Can Ozempic have an impact on our fertility?
The Ozempic craze is one of the biggest discussions online at the moment.
We’re seeing dozens of celebrities use and praise the diabetes medication for helping transform their bodies, but we’re also seeing thousands of people call them out for using it as it has not been approved as a general weight loss tool.
The drug has been glamourised because celebrities have drastic transformations in such a short space of time. They are shedding a vast amount of weight at an extreme speed, but not enough people are paying attention to the side effects.
Society is so obsessed with how Ozempic can help us lose weight that we’re forgetting to pay attention to the plethora of side effects the drug may have.
One of the biggest concerns is whether or not it is safe to use if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive.
Many people have claimed that Ozempic can help fertility, but doctors and healthcare officials have been quick to shut down any speculation.
The main reason Ozempic is prescribed is to help those with type 2 diabetes.
The weekly injection is used to manage a person’s blood glucose levels as well as their HbA1c.
Ozempic injections help increase the levels of incretins. This hormone helps your body to produce more insulin when it is needed.
It also stops the liver from overproducing glucose.
But can it impact our fertility?
Doctors have acknowledged the waves of speculation about ozempic and fertility, but have shut down claims it can help women get pregnant. They stressed that losing weight can help some people who are trying to conceive.
Dr. Nerys Astbury of the University of Oxford told Glamour that there is a link between fertility and weight.
“The more weight you gain, the more likely you are not to ovulate. But even if you are ovulating, there are fewer chances of implantation.
“Insulin is a key hormone involved in regulating blood sugar levels. When cells resist insulin, the body compensates by producing more insulin, which can subsequently disturb the balance of other hormones like oestrogen and progesterone.”
Doctors have stressed that simply using Ozempic is not linked to improving your fertility.
Does Ozempic impact birth control?
Some people on TikTok have been sharing stories online about how Ozempic impacted their birth control. Many women, who may have struggled with fertility issues for years, are now pregnant.
Addressing the speculation, Dr. Neha Lalani explained to Healthline how oral contraceptives are failing in some Ozempic patients.
“We have seen cases of failure of oral contraception as well as boosted fertility with drugs like GLP-1 agonists.
“This causes oral birth control pills to not be absorbed consistently, especially each time the dose of GLP-1/ GIP+ GLP-1 agonists is stepped up. This is resulting in failure of oral birth control pills,” they explained.
The medications slow down stomach emptying which can impact how your body absorbs medication and food.
Dr. Lalani encouraged people to use other forms of birth control when they are on Ozempic and not trying to get pregnant.
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