GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy might help you ditch the food baby, but they could also affect your ability to make a real one.
Ayla Barmmer, a registered dietitian and reproductive health expert, told The Post that about 15% of her patients using the medications have struggled to conceive.
Within that group, she said roughly 40% have reported problems such as irregular periods, delayed ovulation and even declining sperm quality linked to their rapid weight loss.
But in a surprising twist, some women have experienced the opposite effect on their fertility, giving rise to the so-called “Ozempic baby.”
Barmmer explained what’s behind these conflicting outcomes — and shared her top recommendations for anyone taking a GLP-1 who is thinking of starting a family.
How GLP-1s might be wrecking your fertility
GLP-1 drugs help people slim down by curbing their appetite — but that can lead to serious nutrient deficiencies if you aren’t careful.
“Clinical dietitians and endocrinologists have already documented shortfalls in protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, calcium and folate among GLP‑1 users, especially once weight loss exceeds 10% of baseline,” Barmmer said.
Those missing nutrients are key players in egg and sperm development, hormone production and embryo health.
To make matters worse, sudden weight loss or undereating triggers the brain’s alarm system. As a result, the hypothalamus pumps the brakes on reproductive hormone production to save energy.
“Women tend to experience cycle changes first, whereas men more often present with falling testosterone, lower semen volume and reduced motility after significant weight loss,” Barmmer said.
For women, this can also cause luteal-phase defects, where the uterine lining doesn’t thicken enough to support pregnancy.
How GLP-1s can supercharge fertility
But it’s not all bad news for baby-making.
GLP-1s have sparked a flood of social media posts from women stunned to find themselves pregnant just months after starting the drugs — including those who were once told they couldn’t conceive.
Barmmer said the fertility boost likely comes from the drugs’ ability to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce systemic inflammation.
Take polycystic ovary syndrome, a top cause of infertility in women that often leads to irregular or missing periods.
“For those with PCOS, which is the No. 1 endocrine disorder worldwide, GLP-1s have been shown to restore ovulation due primarily to the positive impact on insulin sensitivity,” she explained.
Barmmer also noted GLP-1 receptors have been found in the lining of the uterus, ovaries and testes — where they may fight inflammation and the buildup of fibrous tissue that harms fertility.
That could help ovarian follicles thrive and embryos implant. It might even boost sperm quality, improving concentration and motility.
“There is this delicate line where there are benefits for fertility as long as nutritional needs are met,” Barmmer said.
Trying to conceive? Here’s what you need to know
If you’re on a GLP-1 and hope to grow your family one day, you probably don’t need to quit the drugs cold turkey.
“Much of the risk is attributed to not paying careful attention to meeting nutrient needs while losing weight, which can be mitigated,” Barmmer said.
Some of her patients have continued using the medication while her team adjusts their diet and monitors nutrient levels through regular lab work. Others have chosen to taper off eight to 10 weeks before trying to conceive, giving the drug time to clear their system.
“The worst case scenario is to start trying to conceive with depleted in key nutrients that impact conception, the health of the pregnancy and even the baby’s long-term health,” Barmmer warned.
“This goes for both women and men because men’s preconception nutrition status has a profound impact on the risk for pregnancy complications,” she added.
To support fertility while on a GLP-1, Barmmer recommends consuming at least 1.4 grams of protein per kilogram of your target body weight each day.
You should also include a source of healthy fat in every meal and keep your calorie intake above 30 kilocalories per kilogram to prevent your reproductive system from slowing down.
Barmmer encourages her patients to focus on foods rich in protein, iron, choline, omega‑3 fatty acids, zinc, selenium and antioxidants. She recommends getting lab work every three months to make sure nutritional needs are being met.
“This is a vital time to work with a registered dietitian, particularly one who is also a fertility expert,” she said.
And no, standard prenatal vitamins aren’t enough on their own. While helpful, Barmmer said they don’t deliver the extra protein, omega‑3 fats or calories needed for reproductive cell development and early embryo growth.
They also can’t fix common gastrointestinal side effects associated with GLP-1s — like nausea, early satiety or malabsorption — that can limit nutrient uptake.
Even still, “a very nutrient-dense, comprehensive and thoroughly tested prenatal multivitamin and omega-3 fatty acid supplement are absolutely necessary,” Barmmer said.
If pregnancy is on your immediate to-do list, she recommends stopping GLP-1s at least eight weeks before trying to conceive to allow your ovulation or semen quality to return to normal.
If your period has been missing or your nutrition is off-track, it might take longer.
Bottom line: You don’t necessarily have to break up with your weight-loss medications to start a family — but you do need a game plan.
“When GLP‑1 therapy is combined with intentional, nutrient‑dense eating, the right supplement protocol and careful monitoring,” Barmmer said, “many clients move from ‘weight‑management mode’ to ‘family‑building mode’ with healthy, predictable cycles and robust semen quality.”
“The key is giving the body both the biochemical signals and the raw materials it needs to support optimal reproductive health,” she added.
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