Are Wegovy and Mounjaro Dangerous During Pregnancy? Study of Over 8,000 Women Shows No Increased Risk

No Significant Increase in Miscarriage or Birth Defects
"But Following Existing Medical Guidelines Is Advised"

A new study has found that exposure to GLP-1 class weight loss drugs during pregnancy does not increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, or other side effects.

On October 5th (local time), the international pharmaceutical and pharmacy science journal "The Pharmaceutical Journal" published the findings of a research team from St George's, University of London. The researchers integrated data from ten existing studies that investigated the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on pregnancy outcomes before and after conception.

The study’s analysis included over 2.1 million pregnancy cases. Among these, 8,326 women had been exposed to GLP-1 class drugs within six months before or after conceiving. The researchers split the sample into two groups: those who had taken GLP-1 class drugs and those who had not, and compared their pregnancy and birth outcomes.

A weight loss drug developed with a GLP-1 class ingredient. Photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

The analysis found that women exposed to GLP-1 drugs did not show a statistically significant increase in the risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, congenital abnormalities, or preterm birth. In addition, there was no clear evidence that other side effects, such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, or excessive weight gain during pregnancy, occurred more frequently compared to the non-exposed group.

There was also no significant impact on the health of newborns. The research team found no basis for concluding that babies born to women exposed to GLP-1 drugs were excessively large or small.

Professor Asma Khalil, who led the study, explained that women who conceive while taking GLP-1 class drugs do not need to be excessively anxious. Khalil emphasized that the significance of this study lies in "being able to provide some reassurance to women," but also advised: "If you are planning a pregnancy, it is better to discontinue the medication in advance, following existing medical guidelines."

However, researchers caution that these findings should not be interpreted as proving that GLP-1 class drugs are safe for pregnant women and their fetuses. The results mean that it is difficult to confirm any meaningful statistical causal relationship between drug use and pregnancy outcomes, and therefore, it cannot be concluded that these drugs are safe under all circumstances.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.