Does Ozempic Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Key takeaways:
GLP-1 receptor agonists are a class of medications used to help treat diabetes and obesity. They include medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Some people taking semaglutide report symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
There may be a higher risk of erectile dysfunction if you’re taking semaglutide for weight loss. But semaglutide may actually improve erectile dysfunction if you have diabetes.
More people are taking semaglutide — either as Ozempic or Wegovy — for diabetes and obesity.
Like any medication, semaglutide can cause side effects. Most of these side effects involve the gut. However some people have reported symptoms of erectile dysfunction while taking semaglutide. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a medical condition that causes trouble achieving or maintaining an erection. Certain medications can lead to ED.
But is semaglutide one of those medications? The answer may surprise you.
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Does semaglutide cause erectile dysfunction?
Experts are still investigating how medications like Ozempic and Wegovy affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, the system of the body that controls reproductive and sexual function.
There’s some evidence that semaglutide can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction in people without diabetes. In a recent study, researchers found that people without diabetes who took semaglutide for weight loss had a higher chance of developing ED. But the overall rate of erectile dysfunction in this group was still very low — just 1.5%.
Can semaglutide ever help with erectile dysfunction?
Yes, semaglutide may actually improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
There’s evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists may improve erectile dysfunction in people with diabetes. One small study found that adding liraglutide (another GLP-1 receptor agonist) to treatment with testosterone and metformin improved erectile dysfunction in people with diabetes. Another study found similar results. In this study, people with diabetes and erectile dysfunction received both metformin and a GLP-1 receptor agonist. This group had improvement in their ED symptoms.
Researchers think there are a few ways GLP-1 receptor agonists may help with ED, including:
Better smooth muscle function
Improved blood flow
Less damage to the testicles
Can Ozempic trigger pancreatitis? Probably not. But you shouldn’t take Ozempic if you’ve had pancreatitis in the past.
Can you take Ozempic if you have a thyroid condition? It depends. People with a history of medullary thyroid cancer shouldn’t take Ozempic.
Does Ozempic cause depression? Not directly. But people have reported experiencing symptoms of depression while taking Ozempic.
Can you take Viagra and Ozempic together?
Yes, most people can take Viagra (sildenafil) and Ozempic together. There are no known interactions between these two medications.
Can you take Cialis and Ozempic together?
Yes, most people can take Cialis (tadalafil) and Ozempic together. There are no known interactions between these two medications.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, semaglutide may increase testosterone levels. This may be a result of weight loss while on semaglutide. Or semaglutide may have a direct effect on the testicles.
Yes, most people can take Wegovy with Viagra or Cialis.
The bottom line
A small number of people without diabetes who use semaglutide for weight loss may experience erectile dysfunction. But for people who have Type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic or Wegovy may actually improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Researchers need to do more work to understand the connection between semaglutide and erectile dysfunction.
Why trust our experts?
References
Abdullah, D. M., et al. (2022). Semaglutide early intervention attenuated testicular dysfunction by targeting the GLP-1–PPAR-α–kisspeptin–steroidogenesis signaling pathway in a testicular ischemia-reperfusion rat model. Peptides.
Defeudis, G., et al. (2022). Effects of diet and antihyperglycemic drugs on erectile dysfunction: A systematic review. Andrology.
Hafen, B. B., et al (2023). Anatomy, smooth muscle. StatPearls.
Drugs.com. (n.d.). Drug interaction report: Ozempic, Viagra.
Drugs.com. (n.d.). Drug interaction report: Cialis, Ozempic.
Giagulli, V. A., et al. (2015). Adding liraglutide to lifestyle changes, metformin and testosterone therapy boosts erectile function in diabetic obese men with overt hypogonadism. Andrology.
Gregoric, N., et al. The effects of semaglutide vs testosterone replacement therapy on functional hypogonadism and sperm quality in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Endocrine Abstracts.
Kahl, K. L. (2023). Semaglutide for weight loss may increase risk for ED in non-diabetic men. Urology Times Journal.
Liao, B., et al. (2024). Prescribing Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism in non-diabetic males. The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Lisco, G., et al. (2024). Long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists boost erectile function in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus complaining of erectile dysfunction: A retrospective cohort study. Andrology.
Pelusi, C. (2022). The effects of the new therapeutic treatments for diabetes mellitus on the male reproductive axis. Frontiers in Endocrinology.
Van Cauwenberghe, J., et al. (2022). Effects of treatment for diabetes mellitus on testosterone concentrations: A systematic review. Andrology.
