Does Semaglutide Affect Fertility or Pregnancy?

Meta Title: Semaglutide, Fertility, and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know | Mochi Health

Meta Description: Learn how semaglutide affects fertility and pregnancy. Understand why you need to stop before conception, washout periods, and planning considerations for safe pregnancy.

You are taking semaglutide for weight management and wondering about starting a family. Or maybe you are already trying to conceive and questioning whether your medication affects your fertility. Perhaps you just got a positive pregnancy test and are panicking about whether the medication harmed your developing baby. These are some of the most anxiety-provoking questions people face when taking GLP-1 medications.

The relationship between semaglutide and pregnancy involves clear medical guidance based on what we know and honest acknowledgment of what we do not know. The medication is contraindicated during pregnancy, meaning you should not take it while pregnant. However, the reasons why, the timing for stopping before conception, and the effects on fertility are more nuanced than a simple "do not take this while pregnant" warning.

This article covers everything you need to know about semaglutide and reproductive health, including why the medication is contraindicated in pregnancy, what animal studies have shown, when to stop before trying to conceive, how weight loss itself affects fertility, what to do if you discover you are pregnant while taking the medication, breastfeeding considerations, and guidance for both women and men planning pregnancy.

Why Semaglutide Is Contraindicated During Pregnancy

The contraindication for semaglutide during pregnancy is not based on evidence that the medication definitely causes harm to human pregnancies. Instead, it reflects the standard of extreme caution applied to all medications during pregnancy when adequate human safety data does not exist.

Pregnancy represents a unique situation where any medication taken by the mother potentially affects a developing fetus. The ethical constraints on research mean we cannot conduct controlled trials giving pregnant women investigational medications to see what happens. This means most medications, including semaglutide, lack robust human pregnancy data. In the absence of clear safety evidence, the medical standard is to recommend against use during pregnancy unless the benefits clearly outweigh unknown risks.

Animal studies conducted as part of drug approval processes provide some information, though animal data does not always translate directly to humans. In studies with pregnant rats and rabbits given semaglutide, researchers observed increased rates of fetal abnormalities and pregnancy loss at doses that produced blood levels comparable to or higher than human therapeutic doses. These findings raised concerns sufficient to contraindicate use during human pregnancy.

However, it is important to understand what these animal studies do and do not tell us. They demonstrate potential for harm under specific experimental conditions in animals. They do not prove that semaglutide causes similar problems in human pregnancies. They also do not tell us what happens with brief early exposure before someone knows they are pregnant, which is a common scenario.

The practical guidance is clear: if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon, you should not be taking semaglutide. This recommendation protects both you and your developing baby by avoiding exposures where safety cannot be guaranteed.

The Washout Period: When to Stop Before Conception

If you are planning pregnancy, timing matters for when you stop semaglutide. The medication has a relatively long half-life, meaning it takes weeks for your body to fully eliminate it after your last dose.

Semaglutide has a half-life of approximately one week. This means that one week after your last injection, about half the medication remains in your system. After two weeks, about one quarter remains. It takes approximately five to six half-lives for a medication to be essentially completely eliminated from your body. For semaglutide, this means roughly five to six weeks after your last dose.

Manufacturer guidance and most healthcare providers recommend stopping semaglutide at least two months (eight weeks) before attempting conception. This provides adequate time for the medication to clear your system and ensures that if conception occurs, the developing embryo is not exposed to the medication during the critical early weeks of development.

Some providers recommend an even longer washout period, particularly if you have been on higher doses for extended periods. The rationale is that longer exposure at higher doses might take more time to clear completely, though the half-life does not actually change based on dose or duration of use. A two-month washout represents a conservative, evidence-based approach that most providers follow.

This timing creates practical challenges. Weight loss is often still in progress when someone decides to pursue pregnancy. Stopping medication two months before trying to conceive means potentially regaining some weight during that period. Additionally, the unpredictability of conception means you might be off medication for longer than two months if pregnancy does not occur immediately.

Planning ahead helps manage these challenges. If pregnancy is in your near-term plans (within the next year), discuss this with your provider when deciding whether to start or continue semaglutide. If you are already on medication and decide to pursue pregnancy, work with your provider on a plan for stopping, managing weight during the washout period, and supporting your fertility.

How Weight Loss Affects Fertility

Understanding the relationship between weight and fertility helps contextualize why some people taking semaglutide for weight loss might actually see fertility improvements, while the medication itself needs to be stopped before conception.

