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A massive study of 750,000+ pregnancies found that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy were linked to higher premature birth risk — but only when used to treat diabetes, not for weight loss. Researchers say diabetes itself, not the medication, is likely the culprit. The findings could reshape how doctors counsel women who accidentally take these drugs early in pregnancy.
A landmark Danish study of more than 750,000 pregnancies has uncovered a critical nuance in the pregnancy safety debate around GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Women accidentally exposed to semaglutide or liraglutide around conception faced a higher risk of premature birth — but only if the drugs were prescribed for diabetes. Women using the same medications for weight loss showed no significant increase in preterm birth or other complications.
The research, published in Human Reproduction Open, used Denmark's nationwide health registries and examined 529 pregnancies with confirmed GLP-1 exposure. After adjusting for factors like age, BMI, and smoking, the elevated preterm birth risk disappeared for weight-management users but remained for those treating diabetes — suggesting the underlying condition, not the drug, is driving the risk.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As GLP-1 prescriptions rise globally — especially among women of reproductive age — accidental pregnancy exposure is increasingly common. These findings give clinicians a more nuanced framework for counseling patients, while reinforcing that diabetes itself is a major obstetric risk factor that warrants careful management before and during pregnancy.
