The short answer: GLP-1 drugs are not approved for use in pregnancy, and the FDA labels for weight-loss versions say to stop them once a pregnancy is recognized. Weight loss on these drugs may restore ovulation in some women, which is one reason unplanned pregnancies get reported. Human studies so far have not found a clear rise in birth defects, but the data are limited. The Wegovy and Ozempic labels say to stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.

Can GLP-1 drugs make it easier to get pregnant?

They might, for some women, but the evidence is weaker than the headlines. Social media and news stories have used the phrase "Ozempic babies" for surprise pregnancies on these drugs. Those are anecdotes, not proof that the drugs raise fertility.

There is a plausible link. Excess weight and insulin resistance can disrupt ovulation, especially in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A 2025 review in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology notes that many women with irregular periods who could not conceive have had unplanned pregnancies while taking these drugs.

The trial data on PCOS point in two directions:

  • A 2023 meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials with 840 women with PCOS found a higher natural pregnancy rate with GLP-1 drugs (risk ratio 1.72). It found no significant difference in IVF pregnancy rates (BMC Endocrine Disorders).
  • A 2026 review of 11 randomized trials, graded with stricter certainty methods, found modest short-term weight loss. It called the evidence on reproductive outcomes uncertain because of low-quality data (European Journal of Endocrinology).

Most of these trials used liraglutide or exenatide, not semaglutide or tirzepatide. No GLP-1 drug is FDA-approved to treat infertility.

Birth control is the other factor. The Zepbound and Mounjaro labels say tirzepatide may make birth control pills less effective, because it slows stomach emptying. They advise a non-oral method, or an added barrier method, for 4 weeks after starting and after each dose increase. Our sister site covers this in Mounjaro and birth control.

What do the FDA labels say about pregnancy?

Every label rests on the same two facts. Animal studies showed harm to the fetus, often alongside marked weight loss in the mother. Human data are too thin to rule a risk in or out. The advice then depends on why the drug is used:

  • Weight-loss drugs (Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda): The labels state that weight loss offers no benefit to a pregnant patient and may cause fetal harm. Each says to discontinue the drug when a pregnancy is recognized. For Wegovy, that applies to people using it for weight reduction (Wegovy label, Zepbound label, Saxenda label).
  • Diabetes drugs (Ozempic, Mounjaro): The labels say to use the drug in pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. They also note that poorly controlled diabetes raises the risk of birth defects, stillbirth and miscarriage (Ozempic label, Mounjaro label).

For context, the labels give the background risk in the U.S. general population as 2% to 4% for major birth defects and 15% to 20% for miscarriage. The Ozempic and Mounjaro labels add that the birth defect risk is 6% to 10% with pre-existing diabetes and an HbA1c above 7%.

How long before trying to conceive should you stop?

Only the semaglutide labels give a specific window, and the others do not:

  • Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide): Stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy. The reason is semaglutide's half-life of about 1 week. The Wegovy label says the drug stays in circulation for about 5 to 7 weeks after the last injection.
  • Zepbound and Mounjaro (tirzepatide): The labels do not state a pre-conception washout. They list a half-life of about 5 days (5 to 6 days in the Zepbound label). The labels say to stop Zepbound once pregnancy is recognized.
  • Saxenda (liraglutide): No washout period is stated. Liraglutide is a daily drug with a half-life of about 13 hours.

Some reviews suggest longer washouts for tirzepatide, but that is expert opinion, not label text. Plan the timing with your prescriber. Stopping also brings weight regain for many people, which is worth planning for. See what happens when you stop taking GLP-1 drugs.

What have human studies found about birth defects?

No trial has tested these drugs in pregnancy on purpose. The evidence comes from women who took them around conception, and results so far are reassuring but imprecise:

  • Multinational cohort, 2024: Among women with type 2 diabetes in Nordic, U.S. and Israeli data, 938 infants were exposed to GLP-1 drugs. Major malformations occurred in 8.3%, vs 7.8% with insulin. The adjusted risk ratio was 0.95 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.26) (JAMA Internal Medicine).
  • Teratology services cohort, 2024: In 168 pregnancies exposed in the first trimester, major birth defects occurred in 2.6%. The rates were 2.3% in a diabetes group and 3.9% in an overweight or obesity group. No increase in pregnancy loss was found (BMJ Open).
  • U.S. claims study, 2026: In 3,572 pregnancies, continuing a GLP-1 drug into the first trimester did not definitively raise risk. The authors called the malformation and growth estimates imprecise, with room for clinically relevant differences (Annals of Internal Medicine).
  • Danish cohort, 2026: Among 529 exposed pregnancies, preterm birth was higher only in women using the drugs for diabetes. Women using them for weight management showed no such link (Human Reproduction Open).

A 2026 meta-analysis pooled 6 studies and found no rise in major malformations (risk ratio 1.02). Its authors warned the findings "should not be interpreted as proof of safety" (Endocrine Connections). Most exposed women in these studies had diabetes, and tirzepatide data are sparse.

What should you do if you get pregnant while taking one?

Contact your prescriber and obstetric provider promptly. Do not assume the pregnancy is at high risk, since the human data so far are reassuring. The drug makers also run registries that track outcomes after exposure:

  • The Wegovy label lists a Novo Nordisk registry at 1-877-390-2760 or wegovypregnancyregistry.com.
  • The Zepbound label lists a Lilly registry at 1-844-524-0039 or pregnancyregistry.lilly.com/zepbound.

If you have diabetes, do not stop treatment without a plan. Blood sugar control during early pregnancy matters for the baby too. Our guide on who should not take GLP-1 drugs covers other situations where these drugs are avoided.

Can you take a GLP-1 drug while breastfeeding?

The labels are cautious, and the evidence differs by drug:

  • Tirzepatide: In a study of 11 women given a single 5 mg dose, the drug was undetectable in 164 of 171 milk samples. The detected total was under 0.02% of the mother's dose (Mounjaro label).
  • Semaglutide injection: There are no human milk data. In rats, levels in milk were 3 to 12 times lower than in maternal plasma (Ozempic label).
  • Semaglutide tablets: The Wegovy label says breastfeeding is not recommended with Wegovy tablets. Semaglutide in milk was below the level the test could measure, but the absorption enhancer SNAC was present.
  • Liraglutide: There are no human data. In rats, milk levels were about 50% of plasma levels (Saxenda label).

For the injections, the labels ask you to weigh breastfeeding benefits against the mother's need for the drug. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states more plainly that GLP-1 medications are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The bottom line

GLP-1 drugs may improve ovulation in some women through weight loss, so use reliable contraception if you are not planning a pregnancy. Stop semaglutide at least 2 months before trying to conceive, and plan tirzepatide or liraglutide timing with your prescriber. Early human data on birth defects are reassuring but not proof of safety. To compare how each drug differs, see our GLP-1 medications compared guide.

Last updated: September 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Talk with your prescriber or obstetric provider before starting, stopping, or continuing a GLP-1 drug around pregnancy or breastfeeding.