Obesity affects fertility in multiple ways. For women, higher body weight is associated with irregular menstrual cycles, anovulation (not releasing eggs), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and reduced success rates with fertility treatments. Obesity also increases risks during pregnancy including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy loss.

Weight loss often improves fertility for people struggling with weight-related reproductive issues. Even modest weight loss (5 to 10 percent of body weight) can restore regular ovulation, improve hormone balance, increase the likelihood of conception, and reduce pregnancy complications. Many women who struggled to conceive at higher weights find that losing weight naturally improves their fertility.

This creates a somewhat paradoxical situation. Taking semaglutide leads to weight loss that might improve fertility. But the medication itself needs to be stopped before conception. The practical approach is viewing semaglutide as a tool to achieve healthier weight before pregnancy, with a planned stop date that allows for medication clearance before actively trying to conceive.

For women with PCOS, the most common cause of anovulatory infertility, weight loss can be particularly impactful. Losing even 5 percent of body weight can restore regular menstrual cycles and ovulation in many women with PCOS. If semaglutide helps achieve this weight loss, fertility might actually be better after stopping the medication than before starting it.

The key is planning. If improving fertility is a goal, using semaglutide to achieve weight loss with a clear plan for stopping before conception attempts offers potential benefits. If pregnancy is desired in the very near term (within the next few months), starting semaglutide might not make sense given the need for a washout period.

What to Do If You Get Pregnant While Taking Semaglutide

Despite best intentions and precautions, unintended pregnancies happen. If you discover you are pregnant while taking semaglutide, knowing what to do reduces anxiety and ensures appropriate medical care.

First, stop taking the medication immediately once you know you are pregnant. Do not take any additional doses. The goal is minimizing fetal exposure by stopping as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.

Second, contact your healthcare provider right away. They need to know about the pregnancy and the medication exposure. Your provider can advise you on next steps, refer you for appropriate prenatal care if needed, and document the exposure for monitoring purposes.

Third, try not to panic. While semaglutide is contraindicated in pregnancy, brief early exposure (particularly before you knew you were pregnant) does not automatically mean something is wrong. Many medications are contraindicated in pregnancy out of abundant caution rather than confirmed harm. The lack of human safety data creates uncertainty, but uncertainty is not the same as known danger.

Your prenatal care provider might recommend additional monitoring during pregnancy, though there are no specific tests that detect semaglutide-related effects. Standard prenatal care including ultrasounds and routine testing will monitor fetal development. Most pregnancies with early medication exposures that should not have occurred still result in healthy babies. This does not mean the exposure was risk-free, but it means outcomes are often good despite imperfect circumstances.

If you were actively trying to conceive while still taking semaglutide (against medical advice), the situation is similar. Stop the medication immediately, contact your providers, and proceed with appropriate prenatal care and monitoring.

Some women taking semaglutide for weight loss or diabetes management find their menstrual cycles become more regular and predictable as they lose weight, which can make previously irregular cycles suddenly more fertile. This creates situations where pregnancy occurs unexpectedly because fertility improved on medication. Using reliable contraception while taking semaglutide prevents this scenario if pregnancy is not desired.

Male Fertility and Semaglutide

Most discussion about semaglutide and reproduction focuses on women, but men planning to father children also have questions about whether the medication affects fertility or poses risks to future offspring.

Current evidence suggests semaglutide does not significantly affect male fertility. Animal studies have not shown effects on sperm production, sperm quality, or male reproductive organs at therapeutic doses. The medication does not appear in semen at levels that would affect a partner or developing pregnancy.

Unlike the recommendations for women, men do not need to stop semaglutide before attempting to conceive. The medication's contraindication applies to pregnancy itself (the pregnant person taking the medication), not to the reproductive contributions of a partner.

However, obesity in men is associated with reduced fertility through multiple mechanisms including lower testosterone levels, erectile dysfunction, reduced sperm quality and motility, and increased DNA fragmentation in sperm. Weight loss in obese men generally improves these parameters, potentially improving fertility.

If you are a man taking semaglutide for weight loss and planning to father children, the weight loss itself is likely beneficial for fertility. There is no need to stop the medication for a washout period before attempting conception with your partner. You can continue treatment throughout your partner's pregnancy without concern.

