Widely used Weight-loss Drug Ozempic May Lead to Child Birth Defects: Researchers

Weight-Loss

Women are being cautioned against becoming pregnant while taking Ozempic, amid concerns that the weight-loss drug is being improperly used in the United States to enhance fertility.

The medication has been flagged for potentially increasing fertility in women, but it also carries the risk of miscarriage and birth defects. Numerous women, many of whom had previously experienced fertility challenges, claim to have unexpectedly conceived while using the revolutionary weight-loss injections. Referred to as ‘Oopzempic babies,’ this phenomenon has prompted some physicians in the US to prescribe the injections off-label to address polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a leading cause of infertility in women.

Users of the injections have shared their experiences on online forums, with hundreds of members recounting how they became pregnant as a result of the treatment. Despite these anecdotes, experts caution that conceiving while using the drugs could potentially harm the developing baby.

Deb Oliviara from Michigan started her course of Ozempic last November to shed excess weight that had been affecting her well-being. Although the 32-year-old was taking a birth control pill inconsistently, she wasn’t concerned due to her history of fertility issues. However, two months later, during the same week she reached her target weight, Ms. Oliviara discovered she was three weeks pregnant.

Marcela Romero from Florida reported getting pregnant two weeks after starting Mounjaro, despite struggling with infertility for three years.Ozempic and Wegovy, both brand names for the drug semaglutide, have received praise from notable figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk, and have been proven to help individuals lose up to 2st.

Slimming down may enhance fertility, which is why semaglutide is being associated with pregnancies. Professor Adam Balen, a reproductive medicine consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and former chair of the British Fertility Society, explained that many overweight women experience reduced fertility, and weight loss can improve fertility and increase the likelihood of ovulation. Excess fat cells produce estrogen, which can disrupt regular menstruation and ovulation. Therefore, even a small amount of weight loss can lower estrogen levels. Research indicates that obese women are three times more likely to experience infertility than non-obese women, with PCOS exacerbating the condition by causing hormonal imbalances and weight gain, making conception difficult for affected women.

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