- Weight-loss jabs linked to birth defects, caution doctors
- Unexpected pregnancies prompt concerns over Ozempic and Wegovy injections
- Experts advise against using semaglutide for fertility due to risks
Doctors have cautioned that weight reduction injections used by women striving to conceive may result in congenital abnormalities.
A number of women who were prescribed medications containing semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, reported becoming pregnant unexpectedly.
As a result, certain physicians in the United States have begun prescribing the vaccines for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a prominent aetiology of female infertility.
However, British scientists have cautioned that the medications may induce abnormalities and advised users to employ contraception and discontinue use at least two months prior to attempting to conceive.
The injections function by imitating the hormone GLP-1, which inhibits appetite and promotes satiety more rapidly.
There are several potential causes for the ‘Ozempic’ or ‘Oops’ infant phenomenon, according to experts. One such cause is weight loss, which is known to increase fertility through its role in regulating ovulation and menstruation.
Additionally, the drug may increase the risk of pregnancy due to the fact that adverse effects such as nausea and vomiting can impede the absorption of contraceptive tablets.
Prominent authorities advised against administering the injections as a means to enhance fertility subsequent to animal experiments revealed their potential for damage.
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Tricia Tan, an expert professor at Imperial College London, stated, “Women must be informed that these medications are contraindicated for use while pregnant.
Animal research did indicate that infants born to animals that were administered these medications experienced adverse health effects.
Senior researcher in nutrition and obesity at Oxford University, Nerys Astbury, advised against the use of pharmaceutical weight loss methods prior to pregnancy.
“It is crucial to note that although some physicians are off-label prescribing semaglutide to women with polycystic ovary syndrome, its safety during pregnancy remains uncertain, and it should not be utilised to treat infertility until research establishes its efficacy and safety.”
