podcast episode · the dr. gabrielle lyon show · 15/04/2025 · 1h 45m
researchers got a surprise when they discovered people taking glp-1s were losing weight and reporting feeling fuller. the surprises keep coming – both welcome and worrisome.
what is the relationship between glp-1 drugs and polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos)? rebecca jaspan, mph, rd, ceds, cdces everywhere you turn these days, it seems as if someone is talking about ozempic, wegovy, or mounjaro, diabetes drugs more recently advertised as weight loss medications. more recent research is pointing to the use of this class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide 1 (glp-1) receptor agonists in polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos). how do these medications work for people with pcos and what are possible risks or concerns? here’s what to know about glp-1 receptor agonists and pcos. how do glp-1 receptor agonists impact pcos? these drugs are effective for individuals with diabetes and insulin resistance because they mimic the action of glucagon-like peptide 1, a signaling hormone that helps to lower blood sugar levels. there are three primary ways that glp-1s help manage blood sugar: they delay stomach emptying. after a meal, digestion is slowed so that nutrients are released more slowly into the bloodstream, preventing a blood sugar spike. they improve insulin resistance of adipose tissue, though the mechanism is unclear.1 they decrease the sugar stored in the liver that gets released into your bloodstream. while not yet approved by the fda for pcos, glp-1s are being explored for use in its treatment. an estimated 5 million women in the united states are diagnosed with pcos, which is a condition that causes women to have insulin resistance, produce excess testosterone and can come with symptoms that include irregular periods, infertility, facial and body hair, severe acne, and ovarian cysts. these hormonal imbalances can also contribute to metabolic issues such as high cholesterol and triglycerides.2 glp-1s are thought to help with these pcos symptoms by lowering fasting blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and lowering cholesterol and triglycerides.3 what’s the latest research? in addition to lifestyle interventions, the only medically approved treatment options for pcos are metformin and oral contraceptives. the use of glp-1s with or without metformin is being studies for women with pcos. in one meta-analysis, the benefits of glp-1s versus metformin were compared in women with pcos. glp-1s showed to be better at improving insulin sensitivity and reducing body mass index than metformin alone. they had similar effects on menstrual regularity, testosterone and androgen levels, hirsutism, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and total cholesterol when compared.4 glp-1s are also shown to have a positive effect in pregnancy rates in women with pcos. a randomized clinical trial looked at pregnancy rates in women on the glp-1 exenatide 10 mg twice daily or metformin 1000 mg twice daily for 12 weeks. in the second 12 weeks, all participants received metformin alone. the rate of pregnancy in the participants treated with exenatide was significantly higher than those treated with metformin alone.5 while more research needs to be done on the specific impacts of glp-1s on pcos, current studies show that there may be a significant benefit. there is evidence that glp-1s affect the mechanisms involved in insulin resistance, decrease inflammation, and reduce oxidative stress. they also show improvements in fertility.6 risks and considerations glp-1s are not without side effects and risks for women with pcos. common side effects include nausea, vomiting, headaches, gas, and diarrhea. not consuming enough protein is also a concern because as appetite decreases, overall food intake does as well. a lack of protein can lead to decreased muscle mass and slowed metabolism. further, glp-1s can affect the absorption of vitamin b12 as well as other vitamins. be sure to consult a registered dietitian if you are considering starting these medications to ensure you are receiving the proper nutrition. current data suggests that these medications need to be taken forever and when individuals go off of them, they gain the weight they lost back. many people find it difficult to tolerate the side effects. additionally, those who become pregnant need to stop taking glp-1s as safety data during pregnancy are lacking. making lifestyle changes along with taking glp-1s is essential in the event that an individual needs to stop taking them or doesn’t want to be dependent on them forever. finally, if you struggle with an eating disorder or disordered eating, it is advised not to start glp-1s. there is also a high prevalence of eating disorders in the pcos population.7 decreased hunger cues and weight loss can be triggering for someone in recovery or working on recovering from an eating disorder. speak with your treatment team before starting one of these medications. bottom line research shows numerous benefits of taking glp-1s for pcos for their effect on insulin resistance, stabilizing fasting blood sugar levels and androgen levels, and fertility. be sure to speak with your doctor and registered dietitian to decide if these medications are useful addition to your pcos treatment. jiang y, wang z, ma b, et al. glp-1 improves adipocyte insulin sensitivity following induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress. front pharmacol. 