Women taking weight-loss jabs warned they must use effective contraception
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued its first alert to the public regarding contraception and weight loss and diabetes jabs following concerns they may not be used safely.
The injections have been previously linked to a 'baby boom', with women reporting online that they have had surprise 'Ozempic babies' despite using contraception.
To date, the MHRA has received more than 40 reports relating to pregnancy among women on the drugs.
There are also warnings over a lack of evidence for pregnancy safety for the jabs, which include Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda and Victoza.
The MHRA said the drugs – which are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 or GLP-1 RAs) – must not be taken during pregnancy, while trying to get pregnant, or during breastfeeding.
Anyone who gets pregnant while using the drugs should also stop taking the medicine, it added.
It said: 'This is because there is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby.'
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.
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.'
The advice on contraception is also contained in patient information leaflets that come with the medicines.
MHRA data shared with by the PA news agency 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.
The MHRA is also reminding people 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.
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.
'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.'
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.
GLP-1 or GLP-1 RAs help people feel fuller by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating.
Some, like Mounjaro, also act on a second hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control.
Jasmine Shah, medication safety officer at the National Pharmacy Association, said: 'Pharmacists urge women taking GLP-1 medicines to note this important new guidance from the MHRA published today and use effective contraception.
'Community pharmacies have been experiencing unprecedented levels of interest for weight loss injections.
'It is therefore important that regulations and guidance keep pace with this demand and that patient safety is put at the heart of everything we do.
'Medicines are not like ordinary goods for sale; they must be handled with great care because they have the power to harm as well as to heal.
'We also reiterate warnings from the MHRA to avoid any potential fake weight loss injections sold on social media or via beauty salons, which could pose a serious risk to someone's health.
'We urge anyone who have concerns about this medication to speak to their pharmacist for advice.'
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
The truth about the 7 most hyped TikTok weight loss hacks that claim to be ‘nature's Ozempic' as app cracks down
AS TikTok's popularity shows no signs of waning, the app has quickly become a hub for promoting and sharing health content - including supposed quick fixes for shedding weight, crammed into bite-sized videos. From testimonials from people who've undergone astounding weight loss transformations, to tip videos on how to achieve a calorie deficit and high-protein meal advice, there's much to choose from. 8 Weight loss content on the app can toe the line between informative and dangerous. TikTok recently went to the lengths of banning #SkinnyTok, a landing page that served as a hub for extreme dieting content, which critics said glamorised thinness and promoted disordered eating. People using the hashtag will now be redirected to mental health support resources instead. A number of weight loss ' hacks ' shared across TikTok make reference to blockbuster weight loss jabs, claiming to be 'nature's Ozempic '. According to Lucy Diamond, registered dietitian and clinical director for innovation at NHS weight management provider, Oviva, 'none of them achieve the weight loss as a GL-P1 medication would'. This is especially the case when you compare these supposed 'hacks' to medications like tirzepatide (Mounjaro) - known as the 'King King' of weight loss jabs - which spur users to drop 15 to 20 per cent of their body weight. 'A lot of them are over-promising and probably would be under-delivering in reality,' Lucy stated, pointing out that many tips shared across the platform also aren't backed up with scientific evidence. Concerningly, many of these trends will be put forward by healthcare professionals or people who claim to have nutrition credentials, imbuing viewers with a false sense of trust. 'Using that trust can be dangerous, because you think 'Well, if it's been said by a healthcare professional, it must be safe, it must be effective.' 