Weight loss drugs and fertility: Is it safe?
These days, it seems like most of us know someone who is losing weight by taking weight loss medications, including several popular newer GLP-1 prescription options. Especially in cases of obesity, these medications can improve a person’s overall health by reducing the risk of weight-related disease. But what about weight loss drugs and fertility? Can these medications also make it easier to overcome the diagnoses linked to weight and infertility?
Being overweight can interfere with ovulation, which is necessary for conception to occur. For decades, fertility specialists have recommended weight loss in certain cases of infertility, often along with other treatments.
Today’s FDA-approved weight loss medications are effective tools for helping women lose weight, especially when diet and exercise don’t achieve the desired result. When considering weight loss drugs and fertility, know that it’s important to take these medications only under a doctor’s supervision, and to take these medications exactly as prescribed. These medications can have significant side effects, so it’s important to weigh the risks and benefits with your physician, especially if you want to become pregnant.
That said, there are many other causes of infertility that may be at play besides just being overweight. Fertility testing of both partners is always the best starting point if you’re struggling to conceive. Additionally, many fertility treatments are available that can help women become pregnant even with a high BMI, so weight loss isn’t the only answer for every situation.
Can losing weight make me more fertile?
Because obesity can cause hormone imbalances that can disrupt ovulation, losing weight often does improve fertility. Excess fat cells produce estrogen, and high levels of estrogen trick your body into thinking you are pregnant, much the same way that hormonal birth control works to stop ovulation. Being overweight can also cause rising testosterone levels and insulin resistance, which also have a negative impact on ovulation and fertility.
Some women develop a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, which is linked to obesity and can cause infertility. Weight loss through diet and exercise has long been a standard recommendation as part of PCOS treatment to control symptoms and improve natural fertility. Promising new research shows a link between weight loss drugs and fertility in women with PCOS, as these drugs can help to improve insulin sensitivity, normalize hormone levels and help regulate the menstrual cycle.
Women who are overweight and lose even as little of 10% of their weight often see dramatic improvements in the regularity of their menstrual cycles. Losing weight also reduces the risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes. Weight loss drugs often provide the boost women need to kickstart weight loss and improve their overall health and fertility.
Is it safe to keep taking weight loss medications in pregnancy?
While weight loss drugs and fertility are linked, you must stop taking these medications before you get pregnant. Studies have shown that these drugs are not safe to continue taking during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In fact, some weight loss medications specifically state on their labeling that these drugs may cause fetal harm. It’s important to discontinue all use of these medications before going off of birth control, trying to conceive or undergoing fertility treatment.
Learn more about weight loss drugs and fertility
Dr. Andrew Levi, our Connecticut fertility specialist, works closely with patients to develop the most safe and effective plan for achieving pregnancy. In some cases, weight and infertility are linked, but using weight loss medications is a decision that must be made in conjunction with your physician as part of a personalized treatment plan. If you are struggling with your weight and infertility, contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Levi to discuss your own best path to a fertile future.
Obesity can be a cause of infertility in women because excess fat cells cause hormone imbalances that affect ovulation. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a common infertility diagnosis in women that is linked to obesity.
It’s important to discontinue taking weight loss drugs if you become pregnant or are trying to conceive. These medications can cause fetal harm. Talk to your physician if you have any concerns about weight loss drugs and pregnancy.
Being overweight can cause hormone changes that interfere with ovulation. In women who are overweight or obese, losing weight is often recommended as a starting point for making menstrual cycles more regular, increasing the chances of conception.