The rise of Ozempic babies: Popular weight loss drug found to lower efficacy of birth control pills
Women on TikTok are reporting surprise pregnancies while taking the popular weight loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy. These pregnancies occur even if the women are on birth control, creating a new phenomenon that has been dubbed “Ozempic babies.”
However, as women who have struggled with infertility, or are older and thought they were past their childbearing years celebrate their miracle pregnancies, health experts and drug makers are issuing warnings about the potential side effects. Cue dramatic music…
@enjoyingthislyfe #pregnancytiktok #pregnanttiktok #mom #momlifebelike #womenstrong #datinginyour30s #babytok #glp1
♬ original sound - Oliviara 🦋
I personally know 3 women who struggled for years to get pregnant, started Ozempic, dropped 20 pounds, now have babies. https://t.co/4RFgWmoieE
— Sarah (@GlobeFarrah) March 21, 2024
How are women getting pregnant on Ozempic?
Ozempic and Wegovy slow down stomach emptying so that the consumer feels satiated for a longer time, causing them to eat less and lose weight. Nevertheless, this also affects how food and medications are absorbed. Both drugs fall within the e GLP-1 drugs category, which are known to cause the failure of oral contraception and boost fertility.
Jonathan Kaplan, a plastic Surgeon in San Francisco known as @realdrbae on TikTok, pointed out that this side effect isn’t new or unknown. When Ozempic submitted its Food and Drug Administration (FDA) paperwork, it was fully aware of these side effects.
@realdrbae Birth control and Ozempic… use caution 🫡 @Healthline
♬ Wii Shop Channel Trap - OSRSBeatz
@realdrbae #greenscreen Be careful! Everyone’s getting pregnant on Ozempic! 😂🤔
♬ original sound - Jonathan Kaplan
It is advised that people use alternative methods of birth control, such as condoms, caps, sponges, spermicides, or copper intrauterine devices when they are using these diabetes drugs.
@juandchan So i could’ve been skinny w/ 3 babies rn.. got it😒 #juandchan
♬ BAILEYS SOUND - Me!
Is it recommended to take Ozempic to get pregnant?
Hell to the no. The drugmakers are currently advising to cease taking the drugs when trying to conceive or being pregnant, because like so many other medications, they weren’t properly tested on pregnant people.
Individuals who were either pregnant or trying to become pregnant were excluded from GLP-1 trials. Thus, not enough data is available to establish whether GLP-1 is associated with birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse outcomes for either the mother or the baby, according to Healthline.
What are people saying about Ozempic?
Netizens are currently marvelling at the idea of becoming skinny and having a baby at the same time, all through the magical drug of Ozempic. Others are laughing at the sheer irony of taking Ozempic for weight loss and ending up with a baby.
@lionlindaa ozempic baby❤️🔥 #pregnant #wife #rich
♬ original sound - In God We Trust
After 2 babies in 2 years I want to be ozempic skinny this summer
— honey (@aarechelle) March 22, 2024
A small fraction of the web is taking it too far as always by hypothesising what an Ozempic-grown baby would look like.
These ozempic babies and 💉 babies are gonna create the first x-men class. Mark my words.
— Tooki Alalsheek (@HixariHixari) March 23, 2024
The answer, according to Twitter, is scary. The term “Ozempic baby” in itself evokes the image of a weirdly skinny-looking baby. Nothing to joke about really.
For now, it seems like the drug is less of a fertility booster and more of a reason to explore non-hormonal contraception.
