Last updated November 12, 2026 · Reviewed by the Gala Health team
What the Wegovy and Zepbound labels say
| Wegovy (semaglutide) | Zepbound (tirzepatide) | |
|---|---|---|
| Planning a pregnancy | Stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy, to account for semaglutide's long half-life | No set interval before trying; stop when pregnancy is recognized |
| If you become pregnant | Stop when pregnancy is recognized (weight reduction use) | Stop when pregnancy is recognized |
| Why | Weight loss offers no benefit in pregnancy and may cause fetal harm | Weight loss offers no benefit in pregnancy and may cause fetal harm |
| Half-life | About 1 week; present in the blood for about 5 to 7 weeks after the last dose | About 5 days |
| Birth control pills | No instruction in the label's reproductive section | May reduce the effect of oral hormonal contraceptives: switch to a non-oral method or add a barrier method for 4 weeks after starting and after each dose increase |
| Pregnancy registry | Yes | Yes |
From the US prescribing information for Wegovy (revised 06/2026) and Zepbound (revised 08/2026). Ozempic and Mounjaro have their own labels; ask your prescriber about the one you take.
Why semaglutide needs a 2-month gap
Semaglutide is built to last: the Wegovy label gives it an elimination half-life of about 1 week and says it remains in the circulation for about 5 to 7 weeks after the last dose. The label's 2-month stop before a planned pregnancy is there to cover that tail.
Tirzepatide clears faster, with a half-life of about 5 days in the Zepbound label, and the label does not set a waiting period before trying. It does say to stop as soon as a pregnancy is recognized. When to take your last dose is a decision to make with your prescriber, not a gap to guess.
Birth control while you are still taking it
Not ready to try yet? Then the opposite problem matters: an unplanned pregnancy while on the drug. The Zepbound label explains that tirzepatide delays stomach emptying, which may reduce the effect of oral hormonal contraceptives. The delay is largest after the first dose, so the label asks people on the pill to switch to a non-oral method, or add a barrier method such as condoms, for 4 weeks after starting and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.
The 2023 international PCOS guideline, whose recommendations ASRM publishes, goes further for all GLP-1 medicines: it says clinicians should make sure women taking them use effective contraception whenever pregnancy is possible, because pregnancy safety data are lacking.
Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide
Compounded versions are not FDA-approved, as the FDA points out, so they do not come with an FDA-approved label of their own. They contain the same active ingredients as the brand-name drugs, so tell your prescriber about any form you take, including a compounded or microdose plan, and agree on a stop date before you start trying.
What about the male partner?
Neither label's section on patients of reproductive potential gives a stop rule for men: the Wegovy section addresses planned pregnancy, and the Zepbound section addresses contraception. That is not a reason to skip the topic. List every medication for both of you when you see a clinician, because a fertility workup reads both partners.
A practical plan for stopping
- Talk to the prescriber of your GLP-1 first, and pick a last-dose date. On Wegovy, that date is at least 2 months before you start trying.
- Keep reliable contraception until then. On tirzepatide, remember the 4-week rule for the pill after starting and after every dose increase.
- Start folic acid. ACOG and ASRM recommend 400 micrograms a day for women of average risk who could become pregnant.
- Plan for your weight after stopping: the PCOS guideline notes a high risk of weight regain once a GLP-1 is discontinued. See stopping a GLP-1 and weight regain.
- Do not use a GLP-1 as a fertility treatment. The PCOS guideline recommends using anti-obesity medicines for reproductive outcomes only in research settings.
- If you then try for 12 months (under 35) or 6 months (35 or older) without a pregnancy, ASRM advises a fertility evaluation, for both of you.
Trying to conceive after a GLP-1 with Gala Fertility
The Gala Fertility intake asks each partner to list current medications with dose and frequency, so a GLP-1 is on your clinician's desk before any plan is made. You start with a $29.99 introductory video meeting with our care team. If you go ahead, both of you are tested: her bloodwork and pelvic ultrasound near you, and his semen analysis with a kit at home. A clinician reviews every result with you on video and, if it is right for you, prescribes letrozole or clomiphene one month at a time, with a check-in after every cycle.
Already a Gala weight-loss patient? Tell your GLP-1 provider you plan to conceive, so your stop date and your fertility plan line up. More on the medicines: letrozole for fertility and semaglutide vs. tirzepatide.
This article is general education, not medical advice. Do not stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to your prescriber.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get pregnant while taking a GLP-1?
Yes, and the labels treat that as something to avoid: weight loss offers no benefit in pregnancy and may cause fetal harm. The Zepbound label also warns that tirzepatide can make birth control pills less reliable after starting and after each dose increase.
How long before trying to conceive should I stop Wegovy?
The Wegovy label says to stop at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy, because semaglutide's long half-life keeps it in the body for weeks.
When should I stop Zepbound if I want to get pregnant?
The Zepbound label does not set an interval before trying; it says to stop when pregnancy is recognized. Tirzepatide's half-life is about 5 days. Agree on a last-dose date with your prescriber.
Does Zepbound make birth control pills less effective?
It may. The label advises switching to a non-oral method, or adding a barrier method, for 4 weeks after starting Zepbound and for 4 weeks after each dose increase.
Does my male partner need to stop his GLP-1?
Neither the Wegovy nor the Zepbound label gives a stop rule for men. He should still list it when you see a fertility clinician, who reviews both partners' medications.
What should I do if I got pregnant on a GLP-1?
Stop the medicine and contact your prescriber; both labels say to discontinue when pregnancy is recognized. Both drugs also have pregnancy exposure registries your prescriber can tell you about.
Can a GLP-1 help me get pregnant?
It is not a fertility treatment. The 2023 international PCOS guideline recommends using anti-obesity medicines for reproductive outcomes only in research settings.
Ready to talk to a provider?
Your answers go to a licensed provider, who decides whether treatment is right for you. Learn more about Gala Fertility.
More Gala Fertility guides
Sources
- Novo Nordisk. WEGOVY (semaglutide) prescribing information, revised 06/2026. FDA-approved label.
- Eli Lilly. ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) prescribing information, revised 08/2026. FDA-approved label.
- ASRM. Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. 2023.
- ACOG and ASRM. Prepregnancy counseling. Committee Opinion No. 762. 2019.
- Practice Committee of ASRM. Definition of infertility: a committee opinion. 2023.
- FDA. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk to a licensed provider about your own health.