Can you take Mounjaro or Zepbound if you take birth control?

We spoke with Dr. Yael Cooperman, MD about Mounjaro and Zepbound and whether you can use them if you take birth control pills. 

Birth control pills, also called oral contraceptives, are the most common type of birth control used by women today. And as the popularity of medications like Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) for weight loss and diabetes management increases, many people are asking if they can continue their regular birth control regimen on their new medications. The short answer: tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound) can interfere with oral contraceptives. That’s because tirzepatide works in part by slowing down the passage of contents through your digestive system, and this delayed gastric emptying has been shown to make some medications taken by mouth––like oral contraceptives––less effective. 

The decrease in oral contraception’s effectiveness is strongest whenever you start a new Zepbound dose and improves over time. If you’re considering starting treatment with tirzepatide, inform your provider about which contraception you’re taking.

If you are treated with tirzepatide and use an oral contraception method, the drug’s manufacturer recommends the following: 

For the first four weeks after first starting Zepbound and for the first four weeks after each dose escalation, continue using your oral contraception and add a barrier method of contraception (such as condoms) to prevent pregnancy. Alternatively, you can switch to a non-oral contraceptive method (such as an IUD or implant) before starting your medication. 

For more complete information about Zepbound, see full Important Safety Information.

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Current version

November 29, 2023

Written by

Health Guide Team

Fact checked by

Yael Cooperman, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro

Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.