If you’re looking into ways to boost your fertility, you might have come across Ozempic as an out-of-the-box method to help with getting pregnant. For those struggling to conceive, the desire to try any option that might offer even the slightest chance of falling pregnant is understandable. However, when you’re delving into the complex and sensitive world of fertility treatments, it’s crucial to approach each option with a balanced perspective. Taking the time to evaluate the benefits and potential risks of treatments like Ozempic is crucial for a well-informed decision, helping manage expectations and prepare for possible outcomes.

This post focuses on Ozempic, traditionally used for diabetes management, and its emerging role in fertility discussions. We’ll examine why considering Ozempic to fall pregnant requires careful consideration, aiming to equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions for your health and future family.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, is an injectable medication mainly used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s part of a group of drugs called GLP-1 antagonists that work by acting like the GLP-1 hormone in our body, which plays a key role in controlling blood sugar levels.

Here’s how it works:

First, it boosts insulin release when you eat, helping lower blood sugar by moving glucose from the blood into cells. Second, it slows down how quickly your stomach empties, meaning sugar enters your bloodstream more slowly after meals, helping avoid sudden blood sugar spikes, which makes managing diabetes easier. On top of these, GLP-1 reduces your appetite by affecting the brain, leading to less food intake. By imitating GLP-1, Ozempic helps control blood sugar and supports weight loss for those with Type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms of Blood Sugar Imbalance

 

• You often have a strong desire for sweets or carbohydrates.
• Consuming sweets doesn’t satisfy your sugar cravings – they may actually intensify.
• Missing a meal leads to irritability and intense hunger.
• You rely on caffeine to help you stay awake during the day.
• Skipping a meal causes you to feel dizzy.
• After eating, you feel so tired that you need to sleep.
• Losing weight seems to be a struggle for you.
• You frequently feel weak, shaky, or nervous.
• You find yourself needing to urinate often.
• You become easily agitated, upset, or anxious for little reason.
• Your memory isn’t as good as it once was.
• You experience periods of blurry vision.
• Your waist size is as big as or bigger than your hips.
• Your interest in sexual activities is lower than usual.
• You have a constant feeling of thirst.

The Link Between Ozempic and Fertility

The intricate relationship between managing insulin levels and reducing weight is profoundly connected to fertility, as these factors play significant roles in reproductive health.For women, high insulin levels can cause hormonal imbalances that negatively impact ovulation, making it harder to get pregnant. These hormonal disturbances can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, which further complicates conception efforts. Moreover, obesity, a condition closely linked to insulin resistance, has been identified as a contributing factor to fertility challenges in both men and women. Excess body fat not only disrupts the normal production of reproductive hormones but also heightens the risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a prevalent cause of infertility.

Ozempic & PCOS

PCOS is not only the most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age but also a significant factor in fertility challenges due to its association with insulin resistance, obesity, irregular menstrual cycles, and anovulation (lack of ovulation). Managing weight can lead to improvements in the hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance seen in PCOS, subsequently enhancing ovulatory function and increasing the chances of conception. The theory suggests that by improving insulin sensitivity and promoting weight loss, Ozempic could indirectly enhance fertility, particularly in individuals with insulin resistance-related fertility issues. However, it’s crucial to approach this topic with understanding and caution. While the potential benefits on fertility parameters such as ovulatory function and hormonal balance are appealing, definitive research specifically investigating Ozempic’s direct effects on fertility is still evolving.

Potential Risks of Using Ozempic for Getting Pregnant

Ozempic’s effects on fertility and pregnancy carry potential risks that are crucial for women trying to conceive to understand. Ozempic is associated with a range of side effects, from mild to severe, including gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, and constipation. These side effects, particularly if severe, could impact a woman’s general health and nutritional status during preconception.

Individuals considering Ozempic must be free from conditions such as pancreatitis, kidney problems, and thyroid tumours due to the serious risk these issues pose to both maternal health and foetal development.

Ozempic is not advised for use during pregnancy due to insufficient research on its effects on developing foetuses. It is categorised under Pregnancy Category C, which means animal studies have shown adverse effects, but human studies are lacking. Animal research indicates risks like foetal death, birth defects, and growth issues with semaglutide (Ozempic’s active ingredient). Therefore, expectant parents should avoid it, as significant weight loss during pregnancy could harm both the pregnant mother and the baby, potentially leading to smaller than average babies.