2018;9:1168. published 2018 oct 16. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.01168 siddiqui s, mateen s, ahmad r, moin s. a brief insight into the etiology, genetics, and immunology of polycystic ovarian syndrome (pcos). j assist reprod genet. 2022;39(11):2439-2473. doi:10.1007/s10815-022-02625-7 jensterle m, herman r, janež a. therapeutic potential of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists in polycystic ovary syndrome: from current clinical evidence to future perspectives. biomedicines. 2022;10(8):1989. published 2022 aug 16. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10081989 han y, li y, he b. glp-1 receptor agonists versus metformin in pcos: a systematic review and meta-analysis. reprod biomed online. 2019;39(2):332-342. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2019.04.017 liu x, zhang y, zheng sy, et al. efficacy of exenatide on weight loss, metabolic parameters and pregnancy in overweight/obese polycystic ovary syndrome. clin endocrinol (oxf). 2017;87(6):767-774. doi:10.1111/cen.13454 bednarz k, kowalczyk k, cwynar m, et al. the role of glp-1 receptor agonists in insulin resistance with concomitant obesity treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome. int j mol sci. 2022;23(8):4334. published 2022 apr 14. doi:10.3390/ijms23084334 krug i, giles s, paganini c. binge eating in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: prevalence, causes, and management strategies. neuropsychiatr dis treat. 2019;15:1273-1285. published 2019 may 16. doi:10.2147/ndt.s168944
obesity drugs like wegovy are proving useful in many diseases. polycystic ovary syndrome, a chronic condition that can cause infertility, may be one.
get the facts on pcos, how ozempic treats pcos, how well it works, how to use, side effects, cost, coupons, warnings, and more
polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) is the most prevalent endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. this condition is characterized by hyperandrogenism and either oligo- or anovulation. pcos patients often present comorbidities such as obesity, ...
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the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on gut microbiota with metabolic parameters including body weight and the hormone profile in pcos.
background polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) is a common endocrine disorder associated with metabolic and hormonal abnormalities. this study aimed to evaluate the comparative efficacy of pharmacological interventions on these outcomes. methods we conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (rcts) assessing pharmacological treatments for pcos. searches in pubmed, medline, embase, and web of science were conducted up to october 20, 2023. eligible studies were rcts with at least 12 weeks of follow-up and outcomes including body weight (bw), body mass index (bmi), waist circumference (wc), testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (shbg), lipid profiles, homa-ir, fasting blood glucose (fbg), and fasting insulin (fins). results twenty-nine rcts with 1476 participants were included. the combination of standard therapy with glp-1 receptor agonists significantly reduced bw (md= -3.44; 95% ci= -6.20 to -0.67), bmi (md= -2.05; 95% ci= -3.55 to -0.55), and wc (md= -4.39; 95% ci= -6.75 to -2.02) compared to standard therapy alone. orlistat significantly lowered testosterone (smd= -2.16; 95% ci= -3.84 to -0.48) and increased hdl-c levels (smd = 0.90; 95% ci = 0.02 to 1.79) compared to placebo. the combination therapy also reduced homa-ir (md= -1.29; 95% ci= -2.38 to -0.21) and fbg (smd= -1.80; 95% ci= -3.04 to -0.55) compared to placebo. conclusion combining standard therapy with glp-1 receptor agonists offers superior efficacy in improving metabolic and hormonal outcomes in women with pcos. orlistat effectively reduces androgen levels. these findings support the use of combination pharmacotherapy for comprehensive management of pcos.
polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) poses a multifaceted challenge, affecting women through genetic susceptibility, obesity, and insulin resistance. this narrative review explores the potential therapeutic role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (glp-1 ras) in pcos treatment, with a focus on weight loss and associated metabolic changes. the off-label use of glp-1 ras in this population helps to treat comorbid obesity. by thoroughly examining pcos diagnostic criteria, current treatments, and clinical trial outcomes involving glp-1 ras, this research reveals encouraging results. however, concerns about the long-term safety of glp-1 ras, including serious adverse events, warrant further investigation. while glp-1 ras hold promise for treating obesity in pcos, safety issues may limit their utility.
polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) is characterized by hyperandrogenism and ovulatory dysfunction. women with pcos have an elevated prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors that worsen after menopause.
glucagon-like peptide-1 (glp-1) analogues have emerged as promising therapeutic agentsfor the treatment of type 2 diabetes. recent studies have suggested a potential role of glp-1in reproductive functions, offering new avenues for fertility treatment. this paper aims toreview the current understanding of glp-1 analogues to human reproduction, focusing ontheir potential application in fertility treatment, and discussing the molecular mechanismsand signalling pathways involved. further, we highlight the challenges and future directionsin the application of glp-1 analogues for fertility treatment.
glp-1 receptor agonists, such as liraglutide and semaglutide, can help manage pcos by improving insulin sensitivity, reducing insulin resistance, and promoti...
glp-1 receptor agonists, such as liraglutide, can benefit patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos), particularly those with obesity, by promoting weigh...
in this article, a patient shares her health journey with pcos, celiac disease, and metabolic health.
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you've tried everything. counting calories. keto. intermittent fasting. your doctor ran "normal" labs and sent you home with a shrug and a "just eat less,
discover how glp-1 medications help manage pcos, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote weight loss. get expert advice at livewellmd weight loss clinics.
now that you have the pens in your fridge, you may be wondering how or what you should eat while taking glp medications. here’s what to know.
polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) affects 6-10% of women and related metabolic complications include insulin resistance (ir), diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (nafld), which all present in...
the diabetes rx can help with a number of symptoms
glp-1 medications and pcos
learn how glp-1 medications are revolutionizing the management of pcos. discover symptoms, hormonal imbalances, misconceptions, benefits, and how to engage in empowered discussions with healthcare providers.
purpose this study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists on pregnancy rate, menses, anthropometric and hormonal parameters in pcos patients. methods we conducted searches of the published literature in pubmed, embase, cochrane library, web of science up to september 2022. data from randomized controlled trials were obtained to assess the effects of glp1ras in pcos women. weighted mean difference, standardized mean difference, and risks ratio were employed for effect size estimation using a random-effects model. results a total of 840 patients with 469 individuals in glp1ras group and 371 individuals in control group from 11 rcts were included. glp1ras usage was associated with an improvement in natural pregnancy rate (rr: 1.72, 95% ci 1.22 to 2.43, p = 0.002, i2 = 0%) and menstrual regularity (smd: 1.72, 95% ci 0.60 to 2.85, p < 0.001, i2 = 95.6%). there were no statistically significant differences in total pregnancy rate, ivf pregnancy rate between two groups, but total pr elevated in a short time after glp1ras as shown in subgroup analysis. randomization to glp1ras treatment was associated with great improvement in homa-ir, bmi, wc, shbg and a slight reduction in tt compared to control group. a decrease in tbf was seen in european population. glp1ras monotherapy was not superior to metformin when it came to ft, dheas, fai. conclusions prescription of glp1ras improves natural pregnancy rate, menstrual cyclicity and insulin sensitivity, anthropometrics, hormonal indexes in pcos women.
discover how glp-1 receptor agonists like semiglutide and wegovy offer hope for weight loss, pcos, and infertility. learn more about your options.
polycystic ovary syndrome (pcos) is a common endocrine disorder affecting millions of women worldwide. learn more about glp-1s and pcos
american chemical society: chemistry for life.
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background: withdrawal of semaglutide is frequently followed by weight regain due to compensatory biological changes that prevent the maintenance of long-ter...
so how do ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (glp-1 ras) like wegovy and munjaro, work for people with pcos? here’s what to know
before you consider ozempic for pcos, a hormonal imbalance that affects ovarian function, read more about natural ways that could boost your glp-1.
can glp-1 drugs help with pcos-related obesity and metabolic issues? explore the link in our latest blog!
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think of the eternal question about the chicken and the egg. the relationship between glp-1s and pcos isn’t all that different. let's unpack it.