Curie Brief
Turn on cookies to sign in
Signing in saves your progress to your Curie account. We can only do that with cookies on — turn them on to continue.
News
Millions of women of reproductive age use GLP-1 receptor agonists, yet safety data around pregnancy remains thin. A landmark international consensus statement — backed by 33 specialists and 60 women with lived experience of diabetes — now offers the first structured guidance on GLP-1 use before, during, and after pregnancy. The bottom line: likely safe preconception, but stop early in pregnancy and hold off during breastfeeding.
Millions of women of reproductive age are taking GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) for diabetes and weight management — yet safety data around pregnancy has been strikingly scarce. To fill that gap, a first-of-its-kind international consensus statement, published as part of a four-paper series in The Lancet and presented at the EASD 2026 Annual Meeting, offers structured clinical guidance for preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum care in women with diabetes.
The consensus, developed by 33 international obstetric and diabetes specialists alongside input from 60 women with lived experience of diabetes, draws on a meta-analysis of 49,596 patients. The encouraging news: GLP-1 RA use discontinued in the first trimester showed no increased risk of congenital anomalies (RR 1.02). A signal for higher miscarriage/termination rates (RR 1.31) was noted but flagged as difficult to interpret due to study limitations — including the fact that the largest contributing study combined miscarriages and terminations.
Key Takeaways for HCPs:
Why it matters: With GLP-1 RAs representing a ~$70 billion market, the gap between real-world use and pregnancy safety evidence is a pressing clinical and ethical issue. This consensus gives clinicians a practical framework — and issues a clear call for greater investment in women's health research.
