Women on Weight-Loss Drugs Warned of Surprise ‘Ozempic Babies'
Women taking popular weight-loss drugs have been urged to use effective contraception while taking the medication amid reports of a so-called "Ozempic babies" phenomenon.
The advice was issued by the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, on Thursday.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for comment via email.
Demand for weight-loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, has surged in the United States. In May 2024, a KFF Health Tracking Poll found that approximately 6 percent of American adults—about 15 million people—were using GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, either for diabetes treatment or weight loss.
Some experts have cautioned that women should use effective contraception while taking these medications amid reports that they may be linked to an increase in unexpected pregnancies, The Guardian reported last May.
The MHRA issued its alert after receiving 40 reports related to pregnancies while using "GLP-1 medicines," which are known by the brand names Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza.
Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, which mimics the GLP-1 hormone to increase insulin, slow digestion, and suppress appetite. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which acts on an additional hormone related to blood sugar and appetite control.
The MHRA warned that Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in people who are overweight. It received 26 pregnancy-related reports for Mounjaro alone.
"Therefore, those taking Mounjaro who are overweight and are using an oral form of contraception are advised to also use a non-oral form of contraception," the agency said. "This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase."
Hundreds of women have shared personal accounts of unplanned pregnancies while using these medications in online groups, including the Facebook group "I got pregnant on Ozempic."
"My ozempic baby...I see so many posts about ozempic and asking for "stories or side effects," but I never see anyone warning about pregnancy... lol," one woman shared on Facebook.
"If you don't know, I got pregnant on ozempic and so many other women have too..I was on ozempic for 6 weeks & found out I was pregnant. I was so scared, google had me frightened I would miscarry because of the ozempic. I then came across a group called 'I got pregnant on ozempic'. I started reading all of these stories about women fighting infertility and getting pregnant on ozempic."
The Food and Drug Administration has not yet issued similar advisories in the United States.
MHRA Chief Safety Officer Dr. Alison Cave 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.
"Our guidance offers patients a 'one stop shop' for our up-to-date advice on how to use these powerful medicines safely.
"This guidance should not be used as a substitute to reading the patient information leaflet or having a conversation with a healthcare professional as part of the prescribing process."
Dr. Ilana Ressler, a reproductive endocrinologist at Illume Fertility, told Interesting Engineering on May 22: "There is this phenomenon of Ozempic babies...really what I think what's happening is women who may not have been ovulating before with the improvements that the medication is bringing on, that might be helping them to ovulate more regularly and they might be more likely to conceive while on the medication than not—so it is recommended to avoid pregnancy while taking the medication."
Dr. Zuri A. Murrell, in a video on X last year: "There is nothing magical about the medicine that's in Ozempic that helps you get pregnant. But what it does is that a lot of times, when people can't, it's because of a hormone weight imbalance.
"And so, when you lose weight, and sometimes when you lose weight rapidly, the hormones and the new you aren't in concert. Or they really are in concert, and guess what can happen, pregnancy.
"So, it's not the Ozempic itself, it is actually the balancing out of your hormones. That means that you've lost fat, and that the body actually for you is working like it should. So just remember, Ozempic is not something that somebody takes and 'I'm pregnant.' What it does do is cause your body and hormone level to be more in sync and more likely that you can."
It remains unclear whether the FDA will follow the MHRA's lead in issuing similar warnings or guidance on contraception.
