Topics: Ozempic, Mental Health, Health, US News, Sex and Relationships
Psychologist addresses concerns that Ozempic could alter sex drive after users report similar experiences on the drug.
An estimated 12 percent of adults in the US have used GLP-1 medications, like Ozempic, to either help manage type 2 diabetes or shed some pounds.
As the drug has soared in popularity from the Hollywood elite and beyond, some users who have put it to the test say they have faced some little-know side effects, like gas, 'Ozempic penis' and sagging skin.
Physical changes aside, others further claim the drug has adversely affected their sex life, with their libido taking a complete nose dive.
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"Mine has left the building. I miss it!", said one on Reddit, while another agreed it felt like their sex drive has completely 'disappeared' around three-to-four months in.
Now, a clinical psychologist and professor at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine has lifted the lid on whether GLP-1 could really be playing an unwanted role in the bedroom.
Speaking to Pure Wow, Rachel Goldman said it's not necessarily Ozempic that is causing friction in relationships but weight loss in general, which she says is 'nothing new'.
She explained: "We’ve seen it post-bariatric surgery. So similar kinds of life changes made after weight loss achieved by GLP-1s are to be expected.”
The pro continued couples can be driven apart by the sudden change, even resulting in divorce.
However, as for why it could be altering a user's sex life, Goldman said GLP-1 drugs target 'the reward center in the brain', which is why users experience 'less food noise, fewer craving and less interest in alcohol use'.
"It's also why what might impact your sex drive," she added.
The insight comes as a study into GLP-1 found new users could experience cognitive changes in their decision-making, partly from the calorie deficit inspired by the drug and the rapid weight loss as well as the effects of GLP-1 on brain function.
"This isn’t as far-fetched as it might sound," the research added, noting how mood changes from drugs can be pretty common.
And as well as a nosedive in sexual interest, Goldman said she's equally observed Ozempic patients report an increase in their libido.
Dozens of patients told The Wall Street Journal the same, with some reporting a 'newfound intimacy' with their partners, sparked by a boost to their health and self-confidence after taking the drug.
Others on Reddit also reported a rise in their sex drive on Ozempic, as one said: "Mines definitely improved, my hubby loves it. Lol. I went years without any desire at all."
Still, the psychologist warns the lifestyle changes brought about by Ozempic could pave the way for couples to go their separate ways.
"Let’s say you’re in a couple and your thing together is to watch a movie and munch popcorn on the couch,” Goldman said. "After starting a GLP-1, that person may want to go on an evening walk instead. So if that person takes their walk alone, they need to find and create a new ritual with their partner.”
On the flip side, she said there can be feelings of 'resentment' from the person who 'doesn't want to change their ritual or change to support their partner'.
When contacted for comment, Novo Nordisk, which manufactures Ozempic, told UNILAD: "Patient safety is of the utmost importance to Novo Nordisk, and we recommend patients take these medications for their approved indications and under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
"We continuously collect safety data on our marketed GLP-1 medicines and work closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety. As part of this work, we continue to monitor reports of adverse drug reactions through routine pharmacovigilance.
"We recommend that any patient experiencing side effects while taking GLP-1 RA medicines, including Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide injection), report them to their healthcare provider and via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme."
