Pregnancy warnings for women on weight-loss jabs over 'Ozempic baby boom'
Women taking weight-loss jabs have been warned to make sure they are using effective contraception, amid reports of surprise "Ozempic babies" for those using birth control.
The injections have been previously linked to a 'baby boom', with women reporting online that they have had fallen pregnant while using the drugs, despite using contraception.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued its first alert to the public regarding contraception and weight-loss injections.
It warned the drugs should not be taken during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant, or during breastfeeding, due to a lack of safety data about harms caused to babies.
To date, the regulator has received more than 40 reports relating to pregnancy among women on the drugs.
Those patients taking Mounjaro, which may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in people who are overweight, should also use condoms if they are on the pill.
The MHRA said: 'This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase.'
MHRA data shows it has received 26 pregnancy-related reports for Mounjaro. It is not necessary for women to say whether the pregnancy was unintentional, though one report did say the pregnancy was such.
There have been a further eight reports relating to pregnancy in people taking semaglutide (the ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy).
A further nine have been recorded for liraglutide (Victoza or Saxenda), of which one recorded the pregnancy was unintentional.
There are also warnings over a lack of evidence for pregnancy safety for the jabs, which include Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Victoza.
In some cases, women are also advised to continue using contraception for up to two months between stopping the medicine and trying to get pregnant.
The MHRA said effective contraception includes the oral contraceptive pill, contraceptive implants, the coil and condoms.
The regulator also stressed that weight-loss jabs should not be bought from unregulated sellers such as beauty salons or via social media, or taken without speaking to a health professional.
In May, an ITV News investigation uncovered videos of an NHS employee on social media illegally promoting weight-loss jabs. When the injectible pens were bought and tested, the substance was found to be unfit for human use.
Undercover journalists also filmed at a "skinny jab party", where unlicensed weigh-loss injections containing ten times the recommended semaglutide dosage were being illegally sold.
Anyone who suspects they have had an adverse reaction or suspects their drug is not a genuine product, should report it to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, said: 'Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments.
'They are not a quick fix to lose weight and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way."
The latest guidance also reminds patients taking jabs of the symptoms to look out for in the event of acute pancreatitis which, although uncommon, can be serious.
The main symptom is severe pain in the stomach that radiates to the back and does not go away, and people should seek immediate medical help.
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Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Fat jabs left me in agony – it hurt to even put a bra on but it was worth it to be thin & lose a stone in 4 weeks
Megan Houchen says the 'life-changing' jabs stopped her driving to McDonald's at midnight... but there was a price to pay BEAUTY IS PAIN Fat jabs left me in agony – it hurt to even put a bra on but it was worth it to be thin & lose a stone in 4 weeks Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BLINKING her eyes open, Megan Houchen felt like she had been hit by a bus - every bone in her body ached. But the 25-year-old hadn't been in a terrible accident - nor did she have one too many the night before - her agonising symptoms were all in the name of losing weight. 6 Megan Houchan woke up feeling like she had been 'hit by a bus' after taking Mounjaro Credit: Jam Press 6 She says she started taking the drug after years of unhealthy eating took its toll. Seen before Credit: Jam Press 6 Megan says the side effects were worth it and has since gone from 11 stone down to 10 and loves her new body Credit: Jam Press The customer service worker says she was hit with flu-like symptoms the day after she started on weight-loss jabs. The 25-year-old began taking Mounjaro last month after struggling to reign in her comfort eating, which saw her weight go up to 11st – overweight for her 5ft 1ins frame with a BMI of 29.1. 'I woke up feeling like absolute rubbish,' Megan, from County Durham, says. 'I felt like I'd been hit by a bus. 'My shoulders and neck were so sore and felt bruised like I'd done some sort of hardcore workout.' Megan wondered if she was coming down with the flu, and noted her lack of appetite and soreness around her shoulders – saying it even hurt to put a bra on. She adds: 'I had never heard anyone on Mounjaro talk about those symptoms so, at first, I didn't think it was causing it.' 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She says: "I had always been quite slim and ate what I wanted, and got in the mindset of 'I'm never going to put on weight because I've eaten what I wanted for ages'. "But about three years ago I noticed I was gaining more weight, and in the last year it all just caught up with me and I was the heaviest I'd ever been. 6 Megan, seen before, wanted to improve her figure before her holiday Credit: Jam Press 6 But she has dropped the excess weight since taking the fat jabs Credit: Jam Press "I would always have a takeaway or eat out Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then it started through the week – sometimes having a takeaway every night and sometimes even ordering takeaways for dinner at work. "It was becoming unhealthy. "My comfort foods would always be a takeaway – if I was sad, I'd always order to food to cheer me up, but afterwards I felt so bloated and looking in the mirror made me feel awful. "I'd even drive to McDonald's at midnight to get food if I couldn't sleep. I was dreading going on holiday and wearing a bikini but now I'm really looking forward to it because of the weight loss Megan Houchan 'I was struggling to lose that stubborn weight and I was struggling to keep myself disciplined. 'So, I started Mounjaro to get me out of all of those bad eating habits.' Megan says she was warned by her provider of the potential side effects, although she hadn't linked her symptoms the following day. And, with her symptoms quickly subsiding that same week, she has gone on to be thrilled with her results, dropping down to a healthier 10 stone. She added: 'I would definitely recommend it based on my experience. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. 'I recommended it to my dad and he has now started his journey and is going really well for him too. "Now, I feel more confident when I put outfits on to go out, and when taking photos." Megan says that her weight loss has had a positive impact on her mental health too. "I just feel much better in myself. "I was dreading going on holiday and wearing a bikini but now I'm really looking forward to it because of the weight loss. "I've had a lot of comments about it too. "People at work say they can really tell, on my face especially, and have said I look really well for it. "My family is always telling me that they can see such a difference. "My mum always comments on my weight loss and it makes me feel really good because some days I think 'Am I losing weight?' and sort of doubt myself – so it's nice to have reminders. "For other people to notice it makes me feel a lot more confident."
