Mounjaro and the Pill: Important Contraception Advice

Taking Mounjaro and the contraceptive pill? Here's what you need to know about extra precautions.

February 5, 2026

If you're taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and use the contraceptive pill, you may need to take extra precautions. Here's what you need to know.

The Issue

Mounjaro slows down your stomach emptying. It's one of the ways the medication helps with weight loss. But this can also affect how well oral medications are absorbed, including the contraceptive pill.

Studies show that when women first start tirzepatide, the peak levels of the hormones in their contraceptive pill drop by 55–66%. This effect is greatest when you first start the medication and when you increase your dose.

What to Do

Regulatory agencies including Australia's TGA, the UK's MHRA, and the US FDA now recommend:

Use extra protection for 4 weeks after:

Starting Mounjaro
Each dose increase

You can do this by either:

Adding a barrier method (like condoms) during these 4-week windows, or
Switching to a non-oral contraceptive that isn't affected

Methods NOT Affected by Mounjaro

These contraceptive options work normally with Mounjaro because they don't go through your stomach:

IUDs (Mirena or copper)
Contraceptive implant (Jadelle)
Contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera)
Vaginal ring
Contraceptive patch

Two Extra Reasons to Be Careful

1. Weight loss can restore fertility

If you haven't been ovulating regularly (common with higher body weight or PCOS), losing weight can restart ovulation, sometimes before your periods become regular again. Many women have experienced surprise "Ozempic babies" after assuming they couldn't get pregnant easily.

2. Mounjaro isn't safe for pregnancy

The medication should not be used during pregnancy. If you're planning to conceive, stop Mounjaro at least two months beforehand.

Don't Forget About Side Effects

Vomiting and diarrhoea (common Mounjaro side effects) can also reduce how well the pill works:

If you vomit within 2–3 hours of taking your pill, follow the missed pill rules
If you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, use backup contraception

The Bottom Line

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your contraception when starting Mounjaro. For many women, switching to a long-acting method like an IUD or implant is a simple solution that removes the worry entirely.