If you're considering starting your Wegovy journey, either through pills or Injectable pens, and you're worried about its interactions, you'll have wondered if semaglutide interacts with common contraceptives on the market. Wegovy is not known to directly reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, has not been shown to reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception in the same way as tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro.

However, Wegovy can cause side effects such as vomiting and diarrhoea. These can affect how well the contraceptive pill is absorbed, especially if you are sick soon after taking it or have severe diarrhoea. If this happens, you may need to follow the missed-pill advice in your contraceptive pill leaflet or speak to a pharmacist, GP, or sexual health clinician.

Yes. You can use contraception while taking Wegovy, and people who can become pregnant are advised to use effective contraception while using GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide.

There is currently no evidence that semaglutide itself makes the contraceptive pill less effective. This applies to semaglutide medicines such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus.

The main issue is not a direct interaction with the hormones in the pill. The main concern is that Wegovy can cause vomiting or diarrhoea, and this may affect the absorption of oral contraception.

If you vomit soon after taking your contraceptive pill, or if you have severe diarrhoea, you should follow the missed-pill guidance in your pill packet or ask a pharmacist or clinician what to do.

What should I do if I vomit after taking the contraceptive pill?

If you vomit shortly after taking the combined contraceptive pill, it may not have been fully absorbed. In this case, you should follow the instructions in your pill leaflet or speak to a pharmacist or doctor.

As a general rule, if you vomit less than 3 hours after taking the combined pill, you may need to take another pill straight away and then take your next pill at the usual time. Some pills have slightly different timing, so always check your own leaflet.

If you continue being sick, you should use another form of contraception, such as condoms, until you have taken the pill for 7 days without being sick and seek medical advice.

What should I do if I have diarrhoea while taking the contraceptive pill?

Diarrhoea can also affect how well the contraceptive pill is absorbed, especially if it is severe or lasts more than 24 hours.

If you have diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, keep taking your pill as normal, but use another type of contraception, such as condoms, until 7 days after the diarrhoea has stopped.

If this happens near the end of your pill pack, you may need to skip your pill-free break or avoid taking dummy pills. Check your pill leaflet or speak to a pharmacist, GP, or sexual health clinic for advice.

Yes, that is because Wegovy and Mounjaro are different medicines.

Wegovy contains semaglutide. Currently, there is no evidence that semaglutide reduces the effectiveness of oral contraception.

Mounjaro contains tirzepatide. Tirzepatide may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception, especially after starting treatment or increasing the dose. People taking Mounjaro who use oral contraception are usually advised to add a barrier method, such as condoms, or switch to a non-oral contraceptive method for a set period after starting and after dose increases.

This advice should not be automatically applied to Wegovy. If you are unsure which medicine you are taking, check the box, prescription label, or speak to your prescriber.

Wegovy pills are taken by mouth once a day, while Wegovy injections are taken once a week. The tablet form has strict dosing instructions because food, drink, and other medicines can affect how well oral semaglutide is absorbed.

The Wegovy pill should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach with water only. You should then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other oral medicines.

This timing matters for Wegovy absorption. It does not mean Wegovy pills are proven to stop the contraceptive pill from working. However, if you take other oral medicines, including the contraceptive pill, you should follow the dosing instructions from your prescriber and the patient information leaflet.

No, Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy.

GLP-1 medicines such as Wegovy are not recommended during pregnancy because there is not enough safety data to know whether they could harm the baby. Animal studies have raised concerns, so the precautionary advice is to avoid semaglutide during pregnancy.

If you become pregnant while using Wegovy, speak to a healthcare professional as soon as possible. You should not continue Wegovy during pregnancy unless specifically advised by a specialist, and in most cases, treatment will need to be stopped.

Can I take Wegovy while trying to get pregnant?

No, Wegovy should not be used while trying to get pregnant.

Semaglutide stays in the body for several weeks after the last dose. If you are planning a pregnancy, it is recommended to stop semaglutide at least two months before trying to conceive.

You should continue using contraception during this wash-out period. If you are planning to stop Wegovy because you want to become pregnant, speak to your prescriber first so they can advise you on stopping treatment safely and managing your weight or health conditions before pregnancy.

Can I take Wegovy while breastfeeding?

Wegovy should not be used while breastfeeding. There is not enough safety information to know whether semaglutide could affect a breastfed baby. If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, speak to a healthcare professional about safer options.

Data Sources & Clinical Trials