Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a prescription injection used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. Mounjaro may not be safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you can become pregnant, it’s important to consider whether Mounjaro is a safe option for you.
Your doctor will likely recommend that you do not use Mounjaro during pregnancy. Mounjaro may cause harm to a fetus.
It’s important to note that untreated diabetes during pregnancy can cause problems with fetal development (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the best treatment option for your condition.
Mounjaro and fertility
It’s not known whether Mounjaro affects fertility (the biological ability to conceive).
In animal studies, tirzepatide (Mounjaro’s active ingredient) didn’t affect fertility in male animals. But some female animals given tirzepatide showed signs of reduced fertility. These signs were thought to be related to decreased food intake and body weight. However, animal studies don’t always reflect how drugs affect humans.
If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s important to understand the effects Mounjaro could have on you or your child.
Your doctor will also likely recommend that you do not use Mounjaro while breastfeeding. It’s not known whether the drug may pass into breast milk or what effects it could have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before using Mounjaro.
If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, it’s important to consider how Mounjaro could affect your birth control options.
Note: In this article, we use the term “females” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information, see this article about the difference between sex and gender.
For females using Mounjaro
Mounjaro can make hormonal birth control pills less effective. Your doctor may recommend that you use a different birth control method or use a barrier method, such as a condom, along with your birth control pills. You may need to do this for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after any dosage increases during your treatment.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.