According to the previous report of the Associated Press of Finance, GLP-1 medicine represented by Novotel and Novotel (Smeglutide injection), in addition to being effective for type II diabetes, obesity and other indications, may also improve cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, fatty liver, Parkinson's and other diseases.
As more and more people around the world use this medication, some unexpected side effects that Novo Nordisk had when developing drugs are gradually becoming apparent, such as many women reporting unexpected pregnancies after taking the medication on social media.
According to American media reports, there is a group on Facebook called "Novotel made me pregnant" with a membership of up to 500 people; At the same time, many people on Reddit and TikTok share their experiences of unintended pregnancy after taking medication, and some confuse nausea during early pregnancy with common side effects of GLP-1 drugs.
Although there is currently a lack of reliable statistics and research on the GLP-1 baby boom, some medical researchers have pointed out that the significant weight loss caused by such drugs, as well as the interference with contraceptive absorption, may be the underlying reasons behind the phenomenon.
The biggest problem: lack of relevant research
Due to the fact that Novo Nordisk specifically excludes pregnant women or those who wish to conceive during clinical trials, no one is clear about whether it is safe for pregnant women to use GLP-1 drugs such as Smegglutide.
Novo Nordisk spokesman confirmed that pregnant women or those who intend to become pregnant are indeed the company's exclusion criteria in the clinical trials of type II diabetes and obesity.
Meanwhile, according to Novo Nordisk, relevant data is also being collected to evaluate the safety of pregnant women using the weight loss drug version of Wegovy. According to ClinicalTrials data, research sponsored by Novo Nordisk is expected to yield results by 2027.
(Source: ClinicalTrials)
So, even if there are some cases of pregnancy and giving birth to healthy babies during medication on social media, doctors and Novo Nordisk both advise not to do so, and if pregnancy is detected during medication, medication should be stopped immediately.
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk stated that there is currently insufficient data to determine whether the medication poses a risk of fetal malformation, miscarriage, or other pregnancy related adverse events. According to Wegovy's animal reproductive research, fetal exposure to semaglutide during pregnancy may pose potential risks. Therefore, the company recommends discontinuing Wegovy at least two months in advance of planning pregnancy.
According to the prescription information of Novotel, after administering the medication to pregnant mice, it showed fetal structural abnormalities, fetal growth problems, and embryonic death. In rabbit and macaque experiments, early miscarriage, fetal structural abnormalities, and significant maternal weight loss may also occur.
How to explain the "GLP-1 baby boom"?
There are also some preliminary explanations and speculations in the medical community regarding why GLP-1 drugs increase the risk of unintended pregnancy.
According to Lora Shahine, a clinical associate professor and reproductive endocrinologist at the University of Washington, weight loss alone can have an impact on ovulation and fertility. Professor Shahine said that by losing weight, balancing hormones, and improving insulin resistance, some people who have not ovulated for many years suddenly start ovulating again.
Los Angeles physician Stephanie Fein, who specializes in helping women lose weight and improve fertility, also stated that she believes that just losing 5-10% of their weight can help some people conceive, but no one knows the exact reason.
Stephanie added that fat has hormonal activity, and we know that it can have an impact on estrogen, affect ovulation, and may also affect the development of eggs.
Meanwhile, Dr. William Dietz, the chairman of the STOP Obesity Alliance at the Milken College School of Public Health at George Washington University, also stated that since GLP-1 drugs help people lose weight by slowing gastric emptying and suppressing hunger, they may also affect the absorption of oral contraceptives.