British scientists have warned that weight-loss jabs containing semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, could cause birth defects if used by women hoping to become pregnant. The warning follows a spate of reports of women unexpectedly becoming pregnant while taking the medications.
Experts believe the so-called 'Ozempic babies' phenomenon may be due to weight loss boosting fertility by regulating ovulation and menstruation. Additionally, side effects such as nausea and vomiting could reduce the effectiveness of contraceptive pills.
Some doctors in the US have begun prescribing the jabs off-label to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a leading cause of infertility. However, British researchers caution against this practice, citing animal studies that showed abnormalities in offspring.
Professor Tricia Tan, a specialist at Imperial College London, stated: 'Women need to know that these drugs should not be used during pregnancy. Animal studies did show that the animal babies born to animals who were given these medications had problems.'
Nerys Astbury, a senior researcher in diet and obesity at Oxford University, advised non-pharmaceutical weight loss before pregnancy. She said: 'It is important to note that while some doctors are prescribing semaglutide off-label to women with PCOS, it is not clear whether it's safe to use in women during pregnancy and should not be used as a method to treat infertility until research demonstrating safety and effectiveness is available.'
Doctors recommend that women using these jabs should use contraception and stop taking the medication at least two months before trying to conceive.
