Does Ozempic affect birth control?

Someone asked us: I heard that weight loss drugs can make your birth control less effective. Do Ozempic and other weight loss drugs affect birth control? Can you take Ozempic while on birth control? 

It depends on which weight loss drug you’re taking and which birth control you use. 

There’s a newer kind of weight loss drug that’s typically given to people managing diabetes and is also sometimes given to people who want to lose weight: Some common brand names for these types of drugs are Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro. Brands like Ozempic and Wegovy are fine to use with any birth control method, including the pill.

The only weight loss drug that’s been shown to cause issues with birth control is tirzepatide (Mounjaro is the brand name). It’s only been shown to affect the amount of birth control pill absorbed by your stomach, which could make it work less well. But it doesn’t affect other birth control methods. This is because tirzepatide can change how your stomach absorbs things, including the birth control pill you swallow. Also, vomiting can be a side effect of this and other similar weight loss drugs, so if you vomit within 30 minutes of taking your birth control pill, it can lead to a birth control failure.

If you’re taking Mounjaro or generic tirzepatide and are using birth control pills, you have 2 options. 

• You can switch to a different birth control method, like the IUD, implant, or ring.
• You can use a backup method of birth control (like condoms) for 4 weeks when you start tirzepatide, and then again each time you increase your dose.

If you do get pregnant while taking Mounjaro or one of its generics, talk with a doctor or nurse right away. It may not be safe to take these weight loss drugs while pregnant, so if you want to continue the pregnancy, your doctor or nurse will likely recommend that you stop taking the medicine.

If you’re not sure which kind of drug you’re taking or whether it will make your birth control less effective, contact your nearest Planned Parenthood Health Center. 

Learn more here.