Impact on Women Trying to Conceive

The direct effects of Ozempic on fertility are not clearly recorded, and it’s not specifically recommended for enhancing fertility results. However, its role in weight management can lead to both beneficial and detrimental effects:

Semaglutide-induced weight loss can affect the menstrual cycle
Semaglutide aids in quick weight loss, potentially causing various hormonal changes that might impact the menstrual cycle. For instance, drastic weight reduction can disturb the equilibrium of estrogen and progesterone, causing irregularities in the menstrual cycle such as alterations in the timing, length, and severity of periods. Moreover, significant weight loss or a very low body weight can lead to amenorrhea, or the cessation of menstruation, because of hormonal imbalances that inhibit ovulation.

Changes You Might see When Taking Ozempic: 

• Variations in Menstrual Flow: causing some individuals to experience either more intense or lighter bleeding than what they’re accustomed to
• Irregular Menstrual Cycles:  leading to changes in the cycle’s length or unpredictable start of periods
• Skipped Periods:  A decrease in the frequency of menstrual periods or a complete stop
• Additional Symptoms: Besides alterations in menstrual bleeding, symptoms such as pain during menstruation , swelling, or shifts in mood may occur, with these effects varying in how severe and how long they last.

Alternatives to Ozempic For Enhancing Fertility: 

I understand it might feel like you’ve tried it all when it comes to losing weight and trying to conceive. With so much dietary advice, complex exercise tips, and wellness suggestions out there, Ozempic could seem like a tempting choice for your weight loss and fertility journey. With the rise in health issues such as PCOS and metabolic syndrome, primarily caused by insulin resistance and blood sugar imbalances, it’s no wonder that medications like Ozempic are associated with increased pregnancy rates. However, this raises an important question: if blood sugar imbalances are a central issue, what steps can we take to manage this without resorting to Ozempic?

Tips for Keeping Your Blood Sugar Balanced and Managing Insulin Resistance

Balanced Meals
When your blood sugar is high, the pancreas releases insulin to help move sugar into your cells for energy. If your blood sugar is often unbalanced, your body may start to ignore insulin, leading to insulin resistance. This means your blood sugar stays high, which can cause inflammation leading to conditions including PCOS & Obesity. It’s crucial to eat a balanced diet with the three main food groups to keep your blood sugar stable.

• Fats are necessary not just for feeling full but also for producing cholesterol and hormones. Good sources include fatty fish and meat, full-fat cream, coconut and olive oils, and butter like Kerry’s gold.
• Low GI carbohydrates, such as kale, spinach, broccoli, bok choy, and salads like romaine lettuce, celery, and bell peppers, are packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre.
• Low GI carbohydrates,Proteins are vital for building amino acids, breaking down food, cell growth and repair and boosting immunity. Protein rich foods include meat, fish and full-fat dairy.

Nutrients

Deficiencies in any nutrient can stall your biochemical machinery, knocking your blood sugar levels out of balance which make you more insulin resistant. The following nutrients are particularly important in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and are all necessary for the control and balance of insulin and blood sugar

Minerals and vitamins

Zinc
Vital for insulin production and blood sugar regulation, is found in red meat, fish, nuts, pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, and yoghurt

Vanadium
Helps drive sugar into cells and is present in olive oil, olives, parsley, and spinach. Chromium, crucial for carbohydrate metabolism, comes from pork, beef, brazil nuts, and broccoli

Magnesium
Important for insulin effectiveness, is abundant in beef broth, leafy greens, quinoa, and brazil nuts

Vitamin D
Is essential for insulin production, best obtained from sunshine and foods like grass-fed butter, egg yolks, cheese, organ meats, whole fish, and animal fats

Vitamin A
Opt for organic raw butter, coconut oil, milk, and whole organic yogurt. It’s vital for diabetics, with carotene sources including dark-green leafy vegetables and carrots. Dietary fat is necessary for Vitamin A absorption, crucial for preventing diabetes complications

Vitamin E
Found in butter, organ meats, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and dark green leafy vegetables, helps control oxidative stress in diabetics, improving insulin action

