What's an 'Ozempic Baby'?

For some moms out there, liking Britney Spears's 2000 song "Oops!...I Did it Again" may be sort of ironic—especially since some of the lyrics are "oops" and "oh, baby, baby."

If you haven't heard the song, that's okay, but you probably have heard about Ozempic and similar medications.

Ozempic, known generically as semaglutide, is a drug approved by the FDA in 2017. It helps manage type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin production in the body. However, this once-a-week injection has also been prescribed to help people lose weight when paired with lifestyle habits like exercise and healthy eating.

However, what's come as a surprise to moms nationwide is the phenomenon some call the "Ozempic baby boom."

Chances are you've already stumbled on an article or video where a woman who'd been unable to conceive after years of trying is suddenly pregnant after taking semaglutide—even after only a few months. Others have even reported becoming unexpectedly pregnant even if they were on birth control. In fact, it's common enough now that the "I got Pregnant on Ozempic" Facebook group has more than 600 followers.

This "Ozempic 'Oops' Baby" trend is leading some people to question how the medication may influence hormones and ovulation in addition to why it lowers the effectiveness of birth control pills. However, to others, the connection isn't surprising, as there is a strong connection between weight and fertility.

Studies show that having obesity (a body mass index of 30 or higher) can triple the risk of infertility, leading to delayed conception and reduced IVF effectiveness. Being overweight also can increase miscarriage risk by as much as 40%. However, the reason people taking birth control pills and Ozempic are getting pregnant is not yet fully understood.

Some theorize that, similar to weight-loss surgery, Ozempic may influence ovulation and menstrual cycle regularity, as well as treat PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). To put this in context, the pregnancy rate for previously infertile PCOS patients post-bariatric surgery is around 73%. Still, more research is needed to understand this connection fully, and it's likely your doctor will advise you to stop taking semaglutide if you become pregnant.

If you're on medication like Ozempic for diabetes or weight loss, you may want to talk to your doctor about the potential side effects, including your risk of increased fertility or how it may affect the other medications you're taking, including birth control.

But don't worry—singing Britney songs won't be required.

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