UK Issues Warning Against Using 'Skinny Jabs' During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

The UK’s medicines regulator has issued a crucial warning regarding the use of certain weight-loss injections, commonly known as 'skinny jabs,' among women trying to conceive or currently pregnant. Medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which are widely used for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity, are not recommended during pregnancy, while attempting conception, or during breastfeeding due to their unknown effects on infants.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) emphasized that women using these drugs should employ effective contraception and may need to wait up to two months after stopping the medication before trying to become pregnant. If pregnancy occurs while on these treatments, women are advised to consult their healthcare providers immediately and discontinue use, as there is insufficient safety data to confirm that these drugs are safe for fetal development.

Experts highlight that there is very limited human data on the safety of these weight-loss medications during pregnancy. While animal studies suggest risks such as low birth weight and skeletal abnormalities, comprehensive research in humans is lacking, and more evidence is needed to fully understand potential risks.

The MHRA also cautioned about the use of another drug, Mounjaro, which is used for diabetes and weight management. It was noted that Mounjaro can interfere with oral contraceptive effectiveness in overweight women. Therefore, women on this medication are advised to consider non-oral contraception methods to prevent unintended pregnancies.

Reproductive medicine specialists, like Ying Cheong from the University of Southampton, support the regulator’s advice, citing that gastrointestinal side effects from these medications, such as vomiting and diarrhea, could impair the absorption of oral contraceptives, thereby increasing the risk of pregnancy if protection is not adequate.

This warning underscores the importance of careful medication management in women of childbearing age and the need for further research to ensure maternal and fetal safety with weight-loss treatments.