Taking a shot: Can a GLP-1 regimen boost fertility?

There’s been a revolving door of viral social media posts recently promoting the idea that you’ll boost your chances of conceiving if you take GLP-1 weight-loss medications.Unfortunately, the promise of the “Ozempic baby boom” is more myth than reality.While there is some connection between GLP-1s (semaglutide, like Ozempic or Wegovy, or tirzepatide, like Zepbound or Mounjaro) and pregnancy, this class of medications shouldn’t be thought of as a magical path to conception.“The GLP-1s aren’t fertility medications,” said Dr.Joshua Stewart, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Weill Cornell Medicine.

“They don’t cause you to ovulate in the way taking a drug like Clomid [which stimulates ovulation] would.”However, he does note that “GLP-1s affect other metabolic issues that may improve ovulation in the process.”In other words, if you have polycystic ovary syndrome, which is one cause of ovulation issues and infertility, or otherwise improve your blood sugar control, lower your insulin levels and lose weight while you’re on a GLP-1, this may, in turn, help regulate ovulation.Taking a GLP-1 should be considered a preliminary step in preparing your body for pregnancy.“If a patient isn’t ovulating, and part of the reason is that they have insulin resistance, whether from diabetes, prediabetes or obesity, we may suggest that they go on a GLP-1 for a certain period of time and try to improve their insulin resistance,” Stewart said.“They may start to ovulate on their own or this may help improve their response to fertility medications.”There are many factors that can contribute to fertility issues, said Dr.

Tendai Chiware, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and director of third party reproduction at Brooklyn’s Genesis Fertility, part of the Pinnacle Fertility network.“These headlines give the impression that ‘if I use Ozempic I’ll get pregnant,’ but you may need IUI or IVF, you might need to have a fibroid removed or we may n...