Can Ozempic help with endometriosis?
In this article
What's the lowdown?
Ozempic and Wegovy are injectable medications which contain the active ingredient semaglutide
It has been licensed for use in type 2 diabetes and weight loss
There is no research into the Wegovy and Ozempic effects on endometriosis
Please do not self-medicate without seeking a doctors advice on treatment
What is Ozempic?
Semaglutide is a medication licensed for use in Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). It is sold by Novo Nordisk under the brand name Ozempic and is shown to lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics1.
Novo Nordisk also sells Wegovy which contains the same medication, semaglutide, but this is licensed for weight loss instead2.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist which mimics the GLP-1 hormone in the body. This GLP-1 hormone is naturally released by our gastrointestinal tract in response to food consumption. GLP-1 stimulates the production of insulin which works to reduce the sugar levels in the blood. In addition to this, GLP-1 also stimulates the part of the brain that regulates appetite. This is why people who have used Ozempic have also noticed weight loss3.
Ozempic only comes in injectable form and can be administered in the upper thigh or tummy. It is a prescription medication but can also be bought from online pharmacies. It is only provided by the NHS if you meet their criteria.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic gynaecological problem. It is characterised by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the womb. It can be found in other parts of the body like the ovaries, fallopian tube, and even the bowel4. This endometrial tissue acts the same way as the endometrial tissue in the uterus. It slowly builds up over the cycle due to the hormonal changes that occur during the cycle and then sheds during our periods. Sadly, this triggers the body’s inflammatory reaction leading to painful periods and other nasty symptoms like bloating and infertility.
Ozempic for endometriosis
There has been limited research on Ozempic and Wegovy outside of weight loss and T2DM. Ozempic and endometriosis have not been specifically researched, the same goes for Wegovy and endometriosis.
There has been positive research findings on Semaglutide and weight loss. In one study of adolescents, there was more than 5% weight loss in over 70% of their participants5. Another more recent 2023 study achieved similar results with 80% of their participants achieving a significant weight loss of 11.5kg6. So if weight gain is a symptom of your endometriosis it could potentially have some favourable effects.
Does Ozempic help with endometriosis?
Well, Ozempic and Wegovy are not licensed for use in endometriosis, and there is not enough evidence to support the long-term risk associated with these medications7. Watch this space! Researchers are working to get more information!
However, there are some people who have trialled semaglutide for their endometriosis symptoms and have reported some positive impact on their pain levels.
A user on reddit commented8: “So I have suffered with a severe case of endometriosis for years. I can’t eat a lot of foods without having painful bowel movements. I also cannot have an orgasm without being left in severe agony. I have a lot of other symptoms, fatigue etc. Before I started taking Ozempic (I’m on week 3 now), a few other girls with endometriosis said since they started taking Ozempic they are virtually pain free….. However 2 weeks after having Ozempic I had sex with my husband and had the big O, and for the first time in years I had no pain afterwards. I almost cried. I haven’t had another orgasm since, so not sure if this was a one off, but I also have no bowel pain anymore (and I’m not even being careful to avoid trigger foods).”
We do not condone self-medicating with semaglutide as a treatment for endometriosis. You should never take prescription medications without a doctor’s prescription, as you do not know how they will affect your health. Each individual’s experience of endometriosis is highly varied, and different treatment plans work for different people.
Some initial research has been done into metformin and its anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties, which can reduce painful endometriosis symptoms9. Could this be the same mechanism in which liraglutide works? Researchers think there are lots of different processes happening that cause endometriosis; not everyone has the same cause so different tailored treatments are needed.
We will have to get back to you when we have more research in this field! While you are waiting, there are multiple other tested and researched endometriosis treatments including hormonal treatments, lifestyle changes, strong pain medications and surgery. We delve into more of the endometriosis treatment options here!
Can Ozempic be used for any other women’s health conditions?
Ozempic and Wegovy have been found to also possess some beneficial effects on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Again it is not licensed for use in this condition but some research has shown that semaglutide can positively affect insulin sensitivity in the body and aid weight loss which can restore menstrual cycles. We dive further into this topic in our dedicated articles on Wegovy and Ozempic for PCOS.
Dr Fatema Dawoodbhoy
Fatema is currently training in London as an Academic doctor, with a special interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is passionate about championing women to understand their bodies better and prioritise their health. She understands the importance of clinically accurate articles and has been writing engaging and educative medical content for 5 years.
Our medical review process
This article has been medically reviewed for factual and up to date information by a Lowdown doctor.