Related Articles
Therapist Asks Who Women 'Want To Be Skinny For'-Her Theory Is Eye-OpeningThe Good Life: Weight Loss Wins, But at What Cost?How Ozempic and Other GLP-1 Drugs Are Eating Away at Body PositivityGen Z Is Leading a New Weight Loss Trend: Ozempic Microdosing
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
46 State Medical Associations Urge Senate to Reject Medicaid Cuts in H.R. 1
The House Budget Reconciliation bill will cause at least 7.8 million Medicaid enrollees to lose their health care coverage. SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Just days ahead of an expected Senate vote on H.R. 1, 46 state medical associations, as part of Physicians for Medicaid have sent a letter to the United States Senate urging them to reject the dangerous cuts to Medicaid proposed in H.R. 1 that will cause millions of patients to lose coverage and even more to lose access to care - children, pregnant women, seniors, veterans, the disabled and working families. Statewide hospital associations have also weighed in, as proposed cuts impact all providers, including physicians and hospitals. The bill, which includes $200 billion in cuts to the existing and longstanding provider taxes, would have a catastrophic effect on state budgets and the country's entire health care delivery system and would impact 49 state Medicaid programs. Provider taxes have been authorized under federal law, approved by both Republican and Democratic administrations, and affirmed by state legislatures in 49 states for decades. They are a legitimate financing mechanism used by states in partnership with the federal government to fund essential health services and have kept rural hospitals, maternity wards, nursing homes, and physician practices open. The bill also imposes damaging changes to federal student loan programs making it harder for students to pursue medical careers at a time of critical physician shortages. We urge the Senate to pursue more balanced solutions that expand the physician workforce and preserve Medicaid for our patients. "If these provider tax cuts are enacted, it will create significant gaps in State budgets, forcing states to raise taxes, or reduce benefits, coverage, and provider payments. These reductions will lead to even more crowding of emergency departments and as the uncompensated care burdens grow from patients losing coverage, many rural hospitals, nursing homes, and community physician practices will be forced to close to all patients," the letter says. There are three main provisions in H.R. 1 (as passed by the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025) that will drastically limit or eliminate existing provider taxes nationwide. These provisions below apply to all provider taxes, including hospitals, nursing homes, managed care organizations, and other provider categories. Moratorium on New or Increased Provider Taxes (SEC. 44132) – Under the provisions of H.R. 1, none of these taxes could be increased after the passage and enactment of the law nor can any new taxes be adopted by the state Legislatures (there are 19 categories of provider taxes). This provision would freeze taxes and not keep pace with increasing health care costs over time. It is also not equitable between states. Revising Payments for Certain State Directed Payments (SEC. 44133) – Once a provider tax is established, state Medicaid programs can fund supplemental or enhanced payments to providers using a variety of rate methodologies. Under H.R. 1, any future directed payments would be limited to the Medicare payment rate. Medicare physician payment rates are already 33% behind the costs to provide health care. These rates will not keep pace for public hospitals and physician specialists that care for the sickest patients nationwide. Requirements Regarding Waiver of Uniform Tax Requirement for Medicaid Provider Tax (SEC. 44134) – The language in H.R. 1 requires provider taxes in multiple states to uniformly tax hospitals, nursing homes, and managed care organizations within each category of provider tax. The uniformity requirement will be extremely difficult for most states to meet and therefore, it eliminates multiple provider taxes in many states. The HHS Secretary has discretion to allow for a transition period, which is not something upon which states can rely. "These provisions will destabilize state health systems, reduce access to care, and worsen physician shortages. Instead, we encourage you to protect Medicaid – a proven, cost-effective safety net that serves 80 million vulnerable Americans," the letter concluded. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE California Medical Association; Physicians for Medicaid Sign in to access your portfolio
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Fire at Shell cracker plant in Beaver County forces evacuation of multiple employees
A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said a fire at the Shell cracker plant in Beaver County forced the evacuation of multiple employees and potentially released chemicals into the community. Anita White and Eli Matich worry about what could be in the air outside their home in Potter Township, just miles away from the plant. "It just feels scary, because you don't really know how it's impacting your health," White said. "When they built it, it was meant for job employment, help boost Beaver County. But instead, it's kind of been more negative than positive, it seems like," Matich said. It was just two days ago when smoke appeared to be billowing out of the facility, caused by what the state DEP calls a fire. It happened Wednesday afternoon at ethane cracking furnace #5. The DEP spokesperson said Shell reported that 15 employees were evacuated, and one person suffered a minor heat-related injury. KDKA obtained a photo showing a mangled furnace inside the complex. A Shell employee told KDKA that the damage is so bad it could result in them tearing it down and rebuilding. "It's definitely concerning," Matich said. The DEP spokesperson said it resulted in the "possible release of an unknown amount of 1,3-butadiene and benzene" in the air, and that the furnace "was not in production at the time." The agency added