetes.

Using insurance claims data collected between 2011 and 2024, the researchers compared women who continued taking GLP-1 medications into the first trimester with women who stopped the medications after becoming pregnant.

The results were encouraging. The rate of non-live births was similar between the two groups:

• 29.7% among women who continued GLP-1 medications

• 27.1% among women who discontinued them

After accounting for differences in individual risk factors, the researchers found no statistically significant difference. The study also did not find meaningful increases in the risk of:

• Low birth weight

• High birth weight

• Major congenital anomalies

  
  

Researchers cautioned that estimates for some rarer outcomes were less precise, meaning additional research is still needed.

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Why This GLP-1s and Pregnancy Study Matters

GLP-1 medications have become increasingly popular among women of reproductive age.

At the same time, obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to affect millions of women who may become pregnant unexpectedly.

While current product labeling recommends stopping GLP-1 medications before pregnancy, the reality is that many pregnancies are unplanned. Some women may continue taking their medication for several weeks before realizing they are pregnant.

According to the study's lead researchers, the available evidence suggests that exposure during those early weeks does not appear to significantly increase the risk of common adverse pregnancy outcomes.

That distinction matters. This study does not say GLP-1 medications are proven safe throughout pregnancy. It is saying that accidental exposure during the earliest stages of pregnancy appears unlikely to cause major harm based on the evidence available today.

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The Conversation Gets More Complicated

One reason this topic has become so challenging is that stopping GLP-1 medications may also carry consequences.

A separate study from Mass General Brigham found that women who discontinued GLP-1 medications before or early in pregnancy gained an average of 7.2 pounds more during pregnancy and experienced higher rates of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and preterm birth.

That doesn't mean women should continue taking GLP-1 medications during pregnancy.

Rather, it highlights the reality that healthcare providers are balancing multiple risks and benefits when helping patients make treatment decisions.

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What Should You Do If You Discover You're Pregnant While Taking a GLP-1?

First, don't panic. This new research suggests that inadvertent exposure during early pregnancy is not associated with a major increase in common adverse outcomes.

Second, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Every pregnancy is different. Factors such as diabetes, obesity, fertility history, previous pregnancy complications, and overall health can all influence the best path forward.

Third, understand that current prescribing guidance has not changed. Product labeling for GLP-1 medications still recommends discontinuing these medications before pregnancy, and decisions about continuing or stopping treatment should be made with your healthcare team.

Finally, you also should know that GLP-1 makers like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk want to hear from women who got pregnant while taking semaglutide or tirzepatide. I've gathered their contact information to help you get to the right place:

• Wegovy Pregnancy Registry (for Ozempic and Wegovy)

• Eli Lilly Pregnancy Registries (Zepbound)

Sharing your information and experience, to the extent that you feel comfortable doing so, can help future moms-to-be learn more about how pregnancies and GLP-1s interact.

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The Fine Print of GLP-1s and Pregnancy

As more women take GLP-1 medications, researchers are finally beginning to gather real-world data about what happens when pregnancy occurs. And it's not just getting pregnant; we've also detailed studies about how GLP-1s can impact birth control and if breastfeeding is safe on semaglutide or tirzepatide.

This new Harvard analysis offers a reassuring message for women who discover they were taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, Mounjaro, or another GLP-1 medication before realizing they were pregnant.

At the same time, researchers emphasize that more data is needed, particularly regarding longer-term exposure throughout pregnancy and rare outcomes. For now, the study provides reassurance, not a green light to continue GLP-1 medications during pregnancy without medical guidance.