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Study · Systematic review · 2026

1 result

Weight-Lowering Drugs and Natural Female Fertility-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Alnaimi SJ, Alsugeir DM, Wei L, Harvey K, Brauer R

Clinical obesity1 Aug 2026

PMID42307450 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13274556 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1111/cob.70092 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-42307450
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Summary

Overweight and obesity are global health concerns linked to impaired female fertility. Weight-lowering drugs are an alternative for achieving weight loss; however, their effect on natural female fertility is unclear. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to summarise the literature on the effects of weight-lowering drugs on ovulation, conception, pregnancy and live birth rates. Inclusion criteria comprised interventional and observational studies involving women with overweight or obesity receiving weight-lowering drugs, compared with non-users, lifestyle modifications or other medications. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched, yielding 2731 records. After screening, seven clinical trials were included (n = 575), six of which were randomised. Sample sizes ranged from 40 to 120 women aged 25.9-29.7 years. Six trials evaluated orlistat, while one assessed semaglutide. In four trials, orlistat was associated with a higher ovulation rate than lifestyle modifications. A meta-analysis of ovulation rates comparing orlistat and metformin showed no significant difference (RR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.41-1.49; p = 0.45). Two studies reported pregnancy rates: one found a higher rate with orlistat compared to lifestyle modifications (23.3% vs. 6.7%, p = 0.044), and another showed that adding semaglutide to metformin increased the pregnancy rate compared to metformin alone (35% vs. 15%, p < 0.05). Future studies should address current limitations and evaluate the effects of newer weight-lowering drugs on natural pregnancy and live birth rates in adequately powered studies.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. 1 result from people.

  1. 01HumanSystematic reviewEfficacy outcome

    In women with overweight or obesity in one included trial, adding semaglutide to metformin increased the pregnancy rate versus metformin alone (35% vs. 15%).

    In plain wordsIn one trial of women with overweight or obesity, adding semaglutide to metformin led to more pregnancies than metformin alone.

    Peptide
    Semaglutide
    Outcome
    IncreasePregnancy rate
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Metformin alone
    Outcome group
    Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Measurements

    Pregnancy rate
    35%
    semaglutide plus metformin
    Pregnancy rate
    15%
    metformin alone

    Source sentences

    Summary
    another showed that adding semaglutide to metformin increased the pregnancy rate compared to metformin alone (35% vs. 15%, p < 0.05).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Inclusion criteria comprised interventional and observational studies involving women with overweight or obesity receiving weight-lowering drugs, compared with non-users, lifestyle modifications or other medications.

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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