(NewsNation) — Popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy could increase men’s risk of erectile dysfunction, a recent study suggests.
Researchers from the University of Texas found that nondiabetic men on semaglutide — the active ingredient in the brand-name medications — were 4 1/2 times more likely to develop erectile dysfunction than those not taking it.
Overall, erectile dysfunction was still rare, showing up in 1.47% of the patient group versus 0.32% of the control group, according to the study.
The results are somewhat surprising, given that weight loss is typically associated with better sexual health.
More research will be needed to determine whether there’s a link between ED and popular weight loss drugs, but anecdotally, some Reddit users have noticed a connection.
“I am a 39 year old male and until I started Ozempic I did not have erectile dysfunction issues,” claimed one user. “I have been on Ozempic for 3 months. TT level dropped very fast and I am on treatment to fix it now.”
Researchers in the latest study also found that those who took semaglutide were at two times higher risk of being diagnosed with a testosterone deficiency: 1.53% versus 0.80%.
The analysis drew from a large database of patient data and included men between 18 and 50 years of age with a BMI of more than 30 who were prescribed semaglutide after June 2021.
Men who had been diagnosed with diabetes were excluded as were those with erectile dysfunction or those who had been taking drugs like Viagra.
In total, 3,094 men matched the criteria and were compared against an equal number of similar men who were not prescribed semaglutide.
The latest findings add one more variable that potential Ozempic and Wegovy users will likely consider.
Semaglutide has been linked to a host of positive benefits beyond weight loss, including improved cardiovascular health as well as reducing the risk of complications among those with chronic kidney disease.
