Women warned weight-loss jabs may affect the pill

Women using weight-loss jabs have been warned by the UK's medicines regulator that they must use effective contraception.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says it is not known whether taking the medicines, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, could harm an unborn baby.

It also warns that weight-loss jabs may make the contraceptive pill less likely to work in those who are overweight or obese.

There are concerns that the growing popularity of 'skinny jabs' means many women aren't using the drugs safely or getting the right advice.

It's thought the contraceptive pill may not be absorbed properly due to common side-effects of the jabs such as vomiting and diarrhoea, and because they slow the emptying of the stomach.

The MHRA says women should use contraception while taking GLP-1 medicines and for a certain period afterwards before trying to become pregnant - two months for Wegovy and Ozempic, and one month for Mounjaro.

It also advises that those using Mounjaro and taking an oral contraceptive should also use a condom for four weeks after starting the drug, or switch to another method such as the coil or implant.

Advice on contraception already appears in patient information leaflets that come with the medicines, but the MHRA has now issued its own guidance.

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Source: BBC News, 5 June 2025