'There is not one [TikTok weight loss hack] out of all of them that I would say is your golden ticket to weight loss. 'A lot of them are lacking robust evidence and not one of them has a direct comparison, a control trial against a GLP-1. So you can't with any evidence say these are comparable to a GLP-1.' On top of this, some of the weight loss tips shared across TikTok are just 'bizarre', Lucy added. 'Obesity is complex and simplifying how to treat it in quick fix videos can be really devastating for people who think that is going to be their answer,' she went on. 'And I do have a worry that these videos are appealing to people who don't need to lose weight.' For people whose health would be benefitted by weight loss, signposting them to the right support services is key, so they can make lifestyle changes that last in the long term, the dietitian said. 'If you following some of these quick fixes in the long run, I'd be concerned about the impact on health.' From 'natural' supplements claiming to melt weight off like Ozempic and Wegovy, to everyday ingredients like green tea, olive oil and apple cider vinegar, we give the lowdown on seven TikTok weight loss hacks. 1. Berberine 8 A supplement called berberine has been all over social media for a while, with influencers claiming it's helped them shed stubborn pounds in a matter of weeks. Some studies do suggest that berberine could aid weight loss and improve overall metabolic health. A 2020 review of trials found that while the compound seemed to reduce BMI and waist circumference, it didn't significantly reduce overall body weight. Another review conducted in 2022 found significant decreases in both weight and BMI in people who took berberine, though the individual studies reviewed were inconsistent and did not allow definite conclusions. But would Lucy recommend berberine for weight loss? 'Absolutley not,' she told Sun Health. Common side effects include diarrhoea, constipation, gas and an upset stomach. Large quantities may be fatal. 'It's sad that it's deemed as a natural alternative to Ozempic,' Lucy said. 'There is some evidence that it possibly helps lower blood sugar levels slightly - but if you're not absorbing your food, it is going to have that effect. 'For me, that is not a healthy way to lose weight. Trying to stop your food being absorbed and having awful side effects is not a healthy way to lose weight. Wegovy vs Ozempic - what's the difference? Ozempic is often used as a catch-all term for weight loss drugs, but the drug - whose active ingredient is semaglutide - is actually prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and has the added benefit of making users lose weight. Its manufacturer Novo Nordisk later released a higher dose of semaglutide under the brand name Wegovy to treat obesity. Using Ozempic for weight loss would mean you're using it 'off label' and not for its intended purpose. Not only could that be dangerous to you, it could also mean you're depriving diabetes patients from vital medication. Wegovy and Ozempic are in a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA). They work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone produced naturally by your gut when you eat food, which signals to the brain that you're full and prevents you from overeating. 'There is no big study showing it's impactful and proven to support weight loss.' Lucy also took issue with the fact that berberine is often described as the 'nature's Ozempic', the natural alternative to GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. It's misleading to compare the supplement to Ozempic or its weight loss medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro. These medications work by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone produced naturally by your gut when you eat food, to control blood sugar levels, slow down digestion of food and reduce hunger pangs. Berberine - a supplement derived from plant compounds - can't achieve the same pharmaceutical effect and it's unlikely to be a quick and easy fix for weight loss. 'We're often sold on needing to be healthy and organic and [berberine] sells itself as being the healthier route to weight loss instead of a GLP-1 medication,' Lucy pointed out. 'For someone that really needs the GLP-1 treatment, is it delaying or causing someone to go down that path when actually there is a safe alternative route that might be right for them, that's medically supervised, supported with diet and lifestyle changes and has long term health benefits?' 