Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Prescriptions for Postpartum Women

Postpartum Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Prescription Rates Rose Twenty-Four-Fold

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) prescriptions for postpartum women increased from 0.08 percent in 2018 to 1.9 percent in 2025. Researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics evaluated commercial insurance records for just over 1 million births across seven years. Their findings appeared on October 1, 2026, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The observational study tracked new mothers who filled a prescription within six months after delivery. Prescription starts accelerated after 2021 as medications such as semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) entered broader clinical use. Overall uptake among privately insured mothers in the United States (U.S.) closely matched rates reported for postpartum women in Denmark.

Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity Account for Most New Starts

Women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had the highest rate of postpartum GLP-1 prescriptions throughout the study period. In that clinical cohort, prescription starts rose from 2.3 percent in early 2018 to 16.9 percent by the first quarter of 2025. That means approximately one in six mothers with type 2 diabetes started treatment within six months of giving birth.

Prescriptions also increased among mothers with gestational diabetes and those with elevated body mass index before pregnancy. Gestational diabetes occurs in 5 to 9 percent of pregnancies and raises long-term risk for type 2 diabetes. Prescriptions in that group rose from 0.4 percent in mid-2021 to 2.7 percent by early 2025.

• Mothers diagnosed as overweight or obese before pregnancy saw prescription starts increase from 0.4 percent in late 2021 to 3.9 percent in early 2025.
• Since late 2024, women with prepregnancy obesity or overweight have accounted for 40 percent of all postpartum starts.
• Mothers without a qualifying prepregnancy diagnosis accounted for 21 percent of recent starts, though most received an obesity or overweight diagnosis before filling the prescription.

Medication Timing and Breastfeeding Evidence Gaps

Clinical guidance advises patients to stop using GLP-1 receptor agonists during pregnancy. In the claims analysis, most mothers who began therapy waited at least three months after delivery before filling a prescription. This delay aligns with typical recovery intervals and standard postpartum checkups.

Data on infant exposure to GLP-1 medications during lactation remain sparse. Lead author Sih-Ting Cai noted that while delivery creates an opportunity to evaluate ongoing metabolic risk, the absence of robust safety data during breastfeeding requires careful consideration. Clinicians currently weigh maternal glycemic control against the lack of formal infant exposure trials.

Commercial Insurance Data Excludes Public Coverage

The study cohort includes only commercially insured deliveries and omits patients covered by Medicaid. Medicaid programs fund approximately 40 percent of all births across the United States. Formulary coverage, prior authorization rules, and out-of-pocket costs differ substantially between commercial plans and state Medicaid programs.

The analysis relies on filled prescription claims and does not measure patient adherence or drug discontinuation. Claims data do not capture whether patients took every dose or stopped due to gastrointestinal side effects. The reported numbers reflect initial medication dispensations rather than long-term metabolic outcomes.

Clinical Steps for Evaluating Metabolic Care After Delivery

Postpartum metabolic evaluations allow clinicians to detect persistent insulin resistance or dysglycemia early. Blood glucose testing at six to twelve weeks after delivery identifies patients who need ongoing therapy after gestational diabetes resolves. Standard oral glucose tolerance tests and hemoglobin A1c measurements provide baseline numbers.

Patients considering medical therapy should review infant feeding methods and personal health history with their care team. Discuss your glucose markers, infant feeding plans, and GLP-1 prescriptions for postpartum women with your obstetrician or endocrinologist to determine the appropriate treatment timing.