Birth control

UK Issues Alert on Weight-Loss Injections, Pregnancy Risks

Published JUN 5 2025

Story

Above: Photo illustration of Ozempic and Wegovy with weight scale. Both are injectable prescription weight loss medicines Image credit: Michael Siluk/Contributor/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The Facts

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a public alert warning women using weight-loss injections, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Saxenda, and Victoza, to use effective contraception.
GOV.UK
Women taking these medications must discontinue use immediately if pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding, as insufficient safety data exists to determine potential harm to developing babies, the warning said on Thursday.
GOV.UK
Mounjaro specifically may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in overweight individuals, requiring users to employ additional barrier methods like condoms alongside the pill, particularly in the first four weeks of treatment.
guardian
The Sun
Sky News
The MHRA received 26 pregnancy reports related to Mounjaro, eight for semaglutide-containing drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, and nine for liraglutide found in Saxenda and Victoza.
Independent
The Telegraph
Health officials emphasized that these medications are licensed for specific medical conditions and should not be used for cosmetic weight loss purposes, warning of unregulated sellers including beauty salons or social media platforms.
LBC
Express.co.uk
Medical experts suggest the weight loss achieved through these medications may increase fertility by regulating hormones, while the drugs' effect on stomach emptying could potentially reduce absorption of oral contraceptives.
The Sun
guardian
BBC News

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Weight-loss jabs like Ozempic, though not designed to aid conception, are unexpectedly lighting a spark of hope — especially for women with obesity or PCOS. By restoring hormonal balance through weight loss, these drugs may revive fertility where there was once despair. Amid official warnings, a quiet revolution is unfolding: unexpected pregnancies offering a glimpse of new possibilities.

The Conversation

guardian

Narrative B

The surge in unplanned pregnancies among users of these treatments reveals serious gaps in how these powerful drugs are being prescribed and monitored. This isn't just about precaution, it's about protecting women from potentially harmful exposure for their babies. The fact that studies show birth defects and skeletal abnormalities should raise major red flags about these drugs entering the market.

The Sun