2. Apple cider vinegar 8 Creators claim diluting a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water and guzzling this down at the start of the day or before meals could reduce your appetite, bring down bloating and help burn fat - as well as regulate blood sugar levels. A widely quoted study from 2009 followed 175 people who consumed a drink containing one or two tablespoons of vinegar each day. After three months, those who consumed vinegar lost very modest amounts of weight - about two to four pounds. Another small study found that vinegar consumption might help suppress appetite - but it did so by making participants feel sick. But according to Lucy, 'there is no evidence that shows us that apple cider vinegar is proven to have a fat burning effect'. 'I think there is some suggesting it might slightly lower your post-meal rise in glucose, but not enough to be a convincing story that this can help with preventing diabetes, treating diabetes and be effective for weight loss,' she went on. 'For me, the more worrying thing about [taking apple cider vinegar for weight loss] is the effect it might have on the stomach in the long run.' The condiment's 'high acid level' could irritate the stomach and 'possibly' be damaging in the long-term. 3. Green tea Sipping on a cup of green tea is a healthy habit - especially if you're having it instead of sweet or fizzy drinks. But can it help melt off pounds, like some TikTok creators claim? The evidence remains unclear, according to Lucy. One creator - who bills herself as a holistic chef and certified nutrition coach - claimed 'green tea is one of the best beverages for getting fat off the body', advising viewers to drink 'three to five cups to notice a difference'. Another - this one a fat loss dietitian - claimed the polyphenols in the tea helped stimulate GLP-1, the fullness hormone weight loss jabs mimic. Others link green tea's caffeine content to its fat loss potential, with some creators claiming that drinking the stuff on an empty stomach could help burn fat, according to Lucy. The drink has also been the subject of extensive research, but evidence remains shaky, the dietitian stated. 'The evidence base is just not there,' she said. 'And if you're comparing [green tea] to a GLP-1 - which can bring on 15 to 20 percent body weight loss - this is not going to get you there.' At most, drinking green tea will amount to 'a couple of percentages of fat on the weight loss front'. She called out 'the unrealistic expectations of overpromising something supplementary to your diet that's going to help lose your weight'. 'It may alongside a healthy balanced diet, but it's the healthy balanced diet and lifestyle changes that's driving weight loss,' the dietician stated. 4. Yerba Mate 8 Another form of tea called Yerba Mate has also been linked to weight loss on the app. Like green and black tea, the traditional South American brew contains caffeine. It can be consumed both warm and cold. Creators - one of them a plastic surgeon - claim the brew can help increase the metabolism, thus leading to weight loss. Another said drinking Yerba Mate had 'snatched' her waist after having kids, so much so that her relatives questioned whether she was taking weight loss jabs. She touted the brew as a 'natural' solution to weight loss. While Yerba Mate might feel 'newer on the market', Lucy said: 'I think it's just your next green tea. 'It's the shiny new version of your green tea in the weight loss arena because it's claiming the same things: it's going to speed up your metabolism, it's going to reduce your appetite. 'And yes, some of us experience suppression of appetite for a short period after caffeine. 'But that is not going to be a great energy expenditure to lead to impactful weight loss in the short term or long term.' She took issue to health professionals peddling the product on the app without sufficient evidence. 'As a dietitian, the title is protected and we're on a health care professionals council, so we have to be really careful that anything we say externally is always backed by evidence. 'Have we got a big trial or a big study that can tell us that, yes, this is factually correct, this is going to be your answer to weight loss? 'If we don't have that, we have to tread very carefully and ensure that everything we do say is evidence based. 'And ideally, the study will not be just in a small cohort and not in animals, but a larger, robust clinical trial in humans that shows some great outcomes in humans.' 5. Buckwheat - the 'Slavic girl diet' 8 The so-called 'Slavic girl diet' has been making the rounds on TikTok since last year. It rests on the premise that Eastern European and Russian women stay slim thanks to humble staples like buckwheat and pickled vegetables. Videos made under the hashtag have captions like 'Slavic girls know the ultimate trick to staying skinny is buckwheat' and 'debloating secrets of Slavic women'. 