If you have specific fertility concerns or are undergoing fertility treatment, discuss your semaglutide use with your fertility specialist. While general evidence suggests no problems with male fertility on GLP-1 medications, individual situations might benefit from specialized guidance.

Breastfeeding Considerations

The guidance for semaglutide during breastfeeding is less definitive than the pregnancy contraindication, reflecting a different risk-benefit calculation and significant gaps in knowledge.

We do not know whether semaglutide passes into human breast milk. Animal studies suggest minimal to no presence in milk, but animal lactation does not perfectly predict human lactation. Without human data, we cannot definitively say the medication does or does not enter breast milk, and if it does, at what concentrations.

The prescribing information lists breastfeeding as a time to avoid semaglutide or to make a decision between breastfeeding and taking medication based on the importance of the medication to the mother and potential unknown risks to the infant. This reflects the uncertainty. The medication might be safe during breastfeeding, but we do not have evidence to confidently state that it is.

Many providers recommend against semaglutide during breastfeeding out of caution, particularly in the early months when breastfeeding is being established and infant exposure would be highest. However, some providers might support use of GLP-1 medications during breastfeeding in specific situations, particularly if the mother has diabetes requiring management and other options are limited.

If you choose not to breastfeed, you can resume semaglutide immediately after giving birth. There is no need for a waiting period. For women who do breastfeed, the decision about when to start or restart semaglutide involves weighing the benefits of continued breastfeeding against the benefits of weight loss or diabetes management and the unknown risks of medication exposure through breast milk.

This decision should be made collaboratively with your healthcare provider based on your individual circumstances, health needs, and infant feeding plans. There is no single right answer that applies to everyone.

Planning Pregnancy While on Semaglutide

If you are currently taking semaglutide and planning pregnancy in the future, a structured approach helps you achieve your health goals while safely timing medication discontinuation.

Start by establishing your timeline. When are you hoping to conceive? If pregnancy is desired within the next six months, you will need to plan for stopping medication soon. If pregnancy is a year or more away, you have more time to work on weight loss goals before discontinuing.

Discuss your pregnancy plans with your provider early rather than waiting until you are ready to stop medication. They can help you develop a comprehensive plan that addresses weight loss goals, optimal timing for medication discontinuation, strategies for maintaining weight loss after stopping, overall health optimization for pregnancy, and any other medical considerations for conception.

Consider whether you have reached your weight loss goals or whether you are still in active weight loss phase. If you are close to your goal weight, stopping medication after achieving and stabilizing at goal weight might make sense. If you are still significantly above goal weight, you might prioritize continued weight loss for a defined period before stopping for conception attempts.

Weight loss before pregnancy offers health benefits for both mother and baby. Achieving a healthier weight before conception reduces risks of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pregnancy loss, cesarean delivery, and various complications. The time you spend on weight loss medication before pregnancy is an investment in a healthier pregnancy, even though you need to discontinue the medication before conceiving.

If you have conditions like PCOS or irregular cycles that improved on semaglutide due to weight loss, work with your provider on strategies to maintain this improvement after stopping medication. Often the metabolic improvements from weight loss persist even after medication discontinuation, at least in the short term.

Consider working with a registered dietitian during your time on medication and particularly during the transition off medication before conception. Building sustainable eating patterns while on medication makes weight maintenance easier after stopping. At Mochi Health, all patients have access to registered dietitian nutritionists who can help you develop strategies for maintaining your weight loss as you transition off medication for pregnancy planning.

Contraception While Taking Semaglutide

If you are sexually active, not planning pregnancy, and taking semaglutide, reliable contraception is important for several reasons.

Weight loss itself can increase fertility, particularly for women who experienced weight-related ovulatory dysfunction. Women who previously did not get pregnant due to weight-related infertility might find their fertility restored as they lose weight, leading to unintended pregnancy if not using contraception.

Additionally, semaglutide can affect absorption of oral medications during the first few weeks of treatment or after dose increases due to nausea, vomiting, or changes in gastric emptying. While specific studies on oral contraceptive absorption with GLP-1 medications are limited, some providers recommend backup contraception during the first month of treatment and for a week after dose increases if using oral birth control as your primary method.

Long-acting reversible contraceptive methods like IUDs or implants are not affected by GLP-1 medications and provide reliable pregnancy prevention without concerns about absorption. If pregnancy is not desired while taking semaglutide, discussing contraceptive options with your provider ensures appropriate protection.

