The Ozempic Baby Boom: Are Weight-Loss Injections A Solution To Infertility?

While more women than ever before are using GLP-1 medicines for weight loss, their impact on conditions such as PCOS is drawing them into a new dialogue on fertility and family planning

Whether Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound or Mounjaro, GLP-1 weight loss injections have become the wellness world’s most whispered-about breakthrough; once reserved for those managing type 2 diabetes, they are now hailed as a transformative tool for metabolic health and sustainable weight management. But what exactly are GLP-1s?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, slow gastric emptying, and curb appetite. The pharmaceutical version mimics this hormone, essentially nudging the body into a more balanced metabolic rhythm. The result? For many, it delivers a notable reduction in food cravings, more stable energy levels, and a quiet recalibration of their relationship with food, improving metabolic health and offering dramatic weight loss.

There is, however, another dialogue emerging around the use of GLP-1 medicines in the GCC region. Women struggling to conceive, those battling chronic conditions such as PCOS, and others experiencing unplanned pregnancies are propelling the drugs into a growing online dialogue – leaving many with unanswered questions about their effect on fertility.

Here’s what every woman considering using these drugs should know.

How Do GLP-1 Injections Affect Fertility?

Weight gain and insulin resistance often disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, which can hamper ovulation, disrupt menstrual cycles and raise the risk of miscarriage. GLP-1s help reverse this, as a weight loss of just 5–10 % can relieve metabolic strain, meaning some women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome experience restored cycles and ovulation. Improved insulin sensitivity can also help rebalance androgen sex hormones (lowering testosterone and boosting sex hormone-binding globulin) which can also calm PCOS symptoms.

Meanwhile receptors in reproductive tissues – the ovaries, uterus, testes – suggest GLP-1s may also have direct, beneficial effects beyond weight loss alone. A meta-analysis of 840 PCOS patients found that GLP-1 therapy increased spontaneous pregnancies by 72% and normalised cycles more than metformin (a commonly-used drug for regulating ovulation and improving pregnancy rate) or placebo. In the GCC region, where PCOS is prevalent, this could transform family planning.

Ozempic Babies: When Fertility Surges Unexpectedly

Some women report surprise pregnancies after starting GLP-1s – even those previously deemed infertile – so it’s not an overstatement to say we’re seeing an Ozempic baby boom. But this isn’t luck; it’s biology. Weight loss, better glycemic control, reduced inflammation, and hormonal rebalancing collectively rebuild fertility. More than 40 pregnancies have already been reported to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in women taking GLP-1 medications while on oral contraception, raising concerns that these medications may reduce the effectiveness of the pill.

The science is straightforward: GLP-1s slow down gastric emptying, delaying the absorption of pill hormones and sometimes reducing their effectiveness. This risk is amplified in the first month after initiation or after the dose increases. For some women, this has resulted in missed periods and positive pregnancy tests, caught off guard by an unexpected boost in fertility. The bottom line is that if you rely on oral contraception, back up barrier methods or non-oral contraception options should be used during titration, and for a short period after stopping GLP-1s.

The Emerging Data On GLP-1 Injections And Pregnancy

There’s limited research on GLP-1 safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as human studies are lacking. As with many medications where research remains limited, the recommendation from major healthcare organisations is to stop semaglutide at least two months before conception, to stop tirzepatide at least one month before conception, and to avoid all GLP-1s during pregnancy and breastfeeding. GLP-1 medicines linger in your system (semaglutide remains for approximately 7 days, tirzepatide for approximately 30 days) so washout periods are essential.

Long-Term Health & Hormone Balance

The long-term view on weight-loss drugs in women of childbearing age raises several considerations. They can cause menstrual irregularities, because rapid weight loss can trigger temporary amenorrhea – but cycles generally normalise once a healthy weight is reached. Appetite suppression may also reduce the intake of protein, iron, folate, B-12, vitamin D, which are essential for fertility and fetal health. There are potential implications for those pursuing IVF, too – patients are required to stop GLP-1 medicines two weeks before egg retrieval and one month before embryo transfer. They can, however, also offer improvements in male fertility – GLP-1s may improve sperm count, motility and quality in overweight men. It’s crucial, therefore, to discuss your overall fertility with an expert in the field, who can weigh up the pros and cons for your individual pathway.

Context In The GCC Region

The GCC region is witnessing a wave of GLP-1 use – not just for weight management, but for metabolic wellness. Local awareness campaigns (such as Abu Dhabi’s 2024 obesity initiatives) and increasing PCOS rates mean more and more women are accessing these treatments, yet regional clinical trials remain scarce. That’s why local physicians and fertility experts must create individualised plans – combining GLP-1 therapy with nutritional, hormonal and reproductive monitoring, tailored to individual patients.

The Importance Of Personalised Protocol

GLP-1 drugs are powerful tools, offering metabolic renewal and enhancing fertility. But they’re not beauty quick fixes. Used mindfully – with respect for hormones, pregnancy timing, and nutrient needs – they can support a healthy journey toward motherhood, but they require a personalised approach. Join forces early with your doctors – it’s important to collaborate with your ob-gyn or endocrinologist to align GLP-1 therapy with any fertility goals. Be sure to use contraception smartly, monitor metabolism and key nutrients and supplement as needed, and plan a safe conception timeline with your medical team. It’s crucial to support healthy habits post-therapy, too – keeping weight off with lifestyle coaching, fertility support, and regular hormone check-ups.

In regions where high rates of PCOS, insulin resistance, and obesity converge, GLP-1s offer hope. Yet without strategy, the story can veer – a surprise pregnancy, poor nutrition, disrupted cycles. Above all? Know your body. Talk openly with your doctors, and align your aesthetic, metabolic and reproductive goals to be intentional, healthy, and joy-filled.

Dr. Ido Sirota is an OBGYN and women’s health advocate based in the region, dedicated to advancing education and healthcare access for women locally and worldwide.

For more information on women’s health, follow Dr. Ido Sirota on Instagram.

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