A wave of new medical research is drawing attention to the rapid rise in the use of GLP-1 medications-such as Ozempic and Wegovy-among women shortly after childbirth, while also raising fresh questions about the safety of these drugs around pregnancy.
Sharp Uptick in Postpartum Prescriptions
A recent study led by Mette Bliddal, PhD, of the University of Southern Denmark, shows a dramatic surge in postpartum GLP-1 prescriptions. While there were fewer than five such prescriptions per 10,000 people in early 2018, the figure climbed to 34 by mid-2022. It then rose sharply, reaching 173 per 10,000 by the second quarter of 2024.
Doctors say the growing interest reflects the popularity of these medications for weight management and the significant physical and metabolic changes many women experience after giving birth. However, the trend is unfolding despite limited information on how the drugs interact with breastfeeding.
Mixed Signals on Pregnancy-Related Risks
Separate findings presented at a scientific conference have added complexity to the conversation. An evaluation of U.S. insurance data-still awaiting peer review-suggested that women who were prescribed a GLP-1 drug in early pregnancy had a slightly higher rate of infants born with eye, hand, or foot malformations when compared with women using insulin. The increase in risk was modest: 1.5% for GLP-1 users versus 0.8% in the insulin-treated group.
The same analysis also noted a greater likelihood of miscarriage among women recorded as taking GLP-1 medications.
Experts Urge Caution in Interpretation
Researchers emphasize that these early signals should not be taken as proof of harm. Because the insurance data could not confirm whether women were actively taking the medications at the moment of conception or during the first weeks of pregnancy, the findings come with significant limitations. Underlying health conditions-such as obesity and diabetes-may also play a major role in pregnancy outcomes.
Dr. Jacqueline Maya, the lead researcher behind the insurance-data study, stressed that the results should not guide medical decision-making without further evidence. Supporting that caution is a large, peer-reviewed study from Denmark, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, which reported no increased risk of major birth defects or miscarriage when GLP-1 drugs were used before pregnancy.
Fertility Effects and Medical Advice
GLP-1 medications are known to influence fertility by improving metabolic health and restoring ovulation, which can lead to unexpected pregnancies in women who previously had irregular cycles. Because of this, clinicians consistently advise the use of reliable contraception while taking these medications.
Current drug labels recommend stopping GLP-1 therapy at least two months before trying to conceive, as no comprehensive safety data exists for their use in pregnancy.
The growing number of new mothers turning to GLP-1 treatments underscores the demand for effective postpartum weight-management options. Still, with no clear research on how these drugs may pass into breast milk, physicians caution that postpartum prescribing must be approached carefully until conclusive evidence becomes available.
