Women & GLP-1s: Periods, Fertility, Pregnancy Planning

February 04, 2026
Blog
Journal

Authors

Reviewed by Dr. Rasoul Montazeri

Triple Board Certified Physician and The Founder

Niayesh Najafi

Medical student and researcher in Health Sciences

Table of contents

GLP-1 Medications and Their Role in Women’s Health
Impact of GLP-1 Drugs on Menstrual Cycles and Hormonal Balance
GLP-1 Medications and Fertility: What Women Need to Know
Planning for Pregnancy: Timing, Safety, and Medical Recommendations
GLP-1 Use During Pregnancy: Risks and Label Warnings
Work With Healthon’s Medical Team
Frequently Asked Questions

Key takeaways

GLP-1 medications improve metabolic health by lowering blood sugar, slowing digestion, and promoting weight loss, which can help balance hormones in women.
Periods and fertility may become more regular as weight loss improves insulin resistance, especially in women with PCOS—sometimes leading to unexpected pregnancies.
GLP-1s can reduce oral birth control effectiveness and should be stopped at least 2 months before trying to conceive.
Not safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding; stop immediately if pregnancy occurs and restart only after breastfeeding ends.

Woman using injectable medication at home representing GLP-1 therapy use among women managing weight, blood sugar, and metabolic health

This blog is all about Women & GLP-1s. You will find out how these common drugs may change your periods. They can have some effects on fertility and planning a pregnancy, too.

The goal is to provide clear, practical facts that support informed decisions. This includes outlining benefits, risks, and when to discuss treatment with a healthcare provider. With accurate information, next steps can be taken with confidence and clarity.

GLP-1 Medications and Their Role in Women’s Health

Illustration explaining how GLP-1 medications affect women’s metabolic health, hormones, and overall well-being

GLP-1 medications are a class of medications that change how people manage weight loss and diabetes.

Overview of GLP-1s: Semaglutide, Ozempic, and Similar Therapies

This class of medications has well-known drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound. These drugs have active parts like semaglutide or tirzepatide.

How GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Work in the Body

A GLP-1 receptor agonist is a medicine that copies a natural hormone your body makes. This hormone helps control your blood sugar. When you eat, the medicine helps your pancreas send out more insulin, and that helps to lower your blood sugar levels.

This medicine also slows down how fast food leaves your stomach.

Impact of GLP-1 Drugs on Menstrual Cycles and Hormonal Balance

Woman tracking menstrual cycle and timing illustrating how GLP-1 medications may affect periods and hormonal balance

Common Changes in Periods While Using GLP-1 Medications

If you have had irregular periods before, you may see things change when you use GLP-1 medications. Most of the time, this is because of weight loss. Having too much body weight can mess with your hormones, and this can make periods come late or not come at all. Losing some weight can help your body stay balanced.

Interactions Between GLP-1s and Birth Control Effectiveness

Yes, GLP-1 agonists can make birth control work less well. These drugs slow down how food leaves the stomach. This can change the way your body takes in oral birth control pills. That is why birth control pills may not work as good while you are on these drugs.

GLP-1 Medications and Fertility: What Women Need to Know

Can GLP-1 Therapy Improve or Affect Fertility?

Can taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic change your chances of getting pregnant? The short answer is yes, and it is often in a good way. These drugs do not directly make you more able to have a baby. But the weight loss that comes with taking them can help your body get ready for pregnancy. Being overweight is one reason some people have trouble getting pregnant, but losing weight can help your body start to ovulate in a more regular way.

This is very true for women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a problem with your hormones. It is often linked to insulin resistance and can make it harder to get pregnant. Still, GLP-1 drugs can make your body use insulin in a better way and help you lose weight. They can also help your periods come more often and increase your chances to conceive.

Weight Loss from GLP-1s and Its Link to Reproductive Health

Many women with a higher body weight can have extra estrogen, which often makes their periods irregular or affects ovulation. As they lose weight, periods become more regular, and fertility can get better.

Planning for Pregnancy: Timing, Safety, and Medical Recommendations

Woman holding positive pregnancy test representing the importance of stopping GLP-1 medications when planning or confirming pregnancy

How Long Before Conception Should You Stop Taking GLP-1s?

If you are thinking about stopping GLP-1 medications before trying to have a baby, there are a few things you should know. The drug makers and the FDA say you should stop taking these medicines at least two months before you try to get pregnant.

This advice comes from looking at how long it takes for the medicine to leave your body. The half-life is about one week, so it may take about five to six weeks to clear the drug from your system. This is why two months is a safe amount of time. The goal is to make sure there is no drug in your body during the first few weeks of pregnancy, which are important.

Guidance Around Accidental Pregnancy on GLP-1s ("Ozempic Babies")

Yes, there have been reports of "Ozempic babies" on social media. This term is used by people to talk about unplanned pregnancies that happen while someone is taking GLP-1s. These surprises can come because weight loss helps a woman's body start working in a new way. It can bring back fertility when she does not expect it.

If you find out that you are pregnant while taking a GLP-1 medication, you should stop right away. Do not take any more doses. The first thing to do next is call your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Let them know about the pregnancy and the medicine you have been taking.

GLP-1 Use During Pregnancy: Risks and Label Warnings

Pregnant woman in first trimester illustrating pregnancy planning considerations and safety warnings related to GLP-1 medication use

Using GLP-1s while you are pregnant is not recommended. There are many safety concerns about these medicines. It is important to know that we do not have much human data. This is because pregnant women are usually not part of the clinical trials. Most of the information about these drugs comes from animal studies. Experts want to be very careful.

Safety Concerns and First Trimester Exposure

There are risks that come with taking semaglutide in the first trimester of pregnancy. It is not thought to be safe to use semaglutide while pregnant, because the risks are still not known. This time is very important for the baby’s growth, and it is best not to take medicines during this stage.

Animal studies gave researchers some things to worry about. They saw that pregnant rats and rabbits had more cases of pregnancy loss and birth defects when given this medicine. But we do not know if these problems happen for people, too.

Official Recommendations from OB/GYNs and FDA Guidelines

What guidance do doctors give about GLP-1s and pregnancy planning? Both OB/GYNs and the FDA offer consistent health recommendations. The primary advice is to avoid using GLP-1 agonists if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Work With Healthon’s Medical Team

Nutritionist counseling female patient on weight management and fertility-safe planning before or after GLP-1 therapy

Starting GLP-1 therapy often raises questions about family planning. Guidance from a qualified healthcare provider helps clarify timing and safety considerations. Healthon’s medical team provides clinical support throughout the care process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to restart GLP-1s after giving birth or while breastfeeding?

GLP-1 medications may be restarted after childbirth only if breastfeeding has stopped. Use during breastfeeding is not recommended due to unresolved safety concerns and uncertainty about transfer into breast milk. Avoiding these medications during this period helps protect infant health.

Do GLP-1 medications have long-term effects on female reproductive health?

Current research does not show any bad long-term effects on female reproductive health. The main effect is a good one. This is because weight loss helps with balance in hormones and can also help with getting pregnant. But, there is still a need for more long-term clinical trials to know more about this.

Keywords: weight loss, reproductive health, clinical trials

Are there special considerations for partners using GLP-1s when trying to conceive?

Men who want to have a baby do not need to worry about using GLP-1 medications. Right now, there is no sign that this medicine has any bad effect on male fertility or sperm quality. It does not put a partner's pregnancy at risk either.