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Fat jabs left me in agony – it hurt to even put a bra on but it was worth it to be thin & lose a stone in 4 weeks
BLINKING her eyes open, Megan Houchen felt like she had been hit by a bus - every bone in her body ached. But the 25-year-old hadn't been in a terrible accident - nor did she have one too many the night before - her agonising symptoms were all in the name of losing weight. 6 6 6 The customer service worker says she was hit with flu-like symptoms the day after she started on weight-loss jabs. The 25-year-old began taking Mounjaro last month after struggling to reign in her comfort eating, which saw her weight go up to 11st – overweight for her 5ft 1ins frame with a BMI of 29.1. 'I woke up feeling like absolute rubbish,' Megan, from County Durham, says. 'I felt like I'd been hit by a bus. 'My shoulders and neck were so sore and felt bruised like I'd done some sort of hardcore workout.' Megan wondered if she was coming down with the flu, and noted her lack of appetite and soreness around her shoulders – saying it even hurt to put a bra on. She adds: 'I had never heard anyone on Mounjaro talk about those symptoms so, at first, I didn't think it was causing it.' It was only when Megan went on TikTok that she found other people reporting similar symptoms after taking the medication. Luckily, she began to feel better the following day – and Megan says the initial side effects were well worth the trouble, as she has gone on to drop a stone in just four weeks. She says: 'My experience [since then] has been amazing. 'I know it's not the same for everyone but I've not really had any bad side effects [since the first day]. 'All of the food noise has gone – I don't really ever think about food or feel excited about food and it has suppressed my appetite a lot. 'I sometimes do miss my food a little because there's some days when I don't feel like eating a lot and then there's other days that I can manage three full meals. 'All in all my Mounjaro journey so far has been life-changing and the best decision I have ever made.' Megan started on Mounjaro after struggling with self-discipline and wanting to shed a few pounds. She says: "I had always been quite slim and ate what I wanted, and got in the mindset of 'I'm never going to put on weight because I've eaten what I wanted for ages'. "But about three years ago I noticed I was gaining more weight, and in the last year it all just caught up with me and I was the heaviest I'd ever been. 6 6 "I would always have a takeaway or eat out Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then it started through the week – sometimes having a takeaway every night and sometimes even ordering takeaways for dinner at work. "It was becoming unhealthy. "My comfort foods would always be a takeaway – if I was sad, I'd always order to food to cheer me up, but afterwards I felt so bloated and looking in the mirror made me feel awful. "I'd even drive to McDonald's at midnight to get food if I couldn't sleep. 'I was struggling to lose that stubborn weight and I was struggling to keep myself disciplined. 'So, I started Mounjaro to get me out of all of those bad eating habits.' Megan says she was warned by her provider of the potential side effects, although she hadn't linked her symptoms the following day. And, with her symptoms quickly subsiding that same week, she has gone on to be thrilled with her results, dropping down to a healthier 10 stone. She added: 'I would definitely recommend it based on my experience. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. 'I recommended it to my dad and he has now started his journey and is going really well for him too. "Now, I feel more confident when I put outfits on to go out, and when taking photos." Megan says that her weight loss has had a positive impact on her mental health too. "I just feel much better in myself. "I was dreading going on holiday and wearing a bikini but now I'm really looking forward to it because of the weight loss. "I've had a lot of comments about it too. "People at work say they can really tell, on my face especially, and have said I look really well for it. "My family is always telling me that they can see such a difference. "My mum always comments on my weight loss and it makes me feel really good because some days I think 'Am I losing weight?' and sort of doubt myself – so it's nice to have reminders. "For other people to notice it makes me feel a lot more confident." 6
ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
Woman travelling 250 miles between Swansea and Essex to care for elderly parents
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