Weight loss medications like Wegovy can be life-changing for people living with obesity or excess weight with related health conditions. Clinical trials show that people can lose up to 20 percent of their body weight over a 68-week period. Translation: It can help you lose weight and keep it off.
But if you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you may have more questions about Wegovy — one being, can you take Wegovy while pregnant?
Semaglutide — the active ingredient in Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus — isn’t currently recommended during pregnancy, and it may pose risks to your baby’s health. In rare cases, like for pregnant women with type 2 diabetes, the benefits of semaglutide might outweigh the risks. But for most, it’s safer to stop the medication before conceiving, especially if taking it for weight management.
Below, we’ll explore what the research says about Wegovy and pregnancy and what steps to take if you become pregnant while using Wegovy.
Reviewed by Craig Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, FOMA
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How long should you be off Wegovy before trying to get pregnant?
Per the prescribing guidelines from the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), Wegovy should be discontinued at least two months before trying to conceive.
If pregnancy is on your radar and you’re taking Wegovy, talk to your healthcare provider about your situation. They’ll help you make a plan for safely stopping the weight loss drug before a planned pregnancy based on your health goals.
If you’re using semaglutide to manage type 2 diabetes, your provider can walk you through the potential risks and benefits and decide whether continuing treatment or switching to another option makes the most sense.
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What to do if you get pregnant on Wegovy
The prescribing label advises people to stop taking Wegovy as soon as they become aware of a pregnancy.
If you become pregnant while taking Wegovy, reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. They’ll consider your specific situation, including the reason you’re on the medication, and help you decide on the safest next steps based on your health needs and goals.
In most cases, that’ll mean stopping Wegovy during pregnancy.
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Can you take Wegovy while pregnant?
For most people, the answer is no. Wegovy isn’t considered safe to use during pregnancy.
While data from human studies is limited, animal studies reviewed by the FDA suggest potential risks to fetal development. Because of this, Wegovy is only prescribed during pregnancy if the potential benefits clearly outweigh the risks — a decision that would be made in rare cases and with careful medical supervision.
More generally speaking, substantial weight loss during pregnancy isn’t recommended in most cases since gaining a healthy amount of weight can support a baby’s growth and development.
If you’re managing type 2 diabetes with semaglutide, it gets a bit more complicated. Uncontrolled blood sugar during pregnancy can lead to serious complications or fetal harm, such as an increased risk of:
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Preterm birth
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Delivery complications
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Miscarriage
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Preeclampsia
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Diabetic ketoacidosis (which can be a life-threatening emergency)
Your medical provider can help you weigh the risks and benefits of continuing semaglutide. They recommend switching to a safer alternative, like metformin, during pregnancy.
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Research on taking Wegovy while pregnant
There’s limited research on Wegovy use during pregnancy in humans, but more animal studies offer some early insights. Here’s what we know so far.
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Studies on humans
A 2023 scientific review highlighted a couple of small studies involving liraglutide and exendin-4, two GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s for short) in the same drug family as Wegovy.
In those studies, the medications didn’t appear to cross the placenta. However, one of the studies involved just a single pregnant patient, and the other was conducted ex vivo (meaning on a placenta outside the body, not in a living human).
So, while the early findings might sound promising, we don’t have enough real-world evidence yet to draw solid conclusions about the safety of semaglutide during pregnancy.
But there’s more research on the way. A clinical trial on semaglutide and pregnancy outcomes is underway and expected to wrap up in 2027.
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Studies on rats
The FDA’s prescribing information for Wegovy includes a few key findings from animal research — specifically, studies done on rats.
In one trial, rats received daily doses of semaglutide at 0.01 milligrams (mg), 0.03 milligrams, or 0.09 milligrams per kilogram (kg) of body weight. These amounts represent roughly six percent, 20 percent, and 60 percent of the highest recommended human dose.
The medication was administered starting two weeks before mating and continued through the 17th day of pregnancy. (For context, rat pregnancies last 21 to 23 days on average.)
So, what happened? The pregnant rats ate less and lost weight regardless of the dose. Their offspring showed concerning signs, including:
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Impaired growth
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Defects in heart blood vessels
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Bone abnormalities in bones in the skull, ribs, and vertebrae
Though these are animal results — not human ones — they’re part of why healthcare providers advise caution when it comes to using Wegovy during pregnancy.
