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Mounjaro and The Pill: What You Need to Know
- Sarah Rood
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
If you’re considering starting Mounjaro as part of your weight loss journey and you’re also taking the oral contraceptive pill, you might have a few questions. Don’t worry—we’re here to help make things clear, simple, and stress-free.
First things first—what is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro (also known as tirzepatide) is a medication that helps regulate blood sugar and support weight loss. It works by mimicking hormones in your body that help you feel fuller for longer and reduce how much food you eat. It’s a once-weekly injection that many people are finding helpful on their weight loss journey.
How does Mounjaro affect the pill?
Here’s the key point: Mounjaro might affect how well your oral contraceptive works—but only for a short time, and only because of how it interacts with your digestion.
Mounjaro can slow down how quickly your stomach empties, which might change how your body absorbs medications taken by mouth—including the pill. This effect is most noticeable when you first start Mounjaro or when your dose increases.
Because of this, there’s a small chance your pill may not work quite as well for a few days after a new dose.
So, what should I do?
To stay on the safe side, we recommend the following:
Use a back-up method of contraception (such as condoms) for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro or 4 weeks after any dose increase.
After that period, you can usually go back to relying on your usual contraceptive pill.
This is just a temporary precaution and is recommended to ensure you stay fully protected.
Should I switch from the pill?
Not necessarily! There’s no need to stop taking your oral contraceptive if it’s working well for you. Just follow the advice above during those key times when your Mounjaro dose is changing.
If you’d prefer to explore other birth control options—such as the implant, coil (IUD), patch, or injection—we’d be happy to talk through what’s right for you.
Your health, your choice
At our clinic, we want you to feel confident and informed every step of the way. If you have any concerns about Mounjaro, contraception, or anything else, just get in touch—we’re here to support you.
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