Pre-pregnancy GLP-1 Medication Use and Stopping It: Effects on Blood Sugar and Pregnancy Outcomes
Official title: Pre-pregnancy GLP-1 Agonist Use and Discontinuation: Impacts on Glucose Regulation and Pregnancy Outcomes
Funded at University of Rochester · NIH-11438182 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how using GLP-1–based weight loss medicine before pregnancy and stopping it before trying to conceive affects blood sugar and pregnancy health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $415,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD122977-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11438182 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women of reproductive age with obesity who are considering pregnancy and are using or have used GLP-1 medications like semaglutide.
✕Less likely to help
Women not planning pregnancy or not using GLP-1 medications may not receive direct benefits from this study.
What this research studies
If you’re planning a pregnancy and have obesity, this study will explore how taking a GLP-1 medicine like semaglutide before conception impacts mom and baby. Researchers will compare outcomes between women who used the medication before pregnancy and those who did not, focusing on weight changes, blood sugar, and complications during pregnancy. The study will examine when stopping the drug happens and how that timing influences health during pregnancy and outcomes for the baby. Results could inform safer guidelines for weight management in women planning pregnancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide safer use and timing of GLP-1 medications for women planning pregnancy, potentially reducing complications.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary signals suggest differences in weight and pregnancy outcomes with prior GLP-1 use, but more data are needed to confirm safety and guidelines.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yu, Yang — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Yu, Yang
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How air pollution during pregnancy affects fetal growth over time
This study looks at how air pollution affects the growth of babies in the womb during pregnancy, using ultrasound images to track changes over time, and it aims to help expectant parents understand when their babies might be most at risk from pollution.
-
Postoperative Pain Guidelines for Pregnancy: Safer, Patient-Centered Opioid Use
We’re creating patient-friendly guidelines to help doctors manage pain after delivery and surgery in pregnant people, aiming to reduce opioid overuse and improve safety.
-
HPV and pregnancy risk: a big study following 1,280 pregnancies
A large pregnancy study at UTMB looks at whether human papillomavirus (HPV) during pregnancy is linked to problems like preterm birth.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Blocking cancer-causing cMYC tricks after pregnancy changes in the breast
Researchers are testing how pregnancy and aging reshape the breast before cancer risk, using patient-reinformed models to see if it changes how dangerous cMYC signals behave.
-
SSRI use during pregnancy: effects on placental blood flow and inflammation
This grant studies how antidepressants (SSRIs) used during pregnancy might affect the placenta and inflammation, and whether a 5-HT2 receptor blocker could mitigate any negative effects.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.