If unplanned pregnancy occurs despite contraception, follow the guidance about stopping medication immediately and contacting your providers for appropriate prenatal care.

Weight Loss, Pregnancy Planning, and Metabolic Health

Beyond the direct effects of medication, the metabolic improvements from weight loss create a healthier foundation for pregnancy.

Losing excess weight before pregnancy offers numerous benefits. It improves insulin sensitivity and reduces risk of gestational diabetes, lowers blood pressure and reduces preeclampsia risk, improves lipid profiles, reduces inflammation, enhances cardiovascular health, and decreases risks of pregnancy complications.

For women with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, weight loss often significantly improves glycemic control. Achieving better blood sugar control before pregnancy is crucial, as uncontrolled diabetes at conception and during early pregnancy dramatically increases risks of birth defects and pregnancy complications.

If you want to assess your metabolic health improvements before pregnancy, you can discuss lab testing with your provider. While labs are not required for GLP-1 treatment, some patients and providers find it helpful to check markers like hemoglobin A1c (for blood sugar control), lipid panel, thyroid function, and other relevant tests before stopping medication for conception attempts. This provides baseline information about your metabolic health and can inform any adjustments needed as you transition off medication. The decision about lab testing should be made collaboratively based on your individual health needs and goals.

The time you spend on weight loss medication before pregnancy is not wasted even though you need to stop the medication itself. You are achieving metabolic improvements that persist beyond medication discontinuation and create a healthier environment for conception and pregnancy.

Managing Weight After Stopping for Pregnancy

One of the biggest concerns about stopping semaglutide for pregnancy is the risk of weight regain. Research shows that most people regain significant weight when stopping GLP-1 medications if they do not maintain intensive lifestyle modifications.

Strategies for minimizing regain during the washout period and pregnancy planning include continuing the healthy eating patterns you developed while on medication, maintaining regular physical activity appropriate for your fitness level, working with a registered dietitian for ongoing nutrition support, getting adequate sleep and managing stress, and building a strong support system.

Some weight regain is common and should not derail pregnancy plans. The goal is not maintaining every pound lost, but rather preserving as much of the metabolic improvement as possible while transitioning to pregnancy at a healthier baseline than where you started.

Pregnancy itself is not a time to focus on weight loss. Normal pregnancy involves weight gain. The goal is entering pregnancy at a healthier weight than before, even if some regain has occurred after stopping medication.

At Mochi Health, we understand that weight loss journeys intersect with life plans including family planning. Our providers offer personalized guidance on timing medication discontinuation for pregnancy, strategies for maintaining weight loss during washout periods, and comprehensive support that extends beyond just medication management. Our registered dietitian nutritionists can help you develop sustainable eating patterns that support weight maintenance when you transition off medication for pregnancy.

We also offer a comprehensive range of medications to support various aspects of your health beyond weight loss. If you are planning pregnancy and working on optimizing your overall health, you can explore treatment options at https://joinmochi.com/medications.

The Bigger Picture: Reproductive Health and Weight Management

The intersection of weight management medications and reproductive planning highlights the complexity of healthcare decisions that extend beyond any single medical issue.

Obesity is associated with reduced fertility, increased pregnancy complications, higher risks for both mother and baby, and longer-term health consequences. Medications like semaglutide offer effective tools for achieving healthier weight. But pregnancy represents a situation where this particular tool needs to be set aside, even though the underlying condition (obesity) would benefit from continued treatment.

This creates tension between short-term goals (continuing medication for ongoing weight loss) and longer-term goals (achieving pregnancy in a healthy manner). Navigating this tension requires planning, clear communication with providers, realistic expectations about weight management during pregnancy planning, and commitment to maintaining lifestyle changes when medication is discontinued.

The good news is that the metabolic improvements from weight loss often persist, at least partially, after stopping medication. The time you invest in weight loss before pregnancy is not lost just because you stop medication. You have achieved meaningful health improvements that benefit both you and your future pregnancy.

Check Your Eligibility

If you want to learn whether GLP-1 treatment is right for you and receive personalized guidance from providers who understand the complexities of reproductive planning alongside weight management, you can start by completing Mochi's eligibility questionnaire. It takes just a few minutes and helps our clinical team understand your goals and health needs. Check your eligibility here: https://app.joinmochi.com/eligibility.

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This article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Consult with healthcare providers about how semaglutide relates to your individual reproductive planning and pregnancy considerations.