OZEMPIC PREGNANCY WARNING: AUSSIE STUDY FINDS DRUG CUTS OXYGEN TO UNBORN LAMBS
A new Australian study has put the spotlight on Ozempic pregnancy safety, and it is one every woman on a weight-loss jab will want to read.
Researchers at Adelaide University found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, quickly reduced blood flow to the womb in pregnant sheep.
Within just two hours of a dose, oxygen levels in the developing lambs had dropped.
The findings, released on November 10, are early and have not been shown in humans, but they add weight to existing advice that these medicines are not recommended during pregnancy.
What the Ozempic pregnancy study found
The team, led by Dr Mitchell Lock and senior researcher Professor Janna Morrison from the university's Robinson Research Institute, used advanced MRI scans to track what happened inside the mother.
They measured the heart function of pregnant ewes and the blood flow to the uterus before and after semaglutide was given.
They also took blood samples from the unborn lambs and monitored their blood pressure and heart rate.
Within two hours, the amount of blood pumped by the mother's heart fell significantly.
That meant less blood reached the uterus, and less oxygen reached the growing baby.
"Oxygen is essential for healthy fetal growth and development," Dr Lock explained in the Adelaide University announcement.
Professor Morrison said the results suggested a potential risk to fetal development.
The research was presented as a conference abstract in the journal Heart, Lung and Circulation.
Why sheep, and what we still don't know
Sheep are often used in pregnancy research because their unborn young can be studied in ways that simply are not possible in people.
Still, the researchers are clear that this is preliminary work.
It is not yet known whether these short-term changes affect how a baby grows.
It is also unknown whether taking the medicine over a longer period would have a similar effect.
The team says more research is needed on prolonged exposure during pregnancy and on whether the same thing happens in humans.
A big question for a lot of women
This matters because GLP-1 medicines have exploded in popularity.
According to the researchers, around half a million people in Australia use GLP-1 drugs for diabetes, and the number using them for weight loss is likely much higher.
In the United States, about 12 per cent of adults use them for weight loss.
Many of those users are women of childbearing age, and some will fall pregnant while still on treatment, whether planned or not.
The study notes semaglutide is not recommended during pregnancy, and women planning to conceive should stop treatment beforehand.
But the researchers also acknowledge real-world worries.
Some women may be reluctant to stop because they fear the weight coming back.
Others who take the medicine to manage diabetes may be anxious about changing a treatment that works for them.
Thinking about a baby while on Ozempic? Practical next steps
If you are on a GLP-1 medicine and hoping to start or grow your family, the best first step is a frank chat with your GP before you try to conceive.
Your doctor can talk you through when to stop, what to expect, and how to manage your weight or blood sugar in the meantime.
If you find out you are pregnant while taking the medicine, do not panic, but do book in with your GP or midwife promptly so they can guide you.
If you have diabetes, your diabetes team will be an important part of that conversation, as blood sugar control matters a great deal in pregnancy.
If weight regain is your biggest fear, say so, as a good GP can help you build a plan for nutrition, movement and support, so you are not navigating it alone.
The bottom line
This is an early animal study, not proof of harm in human babies.
But it is a timely reminder that the newest medicines still have plenty of unanswered questions, especially when it comes to pregnancy.
For now, the message from the researchers is simple: if a baby is on your wish list, talk to your doctor about your medicine first.
