Semaglutide and Birth Control: Is It Safe? Label, Studies
No interaction is listed; semaglutide did not change birth control pill hormone levels in studies.
- Verdict
- Generally fine when taken together
- Label names it
- 0 of 3
- General caution
- Pills absorbed more slowly
Check a GLP-1 interaction
Wegovy in brief
Its half-life is about 1 week: after 7 d, half is gone, and about 3% remains after five half-lives (35 d).
In STEP 1, people lost 14.9% of body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo.
Each monthly price point in US dollars comes from the maker's price page, covering the list price and self-pay offers.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), healthsystemtracker.org, prnewswire.com 1 2.
Semaglutide and birth control: the verdict
Generally fine when taken together
The following is copied word for word from the Ozempic label's drug interactions section:
“OZEMPIC causes a delay of gastric emptying, and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. In clinical pharmacology trials,”
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
What the semaglutide label says
The Ozempic label does not list birth control pills by name. They still apply to it.
| Named in the label | The risk | What the label tells doctors |
|---|---|---|
| Oral medicines | Pills absorbed differently | When this medicine slows stomach emptying, your body can absorb other pills differently. |
Taken from the Ozempic label (DailyMed).
What the studies show
- ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel showed no change
- no clinically relevant effect on oral medicine absorption
- the Drug Interactions section of the label
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
The practical rule
- Continue taking your pill as usual. If you vomit badly, it may not have absorbed, so ask your pharmacist what to do.
- Tell your GLP-1 prescriber about every pill you take, including this one.
- Ask your pharmacist if any of your pills require a steady blood level. A check may be needed for those when you start or raise the dose.
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).
Birth control with other GLP-1s
Each label's drug interaction section was checked for the same thing.
| Medicine | Birth control pills in the label | Verdict | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
 Ozempic | Not named; general pill caution | Generally fine when taken together | Read the answer |
 Wegovy | Not named; general pill caution | Generally fine when taken together | Read the answer |
 Rybelsus | Not named; general pill caution | Not listed | Not listed |
 Mounjaro | Named in the label | Fine with care | Read the answer |
 Zepbound | Named in the label | Fine with care | Read the answer |
 Foundayo | Named in the label | Not listed | Not listed |
 Trulicity | Not named; general pill caution | Not listed | Not listed |
 Saxenda | Not named; general pill caution | Not listed | Not listed |
 Victoza | Not named; general pill caution | Not listed | Not listed |
| Byetta | Named in the label | Not listed | Not listed |
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).