Are weight loss drugs like tirzepatide approved for fertility treatment?

No, the FDA has not approved tirzepatide or other weight loss drugs as fertility treatments.

Why might weight loss drugs lead to pregnancy?

Doctors suggest that the weight loss from these drugs can reduce inflammation and boost the menstrual cycle, potentially aiding conception.

What should women do if they become pregnant while on weight loss medication?

Doctors generally recommend that women stop taking weight loss drugs once they know they are pregnant.

Home / Health / Weight Loss Drug Sparks Unexpected Pregnancies

Weight Loss Drug Sparks Unexpected Pregnancies

1 Feb

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Summary

Some women are conceiving unexpectedly while taking weight loss drugs.
Doctors observe an uptick in pregnancies among users of these medications.
Weight loss may improve fertility by reducing inflammation and boosting cycles.

Weight Loss Drug Sparks Unexpected Pregnancies

A surprising trend has emerged where women taking popular weight loss drugs are experiencing unexpected pregnancies. Lindsay Feldman, 39, a mother of two from Las Vegas, discovered she was nearly 12 weeks pregnant after losing 25lbs on tirzepatide, a drug containing the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. This occurred despite her previous fertility struggles and even while taking birth control.

Feldman's experience is not isolated. Nurse practitioners report a significant increase in pregnancies among patients using GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. Some women are now intentionally seeking these drugs solely for fertility purposes, with a quarter of prescriptions at one med spa being for this reason.

While the FDA has not approved these drugs for fertility, medical professionals speculate that weight loss achieved through these medications can reduce inflammation and enhance the menstrual cycle, potentially aiding conception. Some side effects, like vomiting, could also impact contraceptive pill efficacy, contributing to accidental pregnancies.