The low rate of contraception among women started on GLP-1 receptor agonists is raising the risk of unplanned pregnancies, Australian researchers say.

With patients frequently reporting unplanned pregnancies while using GLP‐1 receptor agonists (RAs), a research team, led by Adelaide’s Flinders University, has reviewed GP prescribing data from 662 practices from 2011 to 2022.

They found that 18,000 women aged 18–49 were started on GLP-1 RAs, but only 3800 (21%) had been prescribed “highly effective” contraception such as LARCs, oral contraceptives or vaginal ring.

Even as evidence mounted that the drugs caused weight loss, which is linked to higher fertility, the rate of contraception barely changed over the study period, for women with and without diabetes.