Condition Watch: Women's Health

Research Clarifies the Role of SSRIs During Pregnancy

Pregnancy-related depression poses a dilemma: Although untreated maternal illness carries significant risks, worries about fetal safety with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as congenital defects and neonatal adaptation syndrome, may discourage necessary treatment. To assist patients in making well-informed, well-rounded decisions, pharmacists must evaluate the strongest available data.

Some research has examined the relationship between SSRIs and pregnancy. After controlling for maternal and clinical factors, a large US Medicaid cohort study of 949,504 pregnancies—of which 64,389 involved women who were exposed to SSRIs during the first trimester—found no statistically significant increase in the overall number of congenital heart defects.¹ Compared with previous, smaller studies, this well-controlled, large study offers strong assurance.

Exposure to SSRIs later in pregnancy may heighten the risk of poor neonatal adaptation syndrome (PNAS). A 2013 systematic review found a 5-times higher chance of PNAS symptoms in exposed neonates. These can include tremors, respiratory distress, feeding difficulty, and irritability, typically appearing within 48 hours of birth.²

Untreated depression also increases the risk of postpartum depression, impaired bonding, and negative cognitive or behavioral outcomes in the child. These effects often extend beyond the prenatal window, influencing long-term developmental and family health.³—Danielle Valletti, Assistant Editor

REFERENCES

1. Huybrechts KF, Palmsten K, Avorn J, et al. Antidepressant use in pregnancy and the risk of cardiac defects. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(25):2397-2407. doi:10.1056/nejmoa1312828

2. Grigoriadis S, VonderPorten EH, Mamisashvili L, et al. Antidepressant exposure during pregnancy and congenital malformations: is there an association? a systematic review and meta-analysis of the best evidence. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74(4):e293-e308. doi:10.4088/JCP.12r07966

3. Cohen LS, Altshuler LL, Harlow BL, et al. Relapse of major depression during pregnancy in women who maintain or discontinue antidepressant treatment. JAMA. 2006;295(5):499-507. doi:10.1001/jama.295.5.499

GLP-1 Receptor Agonists May Alleviate PCOS Symptoms

Weight loss medication may provide relief from symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Some women have reported that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists helped regulate their menstrual cycles, alleviate pain, lose weight related to the hormonal disorder, improve depression and anxiety, and encourage hair regrowth.¹

GLP-1 medications are not currently FDA approved for this condition, and further research is needed to understand why they alleviate PCOS symptoms, establish potential treatment regimens, and confirm safety and efficacy. PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects ovarian functioning. The most common symptoms are irregular menstruation, excess androgen, and polycystic ovaries, but other symptoms can include infertility, thinning hair or hair loss, weight gain, and oily skin or acne. The exact cause of the condition is unknown; however, it often runs in families and is believed to be related to abnormal hormonal levels within the body. There are no specific treatments for PCOS, but there are therapeutic methods that can target PCOS-related symptoms.²

Of note, research published in 2023 in the Journal of Clinical Medicine assessed women with PCOS and obesity receiving treatment with semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic; Novo Nordisk). For this study (NCT05819853), a total of 27 patients with a diagnosis of PCOS and obesity who did not reduce their body weight via a lifestyle modification program were treated with 0.5 mg of subcutaneous semaglutide weekly. Following 3 months of treatment with semaglutide, an improvement in body weight with a mean decrease in body weight of approximately 7.6 kg and a mean body mass index loss of 3.1 was observed.^3,4—Gillian McGovern, Associate Editor

REFERENCES

1. Constantino AK. Weight loss drugs could be a gamechanger for women with a common hormonal disorder. CNBC. July 20, 2025. Updated July 21, 2025. Accessed July 24, 2025. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/20/weight-loss-drugs-could-help-treat-pcos.html

2. Polycystic ovary syndrome. National Health Service. Updated October 11, 2022. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos/

3. Carmina E, Longo RA. Semaglutide treatment of excessive body weight in obese PCOS patients unresponsive to lifestyle programs. J Clin Med. 2023;12(18):5921. doi:10.3390/jcm12185921

4. Role of semaglutide in restoring ovulation in youth and adults with polycystic ovary syndrome (RESTORE). ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated August 28, 2025. Accessed September 29, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05819853

Inflammatory Diet During Pregnancy Is Linked to Increased T1D Risk in Offspring

An inflammatory diet during pregnancy could increase the child’s risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D), according to research from a Danish National Birth Cohort. The study authors, who published their findings in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, noted that a diet high in foods that promote low-grade inflammation was linked with a 16% heightened risk for every unit increase in a dietary measure of inflammatory food intake.¹

T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This destruction, which is an inflammatory process, may begin in fetal life. Given the rising incidence of T1D—increasing by an average of 3% to 4% every year—environmental factors are under increasing analysis, particularly those influencing the immune system and inflammatory responses from early development. Diet is a modifiable factor that can influence low-grade inflammation, and a maternal diet high in proinflammatory foods during pregnancy is hypothesized to affect the child’s risk of developing T1D.¹

“A low-grade inflammatory state secondary to an altered immune cell profile, which triggers proinflammatory pathways, is increasingly acknowledged as a critical early-life factor influencing offspring health,” the authors wrote. “The precise mechanisms by which diet modulates the immune response remain elusive, although some clues can be offered for specific dietary components.”²—Kennedy Ferruggia, Assistant Editor

REFERENCES

1. Noorzae R, Bjerregaard AA, Halldorsson TI, et al. Association between a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern during pregnancy and type 1 diabetes risk in offspring: prospective cohort study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2025;79(10):737-745. doi:10.1136/jech-2024-223320

2. ‘Inflammatory’ diet during pregnancy may raise child’s type 1 risk. News release. BMJ Group. July 1, 2025. Accessed September 16, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1089224