Hormone Replacement Therapy
Recent evidence has shown that weight loss injections such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) can affect the absorption of medication. This is particularly important in patients who are taking oral contraception or oral HRT.
If you are on weight loss injections, still have a womb and are taking any HRT tablets, we need to discuss your HRT regime. The problem is that progesterone may not be absorbed so well. This is because the injections affect the way the stomach empties. Progesterone is needed to keep the lining of the womb healthy. It reduces the risk of abnormal bleeding and endometrial cancer so we want to avoid problems with it being absorbed.
If you are taking weight loss injections, you should contact us via a routine healthcare request form to discuss a change to your HRT regime. It is the responsibility of the person prescribing your injections to have told you this but we are finding that not everyone knows. Note that this only relates to HRT that involves tablets. If you are only on gel/patches/spray then you are not affected.
If you want to read the technicalities behind this, you can find information here from the British Menopause Society.
Oral Contraception – Combined Pill and Mini Pill
Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are relatively new and their safety in pregnancy is uncertain. The College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare has issued a statement recommending that contraception is used whilst taking these weight loss drugs.
There are additional recommendations for people on Mounjaro (tirzepatide) because it affects how well the pill is absorbed.
Women using tirzepatide and oral contraception should switch to a non-oral
contraceptive method (e.g. injection, implant, patch or coil), or use condoms in addition to oral contraception for four weeks after starting taking the injection, and for four weeks after each dose increase.
More information can be found here.
If you need to contact us about your HRT or contraception in the context of weight loss injections, please complete one of our routine healthcare request forms – available 0730-1830 Monday to Friday.