Ladies taking well-liked weight-loss medicines throughout their reproductive years could also be unaware of related dangers to being pregnant and unborn infants, warn Flinders College researchers.
A brand new research has revealed that almost all Australian ladies of reproductive age prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists — medicines more and more used for weight reduction akin to Ozempic — will not be utilizing efficient contraception, regardless of recognized dangers throughout being pregnant.
Revealed within the Medical Journal of Australia, the analysis analyzed information from over 1.6 million ladies aged 18 to 49 who attended common practices between 2011 and 2022. Of the 18,010 ladies who had been first prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonists throughout that point, solely 21% had reported utilizing contraception.
Initially developed to handle kind 2 diabetes, GLP-1 receptor agonists have gained recognition for his or her appetite-suppressing and weight-loss results, with the research discovering that almost all prescriptions are actually issued to ladies with out diabetes.
Lead writer and pharmacist, Affiliate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak, says that in 2022 alone, greater than 6,000 ladies started remedy on GLP-1s, and over 90% of these didn’t have a diabetes prognosis.
“We’re seeing widespread use of those medicines amongst ladies of childbearing age, however little or no proof that contraception is being thought of as a part of routine care,” says Affiliate Professor Grzeskowiak from the Faculty of Drugs and Public Well being.
“These medicines might be extremely useful, however they don’t seem to be risk-free, particularly throughout being pregnant.”
The research discovered that 2.2% of girls turned pregnant inside six months of beginning GLP-1 remedy with being pregnant charges highest amongst youthful ladies with diabetes, and amongst ladies with out diabetes of their early thirties.
Ladies with polycystic ovary syndrome had been twice as more likely to conceive, suggesting that weight reduction could enhance fertility, even when unintended.
Importantly, ladies who had been utilizing contraception on the time of prescribing had a considerably decrease threat of being pregnant.
A earlier overview of animal research from the College of Amsterdam linked GLP-1 publicity throughout being pregnant to diminished fetal progress and skeletal abnormalities, and whereas human information is proscribed, the potential dangers stay regarding.
“While the UK advises that ladies utilizing GLP-1 receptor agonists ought to keep away from being pregnant and use efficient contraception, this recommendation just isn’t being adopted persistently in Australian medical follow,” says Affiliate Professor Grzeskowiak.
“We have to be sure that reproductive well being is a part of each dialog when these medication are prescribed to any ladies of childbearing age.
“It’s also vitally essential that we now have clearer follow suggestions and pointers for these prescribing GLP-1s to ladies to make sure their secure and efficient use.
“Our recommendation is to talk to your GP concerning the dangers and advantages of GLP-1 medicines earlier than taking them, and solely take these prescribed by a healthcare skilled.”
The authors say that additional research evaluating the affect of those medicines on being pregnant and unborn infants are warranted.
Acknowledgements: Luke Grzeskowiak receives wage help from a Channel 7 Youngsters’s Analysis Basis Fellowship (CRF-210323). We additionally acknowledge the contributions of members of the SPHERE Centre of Analysis Excellence in Ladies’s Sexual and Reproductive Well being in Main Care (SPHERE 2.0 CRE), which is funded by the Nationwide Well being and Medical Analysis Council (APP2024717).
