Is it safe to use Wegovy during pregnancy or breastfeeding?

No — pregnancy and breastfeeding are not recommended with Wegovy. Women of child-bearing potential should use effective contraception and discuss stopping well in advance if planning a pregnancy. If pregnancy occurs, contact your clinician promptly to review next steps; do not take another dose until you’ve been advised.

Why Wegovy is not used during pregnancy

Wegovy (semaglutide) is not recommended for use during pregnancy because its safety has not been established in human studies. NICE TA875, MHRA product information, and NHS England guidance all advise discontinuing semaglutide before conception. Animal studies showed effects on fetal development at doses higher than those used in humans, leading UK and European regulators to classify it as unsuitable during pregnancy. The potential risk isn’t from toxicity but from semaglutide’s strong impact on appetite and metabolism — both of which can alter nutrient intake and energy balance, critical during early pregnancy.

What to do if pregnancy occurs

If you become pregnant while using Wegovy, the guidance is clear: stop treatment immediately and contact your healthcare provider. MHRA and NHS advice emphasise not taking another dose until you’ve discussed it with a clinician. Because Wegovy has a long half-life — remaining active in the body for several weeks — clinicians will review timing and provide monitoring to ensure safe transition off the medicine. NICE and SMC frameworks note that women planning pregnancy should ideally discontinue Wegovy at least two months before trying to conceive to allow the drug to clear fully from the system. During that interval, your clinician may suggest switching focus to nutrition, physical activity, and pre-conception supplements such as folic acid.

Breastfeeding and semaglutide

Semaglutide passes into breast milk in animal studies, and although no direct human data exist, regulatory bodies including NICE, MHRA, and the European Medicines Agency recommend avoiding use while breastfeeding. The concern is that even small quantities could affect a newborn’s glucose metabolism or appetite. The NHS guidance advises that mothers wait until breastfeeding is fully stopped before restarting Wegovy. If post-pregnancy weight management is planned, your clinician can help time reintroduction safely once feeding has concluded and both mother and baby are stable.

Fertility and contraception considerations

NICE and MHRA guidelines specify that women of child-bearing potential should use effective contraception while taking Wegovy. The medicine itself does not reduce fertility, but because it alters appetite and metabolism, unplanned weight changes can influence menstrual regularity. Contraception should continue until at least two months after the final injection, allowing semaglutide to leave the bloodstream. NHS clinicians recommend using barrier methods or hormonal contraception as appropriate and reviewing contraceptive plans during weight-management consultations. Clear communication between weight-management and reproductive health teams helps avoid uncertainty about timing.

What the research shows so far

Data from clinical trials such as STEP and SELECT excluded pregnant or breastfeeding participants, so there’s no controlled human evidence confirming safety in these groups. Preclinical data reviewed by the MHRA and EMA reported fetal growth effects at high exposure levels in animals, though these findings cannot be directly applied to humans. Because long-term safety studies in pregnancy are not feasible, the precautionary approach remains to avoid semaglutide altogether during conception, pregnancy, and lactation. Nature Medicine and Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology commentaries (2024) both reaffirm this conservative stance, noting that potential benefits do not outweigh uncertain risks in these periods.

Clinical advice for those planning pregnancy

For women using Wegovy who wish to conceive, planning ahead is crucial. NICE TA875 and NHS England’s 2025 framework recommend early discussion with your prescribing clinician to develop a safe discontinuation plan. Many clinicians advise tapering off treatment gradually and scheduling a review to assess nutrition, hydration, and weight stability before conception. This helps ensure healthy nutrient intake and reduces the risk of rebound eating or rapid weight regain. During this time, dietitian support and prenatal vitamins play a central role. NHS services also encourage adding moderate activity, such as walking or swimming, to maintain wellbeing during transition.

Managing weight safely after pregnancy

Post-pregnancy, clinicians may consider reintroducing Wegovy only after breastfeeding has completely stopped and medical checks are clear. NICE guidance highlights that postpartum weight management should first focus on lifestyle support — healthy eating, hydration, and gentle exercise — before resuming medication. In Scotland and Wales, SMC and AWTTC guidance align with this principle, adding that the decision to restart must be clinician-led and based on physical recovery and mental readiness. Weight loss is never prioritised over maternal recovery or infant feeding.

Supporting women’s health decisions

NHS weight-management programmes treat pregnancy as a reason to pause, not to cancel, care. Women can remain within the service for continued lifestyle and wellbeing support until safe to resume. Pharmacists, GPs, and specialist nurses coordinate records to ensure continuity when treatment restarts. MHRA’s pharmacovigilance system also encourages reporting any unplanned exposure during pregnancy, contributing to long-term data collection for future safety insights.

The essential point

Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Women planning pregnancy should stop treatment at least two months beforehand and use contraception until then. If pregnancy occurs, pause treatment immediately and contact your clinician for guidance. NICE, NHS, MHRA, and SMC all share the same position: safety comes first. With careful planning and open communication, weight management can continue safely before and after pregnancy without risking maternal or infant health.