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Study · Systematic review · n = 1,128 · 2026

10 results

Impact of semaglutide exposure on fetal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women: a systematic review.

Mandal L, Andersen LU, Luef BM, Tanvig MH, Vinter CA

European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology21 Nov 2025Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID41313865 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.114836 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41313865
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

BackgroundSemaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, is increasingly used for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment. As its use rises among women of reproductive age, understanding its impact on fetal and neonatal health is essential.ObjectivesTo assess fetal and neonatal outcomes associated with semaglutide exposure during pregnancy or within two months before conception.Search strategyPubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for relevant studies.Selection criteriaStudies reporting fetal and neonatal outcomes following semaglutide exposure before or during pregnancy were included, with no language restrictions.Data collection and analysisTwo reviewers independently screened and extracted data. Due to study heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was used, and bias risk and study quality were assessed.Main resultsFive studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results. One study reported adverse outcomes including spontaneous abortion and preeclampsia. Another study found spontaneous abortion rate of 23%, comparable to diabetes- and obesity-groups. A third study observed a prevalence of congenital malformations of 8.3%, with no significant risk increase compared to insulin. One study linked semaglutide discontinuation to fetal macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycaemia. Another noted preterm birth and large-for-gestational-age infants, with no increased congenital malformation risk. No clear association with birth defects was identified, however the evidence is limited by study variability and bias risk.ConclusionsThe limited number of available studies precludes firm conclusions nevertheless current evidence does not indicate a consistent increased risk of major congenital malformations associated with semaglutide exposure.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study10

10 results from studies that gave the peptide. 10 results from people.

  1. 01HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    In pregnancies exposed to semaglutide, the systematic review found no clear association with birth defects; the evidence is limited by study variability and bias risk.

    In plain wordsIn pregnant women who used semaglutide, a review found no clear link to birth defects, but the evidence is limited.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeBirth defects
    Study

    n = 1,128

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    No clear association with birth defects was identified
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  2. 02HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    In one study of semaglutide-exposed pregnancies, the spontaneous abortion rate was 23%, comparable to diabetes and obesity groups.

    In plain wordsIn one study of women who used semaglutide in pregnancy, miscarriage rates were similar to those in women with diabetes or obesity.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeSpontaneous abortion rate
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Diabetes and obesity groups
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Spontaneous abortion rate
    23%
    semaglutide-exposed pregnancies

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Another study found spontaneous abortion rate of 23%, comparable to diabetes- and obesity-groups.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  3. 03HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    In one study of semaglutide-exposed pregnancies, congenital malformations occurred at 8.3% with no significant risk increase compared with insulin.

    In plain wordsIn one study of women who used semaglutide in pregnancy, birth defects were not significantly more common than with insulin.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeCongenital malformations
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Insulin
    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Prevalence of congenital malformations
    8.3%
    semaglutide-exposed pregnancies

    Source sentences

    Summary
    A third study observed a prevalence of congenital malformations of 8.3%, with no significant risk increase compared to insulin.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  4. 04HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    One study of semaglutide-exposed pregnancies reported spontaneous abortion among adverse outcomes.

    In plain wordsOne study of women who used semaglutide in pregnancy reported miscarriage among its adverse outcomes.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedSpontaneous abortion
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    One study reported adverse outcomes including spontaneous abortion and preeclampsia.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  5. 05HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    One study of semaglutide-exposed pregnancies reported preeclampsia among adverse outcomes.

    In plain wordsOne study of women who used semaglutide in pregnancy reported preeclampsia among its adverse outcomes.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedPreeclampsia
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    One study reported adverse outcomes including spontaneous abortion and preeclampsia.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  6. 06HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    One study linked semaglutide discontinuation to fetal macrosomia.

    In plain wordsOne study linked stopping semaglutide in pregnancy to very large babies at birth.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedFetal macrosomia after semaglutide discontinuation
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    One study linked semaglutide discontinuation to fetal macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycaemia.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  7. 07HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    One study linked semaglutide discontinuation to neonatal hypoglycaemia.

    In plain wordsOne study linked stopping semaglutide in pregnancy to low blood sugar in newborns.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedNeonatal hypoglycaemia after semaglutide discontinuation
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    One study linked semaglutide discontinuation to fetal macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycaemia.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  8. 08HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    One study of semaglutide-exposed pregnancies noted preterm birth.

    In plain wordsOne study of women who used semaglutide in pregnancy noted preterm births.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedPreterm birth
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Another noted preterm birth and large-for-gestational-age infants, with no increased congenital malformation risk.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  9. 09HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    One study of semaglutide-exposed pregnancies noted large-for-gestational-age infants.

    In plain wordsOne study of women who used semaglutide in pregnancy noted babies that were large for their age at birth.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedLarge-for-gestational-age infants
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Another noted preterm birth and large-for-gestational-age infants, with no increased congenital malformation risk.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.
  10. 10HumanSystematic reviewSafety outcome

    One study of semaglutide-exposed pregnancies found no increased congenital malformation risk.

    In plain wordsOne study of women who used semaglutide in pregnancy found no increased risk of birth defects.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    No significant changeCongenital malformation risk
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Adverse events · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Another noted preterm birth and large-for-gestational-age infants, with no increased congenital malformation risk.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Five studies involving a total of 1,128 semaglutide exposed pregnancies, showed mixed results.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:04 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 03:06 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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