'The Slavic diet is full of de-bloating foods that keep your waist tiny and skin glowing,' o ne creator claimed. Lucy was slower to dismiss this trend compared to others, saying it 'sits on the fence' when it comes to weight loss research. Buckwheat - small, nugget-like grains that can be eaten in the same way as rice - is gluten free and high in protein and fibre. 'We know that a high-protein, high-fibre diet - like buckwheat - really does aid satiety, so it keeps you fuller for longer and is digested more slowly by the stomach,' she said. ' Increasing your fibre and increasing your protein are the right things to do to help with satiety and are also a foundation for a healthy way to lose weight. 'There are really robust clinical trials that support that a high fibre diet helps with weight loss, but also helps with your overall health. It actually reduces the risk of certain cancers, improves your cardiovascular health 'So part of me kind of agrees with this, but not fully.' The dietitian noted that 'any monogenic diet is not your answer'. Simply eating more buckwheat won't be the key to healthier habits and weight loss. Instead, you should be upping your fibre with other foods, such as beans, lentils and pulses, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Aim for at least 25 grams a day. But do go easy on the fibre at first, Lucy advised While foods with the nutrient can help with bloating and constipation, increasing it too quickly - especially if you're not drinking enough water or exercising regularly - can 'have the reverse effect'. 'So I think it comes with some terms and conditions that are not advertised by the shiny flat stomach' in TikTok videos, Lucy said. 6. 'Excessive hydration' 8 Were you to browse through weight loss content on TikTok, it's likely that creators will include drinking lots of water in their lists of tips. Some will advise keeping a filled water bottle on you at all times, while others prescribe amounts such as three litres or gallon a day - which to Lucy seemed ludicrous. 'There are benefits to hydration from a concentration perspective, from a bowel perspective. 'So, for me hydration is key - but healthy hydration in line with the guidance, six to eight glasses a day. 'From a weight loss perspective, I don't think there is any solid evidence to be recommending it.' She mentioned that some creators claim drinking water will help 'flush out' your digestive system. How to spot weight loss fads on TikTok 'Have a look at who is posting it, what is their background, what is their profession,' Lucy advised. Follow up by doing your research - check if there are large, clinical trials that back up health advice you're coming across. If you suspect someone is making unsafe claims on TikTok: Go to the specific video Tap the 'Share' button (arrow icon) Tap 'Report' (flag icon) Select a reason. Choose 'Misleading Information' or 'Health and Safety' (depending on what's available in your region and TikTok version). If it's medical or nutritional misinformation, select: 'Misinformation' → 'Health Information Add comments (optional but helpful!) Mention why it's unsafe (e.g., 'Promotes starvation diet under 500 calories/day,' 'Encourages unproven supplements'). 'It's rare, but it can be dangerous to be flushing huge amounts through your body, through your kidney,' Lucy warned. But the dietitian did acknowledge that 'sometimes hunger cues can be confused with thirst', so staying well hydrated throughout the day is key. 'It's quite an old school [tip], have a glass of water before your meal,' she said, pointing out that there is some 'small evidence' that having water before a meal may result in modest weight loss - but only 'in combination with following calorie reduced diets'. Another study from 2009 showed that people ate fewer calories if they water before meals. 'Hydration is great, overhydration is crazy,' Lucy stressed. 7. Olive oil shots Social media users have claimed that taking a shot of olive oil in the morning could 'kickstart' your metabolism and help with weight loss. But Lucy wasn't so sure about the unorthodox hack. 'Olive oil has its health benefits - from a cardiovascular disease perspective it definitely has its place at the table. 'But when it comes to a weight loss tool, I have not seen convincing evidence for it. 'It isn't a magic quick fix because a tablespoon of olive oil is the same calorie-wise as a tablespoon of fat, so it's not saving you any calories.' It probably won't do much for your gut health either - fibrous food and probiotics are much more likely to help, the dietitian went on. Stick to drizzling olive oil on your salad rather than shotting it, Lucy advised.
