Research
Adherence
Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion) promotes weight loss (~6% TBWL) and may improve fertility by mitigating PCOS and endometriosis effects, though it is less effective than GLP-1 RAs.
Contrave is an oral option for weight loss that targets food cravings and reward pathways. It typically results in about 6% weight loss. It is less potent than GLP-1 injections but may help with emotional eating. You must stop taking it before trying to conceive.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Contrave... seems to work most significantly for weight loss by inhibiting the rewarding and reinforcing effects of food consumption. Clinical trials report ~ 6% loss of starting total body weight... It may also improve a woman’s ability to conceive by mitigating the effects of PCOS and endometriosis
Why this rating
Cited COR trials and narrative review synthesis.
Source
Medical therapy to treat obesity and optimize fertility in women of reproductive age: a narrative review
Janelle Duah et al. · Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology · 2025
DOI 10.1186/s12958-024-01339-y
narrative_reviewCited 27×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Bariatric surgery is not first-line therapy for women of reproductive age hoping to conceive quickly due to risks of nutrient deficiencies and the required 1-2 year delay before pregnancy.Strong
- GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide) produce significant weight loss (6–30%+ TBWL) and improve fertility outcomes (spontaneous conception, IVF pregnancy rates) in women with obesity and PCOS when used in the preconception period.Good
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