Research on semaglutide’s effect on human fertility is limited and does not provide a full picture. While no effects on male fertility were observed in animal studies, female rats showed an increase in oestrous length and a slight reduction in ovulations at doses that caused maternal weight loss. Additionally, semaglutide is not expected to reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. The European Medicines Agency notes that when combined with an oral contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel, semaglutide did not cause clinically relevant changes in hormone exposure levels.
The product labels for Ozempic®, Wegovy®, and Rybelsus® recommend that people planning a pregnancy discontinue these medications at least 2 months prior to conception. According to the 2021 guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), weight loss medications are not recommended at conception. At the same time, it is not known if semaglutide may make it harder to get pregnant.