NEWSWEEK – Ozempic and similar licensed weight loss drugs have exploded in popularity in recent years, with polls showing that as many as one in eight American adults have tried this class of medication at some point.
However, while common side effects, like nausea and cramping, are well understood, many of the wider impacts of these drugs are overlooked, especially when it comes to our genitals.
Ozempic is an injectable prescription drug developed to manage blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The drug has risen to recognition thanks to one side effect: weight loss.
The drug is based on a molecule called semaglutide, which mimics the structure of a hormone that naturally occurs in our bodies called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1).
These hormones play an important role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels by activating specific receptors involved in these pathways.
By mimic GLP-1’s structure, semaglutide can also activate these receptors, inducing feelings of fullness while delaying the emptying of our stomachs. In other words, it makes us less hungry and, therefore, less likely to overeat.
Semaglutide is also used in Ozempic’s sister drug, Wegovy, which has been approved by the FDA for chronic weight management.
But while these drugs have helped millions of Americans move closer to their weight loss goals, they can be accompanied by some unpleasant—and often unexpected—side effects.
“GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Ozempic have become increasingly popular for weight loss and diabetes management,” Dr. Melanie Bone, a consultant OBGYN and U.S. medical director at the gynecological health company Daye, told Newsweek. “However, their effects on vaginal health are an important consideration that is often overlooked.”
“These medications can potentially impact vaginal health in several unexpected ways,” Bone said. “Firstly, the rapid weight loss induced by GLP-1 agonists may alter hormone levels, which could affect vaginal lubrication … ”
