Are ‘Ozempic babies’ on the rise? What to know about the growing phenomenon
The term “Ozempic babies” is taking social media by storm as a growing number of women have shared their stories of getting pregnant after using the popular weight-loss drug.
While there is no scientific research yet specifically looking at the “Ozempic babies” phenomenon, experts say the increasing anecdotal evidence is “not surprising.”
In the past year, Darine El-Chaar, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at the Ottawa Hospital, said she’s come across at least five such cases either in her own clinical practice or through other colleagues.
“This is just one of those things we expect to see,” El-Chaar said in an interview with Global News.
“People who thought they couldn’t conceive or didn’t have periods would certainly see surprise pregnancies on these medications.”
But what is behind this link? And are there any risks of weight-loss drugs during pregnancy?
Here is what we know.
Many women who are living with obesity or have polycystic ovary syndrome will have irregular menstrual cycles and ovulation, which makes it difficult for them to get pregnant, said Daniel Drucker, senior scientist at Sinai Health’s Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute in Toronto.
So, in order to increase their chances of conceiving, one of the recommendations is to lose weight, Drucker said.
“Obviously these medicines help women lose weight, and weight loss by itself will increase ovulation and increase the chance of a successful fertility event,” he said in an interview with Global News.
People in the higher obesity classes are generally on a “very effective” weight-loss medication, so it’s “not surprising” that their ovulation would be restored, said Naila Ramji, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Fredericton, N.B., and assistant
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