Mounjaro and Pregnancy: What You Need To Know

Mounjaro is a prescription medication approved for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recently, there have been numerous reports of women falling pregnant while taking Mounjaro, leaving many questions. Do weight loss medications improve fertility, and do they inhibit oral contraceptives from working? Can Mounjaro cause pregnancy?

This article discusses Mounjaro and pregnancy and why there is a sudden increase in pregnancies in women taking weight loss medications.

Does Mounjaro affect pregnancy?

Mounjaro is a prescription injectable medicine containing the active ingredient tirzepatide. This medicine is licensed for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide targets two hormones: glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).

GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone released from the digestive tract when you eat a meal, prompting the feeling of fullness. The hormone GIP stimulates the release of insulin when you eat, helping control blood sugar levels. Mounjaro also slows down how fast the stomach empties. This medication is prescribed in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise.

When it comes to the connection between Mounjaro injections and pregnancy, as Mounjaro slows gastric emptying, it can affect how the body absorbs medications such as oral contraceptives.

Weight loss is also associated with increased fertility as it restores regular ovulation in people whose cycles were affected by their weight. It's been shown that if your periods become irregular due to your weight, losing 5%–15% of your body fat can help your menstrual cycle regulate.

Mounjaro’s prescribing information warns that it may make birth control pills less effective.
If you do become pregnant, you will have to stop taking Mounjaro, as it is not yet known if Mounjaro and pregnancy is safe. Pregnant people were not included in the medicine's clinical trials. Based on animal studies conducted, the active ingredient, tirzepatide, may cause harm to the foetus.

If you are planning on becoming pregnant or are pregnant, talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider. They can recommend the most appropriate ways to manage weight or diabetes during pregnancy.

How long to stop Mounjaro before pregnancy

The half-life of tirzepatide is approximately five days, and it can take 30 days to leave the body completely. It is recommended to stop taking Mounjaro at least two months before you plan on trying to fall pregnant to ensure the drug is completely out of your system.

If you have type 2 diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes, your healthcare provider can prescribe another safe medication, for example, metformin. Poorly controlled diabetes during pregnancy may increase the risk of:

• Miscarriage
• Birth complications
• Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure and kidney or liver damage)
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Preterm birth

Let your pharmacist or healthcare provider know if you are planning on falling pregnant so they can assess when you need to stop taking Mounjaro and which alternative treatment is best for you.

What happens if you get pregnant while on Mounjaro?

If you have been prescribed Mounjaro for weight loss or diabetes type 2 and discover you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. They can then guide you through the next steps and ensure you and the baby are safe.

Alternatives to Mounjaro during pregnancy

Metformin is safe to take during pregnancy for those with type 2 diabetes. It is a medicine used to treat gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. This medication works by lowering blood sugar levels and improving how your body manages insulin.

Once you become pregnant, losing weight is generally not safe. In fact, you are expected to gain weight during the second and third trimesters as the baby grows.

The best time to lose weight is before you plan on becoming pregnant. Losing 5% of your starting body weight can help reduce the risk of the following during your pregnancy:

• Gestational diabetes
• Birth defects
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth

If you experience significant weight loss (such as 2.2kg per week) during your pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider immediately.

Going back on Mounjaro after pregnancy

If you are planning on breastfeeding or are breastfeeding, you may not be able to take Mounjaro after pregnancy. It is not yet known if Mounjaro is safe for use during breastfeeding and if it may affect your child or yourself.

No human or animal studies determine how Mounjaro affects milk production or breastfed children.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are considering breastfeeding after your pregnancy. They can recommend alternative options to Mounjaro after pregnancy to treat your diabetes or excess weight.

Mounjaro and birth control

If you are taking birth control and are sexually active while on Mounjaro, it is essential to know that this medication may interact with your birth control pill. Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of your birth control pill at certain times of your treatment.

Oral contraceptives are affected during the first four weeks of Mounjaro treatment and for four weeks every time your dose increases. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist will be able to tell you if your birth control pills will interact with Mounjaro.

Alternative birth control options may include:

• The barrier method, such as male or female condoms
• Switching to the patch, vaginal ring or intrauterine device (IUD)

You may be able to go back to taking your birth control pill four weeks after your last Mounjaro dose increase. If you have any questions about birth control while taking Mounjaro, talk to your pharmacist or health care provider.

More about Mounjaro and helpful resources

There is not yet enough research to determine whether Mounjaro and pregnancy is safe. Talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider about your next steps if you plan on falling pregnant or you have found out you are pregnant while taking Mounjaro.

If you are worried about pregnancy and Mounjaro, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about alternative contraceptive methods.

You can read more about Mounjaro in the following resources:

• Mounjaro & PCOS: Can it help manage symptoms?
• Mounjaro and Menopause: What you need to know
• How to use the Mounjaro KwikPen
• Mounjaro Patient Information Leaflet

Cloud Pharmacy can help determine which weight loss treatment is best for your weight loss journey. If Mounjaro is the most appropriate medication for you, it will be dispensed discreetly and safely sent to your UK address.

Click here to book a consultation with a Pharmacist from Cloud Pharmacy.

FAQs

Can Mounjaro cause pregnancy?

There has been a recent uptake in people getting pregnant when taking weight loss medications such as Mounjaro, even if they are taking oral birth control, suggesting a link between Mounjaro injections and pregnancy. It is not yet known if Mounjaro affects fertility. Mounjaro may interact with birth control pills, reducing their effectiveness.

Does Mounjaro cancel out birth control?

Mounjaro does not completely cancel out birth control pills; however, this medication may make the drugs less effective. Contraceptive pills are affected during the first four weeks of Mounjaro treatment and four weeks after you take each dose.

If you are sexually active, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about birth control options during Mounjaro treatment.
Sources & method

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