Low Sex Drive While on Ozempic: What Does Research Say?

GLP-1 is a hormone produced in the gut that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. Medications that mimic GLP-1 (known as GLP-1 receptor agonists) are used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide has been shown to reduce reward-seeking behaviors. For many of us, that means becoming indifferent to sweet and fatty foods, leading to significant weight loss. It is possible that the same mechanism behind weight loss can spill over to our sex life. 

Animal Study Shows That Ozempic May Reduce Sex Drive

In a study by Vestlund and Jerlhag (2020), the researchers found that when they injected a GLP-1 receptor agonist (a substance that mimics the effects of GLP-1) called exendin-4 into specific areas of the brain in male mice, it reduced their sexual behaviors. 

In simple terms, this means that activating GLP-1 (Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy) could affect parts of the brain leading to a decrease in the male mice's interest in sexual activities. The study suggests that GLP-1 might play a role in regulating not just food intake and body weight, but also sexual behavior in males.