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GLP-1 weight-loss drugs can improve sexual function, especially in people with diabetes.

GLP-1s may worsen erectile function in obese, non-diabetic men, despite benefits for diabetics.

Anyone who takes a GLP-1 should be aware they can cause side effects that impair sex.

First approved in 2021, the new weight loss drugs, “GLP-1 receptor agonists,” include several medications, notably semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic). The GLP-1s suppress appetite so well that they are the most effective weight-loss drugs ever developed. They also reduce blood sugar, which helps treat diabetes.

In 2026, just five years after the first GLP-1 was approved, an estimated 12 percent of American adults—one in eight—now take them. Many report losing 20 to 40 pounds, sometimes more, and hail the GLP-1s as miracles.

Many users also report improved sex. This makes biological sense, especially for diabetics. Diabetes damages the arteries, including those that carry blood through the genitals. Diabetes is notorious for causing sexual impairment, notably erectile dysfunction (ED). GLP-1s normalize blood flow. As blood flows more freely through the genitals, erections firm.

In addition, lugging extra weight around takes a great deal of energy. When the drugs reduce weight, most users report less fatigue and more energy for enjoyable activities, including sex.

But an undercurrent of reports also associates the GLP-1s with a variety of sexual complaints. The package inserts that come with the drugs mention possible sexual side effects, presumably because some turned up during the approval process. But research into all this is still in its infancy.

So far, it appears that only a small fraction of GLP-1 users develop sex problems. But everyone involved—users and the sexuality and mental health professionals who deal with them—should understand that GLP-1s may cause sexual side effects.

Recent Research on Sexual Side Effects of GLP-1 Drugs

Here’s a round-up of recent research:

Libido loss. We would expect GLP-1-induced weight loss to boost sexual desire. People who shed pounds feel more energetic. They feel better, and get told they look better. Add them up, and many GLP-1 users report more interest in sex. But there have also been scattered reports of libido loss in some GLP-1 users. Researchers at George Washington........

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