Can Wegovy Help With Weight Loss During Menopause?

Weight changes during menopause can be frustrating. Wegovy (semaglutide) is one option that may help with weight management during menopause. 

But most Wegovy studies weren’t designed specifically for people going through menopause. That leaves important questions about how well it works, whether it’s safe, and how it works alongside menopause hormone therapy (MHT). So far, the research is encouraging, but there are still important gaps in what’s known. 

Here’s what to know about using Wegovy for weight management during and after menopause. 

Can Wegovy help you lose weight during menopause?

Yes, both injectable Wegovy and Wegovy pills can help with weight management during menopause. 

There haven’t been any large Wegovy trials designed specifically for people going through menopause. But people in perimenopause and menopause were included in the Wegovy clinical trials. 

Researchers have looked back at these trials to see how women of different ages responded to Wegovy. One large review found that women taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications lost similar amounts of weight regardless of their age. 

This suggests that being around the age of menopause doesn’t seem to make GLP-1 medications less effective.

For now, people going through menopause can expect results similar to those of other people taking Wegovy. On average, people taking Wegovy lose about 14% of their starting body weight. Some people will lose more or less than this. 

There have also been two small studies that looked more directly at women taking semaglutide during or after menopause. 

One study compared premenopausal and postmenopausal women taking a low dose of semaglutide. After 4 months, both groups lost similar amounts of weight and body fat. This suggests that menopause itself may not make semaglutide less effective.

Another study compared postmenopausal women taking semaglutide alone with those taking  menopause hormone therapy (MHT). After 12 months, both groups lost weight, but women taking MHT lost slightly more weight. This suggests that semaglutide can help you lose weight during menopause. 

These studies are encouraging, but they’re too small to give firm answers on how well semaglutide works for menopause-related weight gain. For now, experts consider GLP-1 medications a reasonable treatment for weight management during and after menopause. 

But more research is needed specifically for this group. These studies could help determine the best dose, length of treatment, and how Wegovy should be used with other menopause treatments.

Is it safe to take Wegovy during menopause?

There haven’t been Wegovy safety studies focused specifically on people going through menopause. So, like with the weight loss data, most of what’s known comes from larger studies that included women of different ages. 

But so far, there’s no evidence that menopause makes Wegovy less safe. 

Menopause by itself isn’t listed as a reason you can’t take Wegovy. But you shouldn’t take Wegovy if you:

• Are pregnant or nursing

• Have an allergy to semaglutide

• Have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer

• Have a personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)

• Developed complications while taking semaglutide in the past

Pregnancy is still possible during perimenopause. Talk with your healthcare team about birth control options if you’re taking Wegovy. 

There are also a few health issues that deserve extra attention during menopause:

• Bone health: Bone loss speeds up around menopause, and weight loss can also cause some bone loss. Getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and protein, along with doing resistance exercises, can help protect your bones.

• Muscle health: Muscle loss happens as you get older. Muscle loss also happens when you lose weight. Getting enough protein and doing strength training can help you keep as much muscle as possible.

Your healthcare team can look at your health history, medications, and risk for bone or muscle loss to help decide whether Wegovy is a safe choice for you.

Can you take a GLP-1 with hormone therapy?

Yes. There aren’t any known interactions between Wegovy and menopause hormone therapy (MHT). There’s also no evidence that taking them together makes their side effects worse. But there also isn’t much research on using these treatments together. So, recommendations may change over time.

Wegovy slows down how quickly food and medications leave your stomach. This could affect how well your body absorbs oral hormone therapy. There’s a small risk that this can worsen vasomotor symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes. If this happens, your healthcare team may adjust your treatment or recommend a form of MHT that doesn’t go through your stomach, such as a patch or gel.

How else can you manage weight during menopause?

Weight changes are common during menopause. And keeping a weight that’s in a healthy range isn’t just about the number on your scale. Certain lifestyle habits can also protect your muscles, bones, heart, and overall health as your body changes. 

Strategies that may help include:

• Choose nutrient-rich foods: There’s no single best menopause diet. Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, healthy fats, and other whole foods. A Mediterranean-style diet is one option that can support a healthy weight and lower your risk of several chronic health conditions.

• Get enough protein: Protein helps you maintain muscle. Good sources include fish, poultry, eggs, Greek yogurt, beans, lentils, soy, nuts, and seeds. Your healthcare team can help you decide how much protein you need.

• Choose healthy carbohydrates: Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans provide fiber and other nutrients. Choose these foods more often than highly processed foods and drinks with added sugar.

• Stay active: Regular exercise can help keep your weight in a healthy range and protect your muscles and bones. Include aerobic activities, such as walking or cycling, along with strength, balance, and flexibility exercises.

• Prioritize sleep: Hot flashes and other menopause symptoms can make it harder to sleep. A regular sleep schedule, exercise, and treatment for ongoing sleep problems can help.

• Limit alcohol and don’t smoke: Alcohol can also trigger hot flashes in some people. Avoiding smoking also helps protect your heart and overall health.

• Manage stress: Menopause often happens during a busy and stressful stage of life. Exercise, meditation, time outdoors, and connecting with friends and family are a few ways to manage stress during menopause.

You don’t need to make all of these changes at once. Small changes that you can maintain over time can support a healthy weight and improve your health during and after menopause.

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Written by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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