Weight Loss Injections & Trying to Conceive

[Bakeycakes76]

Hey!

I'm 33F, current BMI 36.4 (5ft4, 15st2lb).

I'm wanting to shift a bit of weight, diet and exercise doesn't shift much due to PCOS etc. I started on some weight loss jabs end of 2023, and lost over a stone, but then stopped them due to finances etc.

I'm currently in a position where i'm not actively trying for a baby, but i'm also definitely not trying to stop them but I also want to get back onto some kind of weight loss to boost my odds. Will starting on the jabs effect me being able to conceive or will the weight loss it will bring help with that anyway? I'm a bit stuck and need some human answers on what other people would consider.

Thoughts welcome xx

Google ‘ozempic babies’ lots of woman with pcos are conceiving whilst on the jabs as they help control insulin. They are not recommended while trying to conceive as there has been no research been done as to whether it can lead to birth defects etc. I believe current advice is wait 3 months without taking them before you try and conceive. I have seen comments on TikTok etc from people who have had a baby whilst on a GLP-1 saying they’ve had no problem and baby is perfectly healthy but these are random people from the internet so not exactly a trustworthy source.
I think there was a test done on lab rats where there were some. I think it is personal choice - I would do as much research as you can and it’s up to you whether the risk (like taking the jabs for all of us and we accept the risks of thyroid cancer etc) is worth it.

Good luck with whatever decision you make and I hope it all works out for you!

The instructions on Wegovy and Mounjaro both have specific sections about pregnancy. Here's what the Wegovy instructions say:

"Pregnancy and breast-feeding This medicine should not be used during pregnancy, as it is not known if it may affect your unborn child. Therefore, it is recommended to use contraception while using this medicine. If you wish to become pregnant, you should stop using this medicine at least two months in advance. If you become or are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby when using this medicine, talk to your doctor straight away, as your treatment will need to be stopped."

Here's what the Mounjaro instructions say:

"This medicine should not be used during pregnancy as the effects of this medicine on an unborn child are not known. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your prescribing healthcare professional for advice before using this medicine. It is recommended to use contraception while using this medicine. If you are a woman with obesity or overweight and are using oral contraceptives, you should consider also using a barrier method of contraception (e.g. a condom) or switching to a non-oral contraceptive method for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after each increase in dose."

So both are very clear that you should not become pregnant whilst using either of these medications. You should stop taking them well before starting to try to conceive, so that the medication is definitely out of your system before any potential pregnancy.

Using them before trying to conceive in order to lose weight would be fine, and losing weight is definitely a positive thing prior to a pregnancy if you are obese now.

If I were you I would spend a year with belt and braces contraception and also with the weight loss injections. I'd get my weight right down and then three months afterwards I would start trying for a baby.

I was roughly the same starting weight and in seven months I've lost four stone. It might not take you the full year.

I think you should lose the weight first before trying to conceive. It actually doesn’t take that long to shift the weight on injections. I have lost 20kg since August, and I reached a healthy BMI in November.

Lose the weight then TTC.
The meds clearly state not to get pregnant whilst on them.

Or have a baby then take them after.

Hi there

I've been on Mounjaro since September 2024 and have lost just over 2 stone. I've a BMI of 36 currently. I'm aiming to stay on it until end of March and start TTC our third in July. If you can wait until you're happier with your weight I would - having been there before it's definitely easier being pregnant while as healthy as you can be. Having said that, sometimes these circumstances are outside of our control. We are going ahead with TTC because of age and family circumstances - it's the best time for us. I'll do my best to continue to lose weight until July but I am definitely giving myself 3 months off MJ before starting. Best of luck!!

Thanks so much for the feedback guys - I'm looking into other options too such as Orlistat but seem to hear horror stories about everything. I don't know what to do for the best!!

Why don't you spend six to twelve months on the meds first and then try for a baby?

Not only will your odds of conception improve, but so will your chances of a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery.

Although women have of course conceived on these drugs (because their fertility is improved by the weight loss) there is no way of knowing if they are safe to take in pregnancy as there won't ever be trials on pregnant women. There may come a point when a specialist doctor might advise certain patients to take them when trying to conceive, but that isn't something I'd want to do without a doctor's sign off.

Hi OP, I'm also 33 and will be TTC this year. I've been on MJ since June and lost 5 stone, my BMI was 40 when I started and it's now 28. I was TTC for 18 months before starting MJ and I'm sure my weight would have been affecting my fertility. Since June I've not been on contraception but just abstaining during my fertile window. I thought it would be really hard taking a break because I want a baby so badly, but it's actually been really good for me mentally seeing good weight loss and knowing I'm putting myself in a good position when we start again which will likely be in the summer. It's hard when you're getting to mid thirties and the biological clock is ticking, but I didn't really have a choice because I wasn't conceiving when I was so large.