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
D-Day landings boosted by import of ‘wonder drug' to Britain, archives reveal
Attempts to produce substantial quantities of medicine from the bacteria-killing mould had not been achieved by the start of the Second World War. Then prime minister Sir Winston Churchill became increasingly frustrated that Britain had not been able to produce enough penicillin in the preparations for the Normandy landings in 1944. Official papers released by the National Archive – containing handwritten notes by Sir Winston – highlight efforts to boost quantities of the antibiotic, with Britain eventually forced to import it from America. The documents were released ahead of the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Official papers highlight the efforts to boost quantities of penicillin (The National Archives/PA) In one report on February 19, after the issue had been raised in the House of Commons, Sir Winston scrawled in red ink on a Ministry of Supply report noting the Americans were producing greater quantities: 'I am sorry we can't produce more.' On another paper, he complained: 'Your report on penicillin showing that we are only to get about one tenth of the expected output this year, is very disappointing.' Elsewhere in the same file he instructs: 'Let me have proposals for a more abundant supply from Great Britain.' With preparations for D-Day ramped up, efforts to deliver enough American-made penicillin for frontline military personnel soon became a matter of urgency. Decisions needed to be made on the quantities of antibiotic imported, how much to administer to individual patients, and how to get medical staff trained in time. Most British doctors did not know how to issue penicillin – until this point, doctors had nothing available to treat infections like pneumonia and many people died of blood poisoning after minor injuries because no drug existed that could cure them. Royal Navy D-Day veteran John Dennett, 101, at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer to mark the 81st anniversary of the landings (Gareth Fuller/PA) Early in January 1944, Prof FR Fraser, the Ministry of Health's adviser on the organisation of wartime hospitals, wrote that 50,000-100,000 wounded could be expected from the Second Front. He proposed the Emergency Medical Services might need as many as five billion units of penicillin per month for this. Further documents show discussions on whether the antibiotic should be supplied as calcium or sodium salts, or in tablet form. Ultimately, it was agreed powdered calcium salts would be issued for superficial wounds and sodium salts for use in deep wounds. On May 24 1944, less than a fortnight before D-Day, Prof Fraser reported: 'Sufficient supplies of penicillin are now available for the treatment of battle casualties in EMS hospitals, but not for ordinary civilian patients.' Plans were made for casualties from the frontline in France to be brought back to coastal hospitals in Britain for treatment. A week before D-Day, on May 30 1944, hospitals were instructed to treat battlefield patients en route: 'In an endeavour to prevent the development of gas gangrene and sepsis in wounds the War Office have arranged for the treatment of selected cases by penicillin to be commenced as soon after injury as possible.' Military reenactors watch the sunrise over Gold Beach in Arromanches-les-Bains, Normandy, on the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings (Gareth Fuller/PA) Injections of penicillin were to be given to them at intervals of not more than five hours and patients would be wearing a yellow label with the letters 'PEN'. The time and size of penicillin doses should be written on it, they were told. Dr Jessamy Carlson, modern records specialist at the National Archives, said: 'File MH 76/184 gives a glimpse into the extraordinary levels of preparation undertaken in advance of the D-Day landings. 'Only six weeks before, penicillin is just reaching our shores in quantities which will allow it to play a major role in improving the outcomes for service personnel wounded in action.' As Allied forces made inroads into Europe, restrictions on the use of penicillin for civilians began to relax, but only in special cases. In July 1944, Ronald Christie, professor of medicine, wrote to Prof Fraser to tell him: 'The War Office approves of American penicillin being used for medical conditions in service patients and for air raid casualties among civilians.' On the home front, demand for the new 'wonder' drug began to increase, according the National Archives. It was decided that penicillin for civilians should only be supplied to larger hospitals where the staff had been properly trained to administer it. Only in 1946 did it become fully available for the general public.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Warning issued to women over 'Mounjaro babies'
