New recommendations address GLP-1 medications across women's reproductive years
As the use of GLP-1 and other incretin-based medications for obesity continues to grow worldwide, researchers at Marshall University have contributed to an international effort to address one of medicine's most pressing unanswered questions: How should these medications be used by women before, during and after pregnancy?
A new international review and consensus guideline published in Obesity Reviews provides comprehensive clinical recommendations for the use of GLP-1 and other incretin-based medications across the reproductive lifespan. Developed by experts from Europe, North America, and the Middle East, the review addresses key questions related to fertility, pregnancy outcomes, breastfeeding, and postpartum health.
While the available evidence does not identify an increased risk of major congenital anomalies following inadvertent early pregnancy exposure, substantial evidence gaps remain, particularly regarding long-term maternal and child outcomes. Incretin-based medications may improve fertility-related outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), and obesity before pregnancy.
However, current evidence remains insufficient to support their use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, underscoring the importance of careful contraceptive counseling and individualized clinical decision-making. The review emphasizes that nearly half of the clinical recommendations highlight urgent research priorities needed to ensure these therapies can be used as safely and effectively as possible in women of reproductive age.
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