that an emergency response team member conducted an initial assessment at the plant and did not see any visible emissions or unintended releases of them due to a malfunction or other problem, along with any unpleasant smells. Also, their "air monitor did not register any emissions above zero, which means there weren't any air pollutants that lingered related [to] the fire." "We're always trying to eat healthy and be clean, but then we have these chemicals that are going into the air. So, it kind of feels like, all right, what's the point?" White said. Environmental experts describe what may have been released this week as cancer-causing chemicals. Since Shell started operating here in late 2022, it's faced several malfunctions and millions of dollars in fines. Shell did not disclose the potential release of chemicals in a Facebook post to the public, but a spokesperson told KDKA they informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and "will submit the [investigation] findings, as required, to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC)." As for White and Matich, for the time being, they'll be staying where they are. "Until the housing market gets a bit better, so we can move a little farther away," White said. The DEP spokesperson said Shell is continuing to investigate and that the agency will ensure the company complies with environmental regulations for the health and safety of the community.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Revelation-Backed Omada Health Jumps After $150 Million IPO
(Bloomberg) -- Omada Health Inc. shares ended their debut trading day exactly where they started after the digital health-care company raised $150 million in its initial public offering. Next Stop: Rancho Cucamonga! ICE Moves to DNA-Test Families Targeted for Deportation with New Contract Where Public Transit Systems Are Bouncing Back Around the World US Housing Agency Vulnerable to Fraud After DOGE Cuts, Documents Warn Trump Said He Fired the National Portrait Gallery Director. She's Still There. The stock climbed 21% to close at $23 on Friday in New York — the same price it opened at — higher than its IPO price of $19 per share. The stock had jumped as much as 49% during the the trading session. The San Francisco-based company sold 7.9 million shares at $19 each after offering them at $18 to $20 apiece, according to its filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The trading gives Omada a market value of $1.3 billion based on the number of outstanding shares listed in its filings. The IPO adds to the growing pace of US first-time share sales this year, which have raised around $24.9 billion so far, versus $17.6 billion in the same period last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Shares of health-care upstarts that went public on US exchanges this year are also up by a weighted average of roughly 18%, according to Bloomberg calculations. An IPO last month for digital physical therapy provider Hinge Health Inc. — a competitor to Omada — raised $503 million, and shares have risen about 19% since its debut. Omada's offering closed with orders for more than 15 times the shares available, with allocations going to a highly concentrated group of investors, Bloomberg News has reported. Virtual Care Founded in 2011, Omada provides virtual care in between doctor's visits to help people manage chronic conditions including diabetes and prediabetes, obesity, hypertension and musculoskeletal conditions, according to the filing. Users track metrics including weight, blood pressure and blood glucose values to the company's platform, which includes a mobile app. Unlike other digital health firms, Omada doesn't offer GLP-1 weight loss drugs, the filing shows. Instead it has programs to support people using them, including coaching and nutrition guidance, to manage muscle loss and stop the weight from returning when they cease taking the medication, according to the filing. About 50,000 of Omada's 679,000 members are on GLP-1s, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Sean Duffy said in an interview with Bloomberg News. It's a relatively new business for the company that has expanded in the past year as part of its partnership with Cigna Group's Express Scripts unit, he said. 'For support, especially in chronic disease, it's very helpful that someone feels they are not just doing this for themselves but for someone else - to have someone rooting for you in your corner is really important for outcomes,' Duffy said. Omada is using AI to automate the virtual care it provides to chronic disease sufferers, though the services are 'human-led,' he said. 'Our members tell us they want a person and I am yet to see anyone that feels accountable to ChatGPT,' Duffy said. Omada has over 2,000 customers including employers and health systems, and more than 679,000 total members enrolled in one or more programs, according to the filing. Largest Shareholder Revelation Partners is Omada's largest shareholder, beneficially owning 10.9% of the company before the offering, according to the filing. USVP has 9.9% of the shares, Andreessen Horowitz has 9.6% and FMR has 9.3%, the filing shows. Omada was valued at more than $1 billion in a 2022 funding round led by Fidelity Management & Research Co., it said in a statement at the time. The company had a net loss of $9.4 million on revenue of close to $55 million in the first three months of 2025, compared with a net loss of nearly $19 million on revenue of $35.1 million in the same period a year earlier, the filing shows. The offering was led by Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co., the filing shows. The company's shares trade on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol OMDA. (Updates with closing prices.) Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert Wants to Donate His Billions—and Walk Again The SEC Pinned Its Hack on a Few Hapless Day Traders. The Full Story Is Far More Troubling YouTube Is Swallowing TV Whole, and It's Coming for the Sitcom Is Elon Musk's Political Capital Spent? Trump Considers Deporting Migrants to Rwanda After the UK Decides Not To ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
