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They're the blockbuster drugs transforming weight loss, helping millions of people to shed unwanted kilograms. But while medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy may also improve women's chances of becoming pregnant, what happens to their unborn babies if they continue to take the drugs during pregnancy?

In a new Adelaide University animal study involving pregnant sheep, researchers found that semaglutide—the active ingredient in these medications—significantly reduced blood flow to the uterus and oxygen levels in the developing fetus.

While the findings are preliminary and have not been demonstrated in humans, they raise important questions about the safety of weight-loss drugs during pregnancy, particularly for women who may conceive unexpectedly or continue taking the medication before realizing they are pregnant.

Although semaglutide is not recommended during pregnancy (and women planning to conceive are advised to discontinue treatment beforehand), researchers say many will be reluctant to discontinue treatment to avoid regaining lost weight, while others taking the drug to manage diabetes may have concerns about changing their treatment.

The new research, published as a conference abstract in the journal Heart, Lung and Circulation, is helping researchers understand the effects of the GLP-1 medications into late gestation in order to better understand how they might affect a developing fetus.

Adelaide University researcher Dr. Mitchell Lock said the potential effects of semaglutide taken during pregnancy remain poorly understood.

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