- A study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology used Truveta Data to examine gestational weight gain and pregnancy among individuals classified as overweight or obese who used semaglutide before or during pregnancy
- Among 1,230 women who used semaglutide before pregnancy, 34.9% had prescriptions that extended into pregnancy.
- Pregnancy outcomes were similar among individuals who stopped semaglutide before pregnancy and those whose use continued into pregnancy.
- Compared with a similar group of individuals who did not use semaglutide, individuals who continued semaglutide into pregnancy and individuals who stopped semaglutide before pregnancy had higher risks of excessive gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, excessive fetal growth, and cesarean delivery.
- The findings suggest that observed risks may be driven more by weight regain and metabolic changes following semaglutide discontinuation than by continued semaglutide use during pregnancy itself.
A new study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology examined gestational weight gain and pregnancy outcomes among individuals who used semaglutide before pregnancy and were classified as overweight or obese based on pre-pregnancy BMI. Using linked, de-identified electronic health record and pharmacy dispensing data from Truveta, researchers from University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins University, and California Polytechnic State University compared individuals whose semaglutide prescriptions continued into pregnancy, individuals who stopped semaglutide before pregnancy, and individuals who never used semaglutide.
The study is the largest analysis to date examining pregnancy outcomes following semaglutide use and provides new real-world evidence on outcomes among individuals who used semaglutide before or during pregnancy.
Study snapshot
Researchers identified 1,230 eligible individuals who used semaglutide before pregnancy. Of these, 429 individuals continued to have semaglutide prescriptions during pregnancy and 801 stopped semaglutide before pregnancy. The analysis also included a matched comparison group of women classified as overweight or obese based on pre-pregnancy BMI who had never used semaglutide.
Among individuals whose semaglutide use continued into pregnancy, the median duration of use during pregnancy was 44 days, and nearly one-quarter had at least one refill during pregnancy.
Pregnancy outcomes were similar whether semaglutide was stopped before or during pregnancy
One of the study’s most notable findings was that pregnancy outcomes were similar among those who discontinued semaglutide before pregnancy and those whose prescriptions continued into pregnancy. Researchers found no significant differences in gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-related hypertension, fetal growth outcomes, cesarean delivery, or preterm birth between the two groups.
Higher risks compared with women who never used semaglutide
Compared with a similar group of individuals who did not use semaglutide, higher risks of excessive gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, excessive fetal growth, and cesarean delivery were observed regardless of whether semaglutide was stopped before pregnancy or continued into pregnancy.
Individuals whose semaglutide use continued into pregnancy had nearly three times the odds of excessive gestational weight gain and were also more likely to experience gestational diabetes, excessive fetal growth, and cesarean delivery than women who did not use semaglutide.
Findings point to discontinuation-related effects rather than continued semaglutide use during pregnancy
Because individuals who stopped semaglutide before pregnancy experienced outcomes similar to those whose semaglutide use continued into pregnancy, the authors suggest that the observed risks may be driven more by weight regain and metabolic changes following semaglutide discontinuation than by continued semaglutide use during pregnancy itself.
The authors note that additional research is needed to better understand these mechanisms and to evaluate potential effects on fetal development.
Read the full study
Gestational Weight Gain and Pregnancy Outcomes After Semaglutide Exposure, Obstetrics & Gynecology