Copper
Is vital, with liver being the best source. Opt for grass-fed animal products

Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Enhances insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, found in eggs, legumes, meats, oily fish, chicken, and liver

Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA)
Play critical roles in every cell, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, and lowering heart attack risk. They’re essential for brain function and development. Main sources include fish, flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, tofu, navy beans, brussels sprouts, avocados, and omega-3-enriched eggs. Fish oil enhances nerve function, crucial in diabetes prevention. Aim for a balanced omega-3 to omega-6 ratio, ideally 1:1, to avoid inflammation. Moderate omega-6-rich foods, prevalent in vegetable oils and processed foods.

Antioxidants
Counteract inflammation caused by high blood sugar. Incorporate herbs and spices like coriander, black pepper, ginger, garlic, rosemary, and oregano for blood sugar regulation. Foods rich in antioxidants include bell peppers, turmeric, chili peppers, cayenne peppers, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, kidney beans, and dark chocolate. Support liver and adrenals with dandelion, milk thistle, turmeric, and nettle

Polyphenols
Improve insulin sensitivity and combat oxidative stress. Found in berries, plums, pomegranates, acai, artichoke, spinach, and chicory, they’re crucial for managing glycemia and type 2 diabetes

Avoid Low fat products and sweeteners
Using artificial sweeteners instead of sugar may seem like a good idea, but most are derived from petroleum and paraffin. Sweeteners produce chemicals within the body which interfere with metabolism. Similarly, to sugar, this contributes to diabetes, weight gain, and disruption of the gut microbiome. It has been suggested that sweeteners, like sugar, may increase our cravings for sweet foods, as they are neuroexcitatory. Artificial sweeteners to avoid – Aspartame, Acesulfame, Sucralose, Sugar alcohols such as maltitol and xylitol. It’s best to eat low-sugar fruit like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

Improve your sleep

Sleep quality and blood sugar control are tightly connected. Bad sleep can really mess with your blood sugar, starting a tough cycle. Not sleeping well regularly can push up your blood sugar, and if your blood sugar is all over the place, it’s likely going to make sleeping well harder. That’s because our bodies respond to not enough sleep by increasing blood sugar levels, making the issue worse.

The best blood sugar labs

If you think your blood sugar might be a bit off, here are the labs I usually recommend to check on blood sugar levels and look out for insulin resistance

Other Functional Tests

Gut test
Individuals who are overweight or face challenges with weight loss resistance—a sign of deeper metabolic issues—often exhibit reduced microbiome diversity. Gut microbes have a complex relationship with insulin resistance, as they can influence metabolism, gut hormone release, and immune function. Studies have shown that individuals with a higher abundance of certain gut microbial species which can be identified through a gut test, tend to have higher levels of insulin resistance. In addition, gut microbes produce metabolites that trigger the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can increase insulin resistance.

Comprehensive hormone testing
The Dutch Plus Test is the gold standard for hormone testing and can help identify why someone might not be losing weight. For instance, high cortisol levels can lead to increased fat storage, particularly around the abdominal area. Elevated estrogen can cause the body to store more fat, while low progesterone, which helps burn fat and reduce water weight, can result in weight gain. Testosterone imbalances can also influence muscle mass and metabolic rate. By analyzing these hormones, the Dutch Plus Test can pinpoint hormonal imbalances that may be hindering weight loss efforts.

Key Takeaways:

• Ozempic, primarily used for diabetes management, is being considered by some as a weight loss aid to boost fertility.
• There are concerns about using Ozempic during pregnancy due to insufficient research on its safety for pregnant women.
• Possible side effects and risks involve changes to menstrual cycles, nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal problems, and uncertain effects on foetal development.
• Alternative methods for weight loss and fertility improvement, such as lifestyle changes and diet, are suggested.

While Ozempic may seem like a quick fix for weight loss, especially for those trying to conceive, it’s crucial to understand the potential risks and side effects. The journey toward parenthood is complex and delicate, requiring careful consideration of all factors that might impact fertility and overall health. 

If you are considering weight loss strategies before pregnancy, dealing with hormone imbalances, or thinking about tests mentioned in this blog, book a free call for personalised advice and support. I would love to support you