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Studies on rabbits
Researchers have also studied semaglutide’s effects on pregnant rabbits.
In these trials, rabbits were given 0.0010 milligrams, 0.0025 milligrams, or 0.0075 milligrams of semaglutide per kilogram of body weight daily. While the doses may seem tiny, they correspond to about six percent, 20 percent, and 60 percent of the highest recommended dose for humans (so, the same ratio used for the rat studies).
Semaglutide was administered throughout organogenesis, which is the critical stage of pregnancy when major organs are forming.
At the middle and highest doses, scientists observed:
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Pregnancy losses early on
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Abnormal kidney and liver development
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Malformations in chest bones
Across all dosage levels, the mother rabbits ate less and gained less weight compared to rabbits not given semaglutide.
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Studies on monkeys
In one trial cited on the prescribing label for Wegovy, pregnant monkeys received semaglutide twice a week at doses of 0.015 milligrams, 0.075 milligrams, or 0.15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight — equivalent to about half, three times, and eight times the highest recommended dose for humans.
Treatment also occurred during organogenesis.
At the two higher doses, the pregnant monkeys:
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Ate less
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Lost weight
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Gained less weight than is typical during pregnancy
Researchers also observed skeletal abnormalities in the offspring.
In another trial, a similar dosing regimen was used — 0.015 milligrams, 0.075 milligrams, and 0.15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, twice weekly — but semaglutide was given from day 16 to day 140 of pregnancy. (Monkey pregnancies range from four to six months.)
Again, at the mid and high doses, researchers noted:
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Reduced food intake
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An increase in early pregnancy loss
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Slightly smaller babies at birth
Together, these findings raise some concerns about semaglutide use during pregnancy — at least based on current animal data and while we wait for more human research to emerge.
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Other animal studies
A 2023 systematic review examined 23 animal studies involving pregnant animals treated with either GLP-1s or SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors, another type of medication used for diabetes and weight management.
In those studies, GLP-1 drugs were linked to:
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Lower fetal weight and slower growth
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Delayed bone formation (ossification)
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Skeletal development changes
Most of these outcomes were observed when the mother animals ate less and didn’t gain sufficient weight during pregnancy.
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Can you breastfeed while on Wegovy?
Currently, there’s not enough research to say for sure whether it’s safe to breastfeed while using semaglutide.
We don’t know if Wegovy:
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Passes into breast milk
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Has any effect on the baby if it does pass into breast milk
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Impacts milk production
One animal study found small amounts of semaglutide in rat milk, but it’s unclear if this applies to humans.
Talk to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance on breastfeeding while on Wegovy. They can help you weigh the benefits and risks for you and your little one.
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Can you take Wegovy while pregnant? Final thoughts
More research is needed on Wegovy and pregnancy. But from what we know so far, it doesn’t look like Wegovy is safe for pregnant people.
Here’s what you need to know about semaglutide and pregnancy:
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Can you take semaglutide while pregnant? Probably not. We don’t have many human studies on this particular topic, but animal studies show that taking semaglutide while pregnant may be harmful to the fetus. Specifically, it may increase the risk of birth defects, reduced growth, and early pregnancy loss.
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Stop taking Wegovy at least two months before trying to get pregnant. Let your healthcare provider know if you want to try for a baby soon. They can tell you when it’s best to stop taking Wegovy and recommend other diabetes drugs if needed.
It’s not usually advisable to try to lose weight while pregnant. In fact, healthy weight gain is recommended in most cases. But if you’re considering weight loss treatments before planning on expanding your family, you’ve got options.
Other medications for managing type 2 diabetes and supporting weight loss include metformin. And you can make lifestyle changes, like eating well, drinking more water, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep.
As with anything pregnancy-related, speaking to a healthcare professional is a wise choice. They can evaluate your unique situation, go over your options, and help you find the best treatment plan.
Ozempic and Wegovy are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S. Hims, Inc. is not affiliated with or endorsed by Novo Nordisk A/S.
- Related: Can You Take Ozempic While Pregnant? Probably Not— Here’s Why
- Related: Tirzepatide Side Effects: Everything You Need to Know
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This article originally appeared on ForHers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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