Blockbuster weight loss jabs could make contraception less effective, and prove harmful to unborn babies, according to an urgent warning from UK drugs chiefs. In a new alert, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) urged women using any slimming injection including Ozempic and Wegovy to use birth control, due to potential risks to both the pregnant woman and the foetus. Meanwhile, those using the 'King-Kong' of weight loss jabs, Mounjaro, were told to 'double-up' their methods of contraception if using The Pill. 'Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in those who are overweight,' the alert read, adding that safe sex is 'especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase.' Officials added that women who become pregnant while using the medications must cease taking them immediately. Those who are breastfeeding should the injections stop too. 'There is not enough safety data to know whether taking the medicine could cause harm to the baby,' the MHRA said. The regulator added that, to date, it had received more than 40 reports relating to pregnancy among women on the drugs. Of these, 26 were related to Mounjaro, one of which was for an unintended pregnancy. Eight related to semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy. The reports related to pregnancy, recorded by medics and patients, include problems such as birth defects, miscarriages, and unplanned pregnancies. The regulator added in some cases women should continue to use contraception for up to two months after stopping the medications before trying to get pregnant. Mounjaro, which boosts levels of appetite-supressing hormones, is known to make The Pill less effective due to disruption it causes to the digestive system, flushing out the contraceptive. Patients taking weight-loss injections are already advised to use contraception, and to stop taking the drugs if they get pregnant, in leaflets that come with the drugs. Some 35,000 British women of child-bearing age were prescribed the jabs on the NHS in England in 2024, official figures suggest. However, this is likely to be an underestimate, given that many acquire the drug privately. The MHRA alert also warned against buying the medicines from unregulated and non-medical sellers such as beauty salons or via social media. 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. '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.' Experts said it was suspected how weight-loss jabs work to help patients shed pounds, was also thought to be diminishing the effectiveness of contraceptives. Dr Channa Jayasena, an expert in reproductive health at Imperial College London, explained: 'We think that the absorption of oral contraceptive pills may be reduced with GLP-1 drugs which slow down emptying of the stomach, though more research is needed to confirm this.' He added, that the MHRA's alert seemed 'sensible'. 'We don't know how harmful GLP-1 drugs are during pregnancy; however, we know that other forms of weight loss like weight loss surgery can increase chances of a miscarriage,' he said. 'So, women are advised to do all they can to prevent pregnancy while taking GLP-1 drugs.' Professor Rebecca Reynolds, an expert in metabolic medicine at the University of Edinburgh, added that some studies had indicated the drugs could increase the risk of birth defects. 'There is hardly any available data from human studies to be able to advise if these weight loss drugs are safe in pregnancy. 'The data from animal studies suggests the potential for harm with low birthweight and skeletal abnormalities, though more evidence is needed to assess if there are risks of taking these drugs in pregnant humans.' Reacting to the MHRA's announcement Jasmine Shah, medication safety officer at the National Pharmacy Association, urged women using the drugs to take note. 'Community pharmacies have been experiencing unprecedented levels of interest for weight loss injections,' she said. 'It is therefore important that regulations and guidance keep pace with this demand and that patient safety is put at the heart of everything we do. 'Medicines are not like ordinary goods for sale; they must be handled with great care because they have the power to harm as well as to heal.' There are dozens of reports of women experiencing unexpected pregnancies while taking weight loss injections. Some of these are linked to the drugs helping people lose weight which in turn, boosts their fertility. However, there have been a smaller number whereby it is believed weight loss jabs have made contraceptive less effective. One US woman, Deb Oliviara, who is based in the US, detailed how she became pregnant while using semaglutide. 'It lessens the effectiveness of birth control and it also heightens your fertility,' she said in a clip viewed nearly a million times. She added she stopped using the drug immediately upon learning she was expecting. Another woman, who posted on a Reddit forum, revealed she had become pregnant while using Mounjaro, despite taking contraception. She shared an image of her positive pregnancy test and wrote that weight loss jabs ' make it hard for oral medications (like birth control) to be effective'. Weight-loss injections belong to class of drugs known as GLP- agonists, which help encourage fullness by mimicking a natural hormone released after eating. Some, like Mounjaro, also act on a second hormone involved in appetite and blood sugar control. The alert comes as findings suggest taking Ozempic and similar drugs may raise the risk of a 'silent cancer'. Reports of suspected side effects for drugs in the UK are logged under the MHRA's 'Yellow Card' scheme. Officials use the same database, set-up in the wake of the 1960s thalidomide scandal, to track the safety of Covid vaccines. Although impossible to prove, it allows doctors, pharmacists and patients to report adverse reactions believed to be caused by drugs used in Britain. This can lead to them being reviewed, having warnings added to the labels or being taken off the market completely.
