Wegovy is a revolutionary drug that helps to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It’s incredibly popular with obese people, including women of childbearing age. Many of them are concerned with the question: is it possible to take Wegovy during pregnancy? Read on to learn how this medication affects the development of the fetus and whether it can penetrate breast milk.
Pregnancy is a very specific period in a woman’s life and development, during which she undergoes numerous changes in the functions and structure of almost all organs and systems. The baby is carried and born thanks to this restructuring of the female body.
So let’s see if we can start or continue to take Wegovy while pregnant.
There are two important points when taking Wegovy or any other weight loss drugs during gestation:
Point №1: Risks
Wegovy is a pregnancy category D agent. According to the Australian classification of the risk of taking drugs during pregnancy (category A-X), Wegovy can have adverse pharmacological effects and negatively affect the development of the fetus. It is believed that most pregnant women can safely take medicines only from category A.
Point №2: Why?
Weight gain is one of the most positive signs of a healthy pregnancy. Mothers who eat well and correctly during this period and gain a certain amount of weight are more likely to give birth to healthy children.
Any doctor would say it’s not safe to lose weight during pregnancy. It is due to the increased risk of premature birth, low weight of the newborn baby, and other complications.
I got pregnant on Wegovy — what to do?
If it happens, tell your doctor. The doctor will tell you to stop taking Wegovy and focus on health during pregnancy, including healthy eating and exercise to keep fit.
If you plan to conceive a child soon, you should consider that Wegovy has a long half-life of approximately 7 days. The active ingredient, Semaglutide, will be gradually eliminated from the body for several weeks. To maximise your child’s health, you should stop giving weight loss injections eight weeks before your planned pregnancy.
Can you take Wegovy while breastfeeding
Breast milk is a food specially adapted to the child’s needs, containing all the substances and nutrients necessary for its proper growth and development. During lactation, women should be very attentive to what medicines they take. Most drugs are secreted into breast milk and reach small or large concentrations in milk.
Taking Wegovy and breastfeeding is something you should never combine. Although Wegovy’s medical trials did not involve women during lactation, the active ingredient Semaglutide may likely be a risk factor for infant health.
Wegovy and fertility
Starting taking Wegovy, you don’t need to worry about fertility. There is no evidence that this medication reduces, increases or otherwise affects fertility in both women and men.
Nevertheless, healthy eating and weight loss are significant factors that can restore hormonal balance and improve fertility.
Wegovy and birth control
Wegovy does not affect any of the methods of contraception (pills, IUDs, condoms, etc.), even if the dosage is higher or usage is longer. Wegovy does not interact with contraceptives and does not make them less effective.
One medical study examined the effects of Semaglutide, taken once a week with a low-dose oral contraceptive (Ethinylestradiol/Levonorgestrel). The primary research concern was whether Semaglutide could slow down the effect of oral contraceptives.
Like other GPP-1 receptor agonists, Semaglutide injections can delay stomach emptying. Theoretically, this means that any given oral medication can be absorbed more slowly into the blood. Studies have shown that the difference in absorption time is not clinically significant and does not affect the effect of oral contraceptives.
Conclusion
Most medications pass through the placenta, are secreted into breast milk and reach the baby, and in this regard, Wegovy is no exception. Remember that this medication is classified as a pregnancy category D agent. It should not be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Before taking any medication during pregnancy, you should first consult your doctor. This applies to over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, food additives, and homeopathic remedies.
