Woman Diagnosed with Infertility Welcomes Third Baby After Using Ozempic
Areli Ruiz attributes her three pregnancies, conceived within two years, to the weight-loss drug, citing its potential to reduce inflammation and improve fertility.
Areli Ruiz, 35, who was told by doctors she could not conceive, is now pregnant with her third child in two years, attributing her pregnancies to Ozempic. The weight-loss medication, a GLP-1 agonist, is not FDA-approved for infertility treatment, but Ruiz believes it helped her by reducing inflammation and regulating hormones, which can indirectly aid fertility.
Ruiz and her husband, Jose Ruiz, 34, faced a challenging journey after trying to start a family for five years. In 2022, after failed infertility treatments at Stanford University Hospital, Ruiz was diagnosed with secondary infertility. Determined to improve her chances of conceiving, she began taking Ozempic in early 2023, motivated by her understanding as a nurse that inflammation can impact fertility.
"As a nurse, I know that a lot of infertility has to do with inflammation in a woman's body," Ruiz stated. "And a little bit of weight loss wouldn't hurt either. If I wasn't going to be able to get pregnant, then at least I would be getting healthier for myself."
She reported feeling better, experiencing reduced inflammation, and less hunger and stress while on the medication. In September 2023, she discovered she was pregnant. Her first child, a daughter, was born in April 2024. Ruiz paused Ozempic during pregnancy but resumed taking it shortly after giving birth. Six months later, she was pregnant again, giving birth to a son in December 2025.
Ruiz is now eight months pregnant with her third child, due in October 2026, conceived just eight weeks postpartum. She has already purchased more Ozempic, intending to try for more children after her current baby is born.
"I feel so blessed to have been able to have three successful pregnancies after being told I was infertile," Ruiz said. "People on the internet are always bashing me for having kids so close together, but I truly love it."
Medical experts suggest that GLP-1 medications may improve fertility through mechanisms such as weight reduction, hormonal re-balancing leading to more consistent ovulation, and reduced insulin resistance which can lower inflammation. Dr. Rashmi Kudesia, a specialist in OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinology, noted that these drugs can reduce inflammatory markers even without significant weight loss.
A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia indicated that approximately 2.2 percent of women using GLP-1 therapy conceived within six months, with higher rates observed in younger women with diabetes and women in their early thirties without diabetes. The research analyzed data from over 1.6 million women aged 18 to 49 between 2011 and 2022.