Exploring the Impact of Semaglutide on Sex Drive in Women

You want to lose weight to have more energy and feel better overall. But you’ve tried dieting before and it doesn’t seem to make a difference. So you started making regular dates with gym equipment and dedicated yourself to always taking the stairs. Every week, like clockwork, you step on the scales and the needle is still in the same place.

Maybe you have a family history of obesity, and you feel like your body is genetically incapable of losing weight. You’re convinced that no amount of exercising or dieting you try will help you lose more than a few pounds here and there.

What if we told you there’s a third step to losing weight? Most people need something to help kick start their weight loss; sometimes, that help comes from a weight loss medication. Semaglutide has helped many people lose weight, get healthier, and lead fuller, more productive lives. 

But what about the side effects? Can semaglutide impact a woman’s sex drive? Let’s look at how semaglutide works to help you understand how it can impact your body. 

How Does Semaglutide Work?

The main purpose of weight loss medicine like semaglutide is to activate a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Your body produces this hormone as you eat. It’s part of the way your stomach signals your brain to let it know when you’re full. When you eat, the GLP-1 in semaglutide will tell your brain you’re full long before the hormone organically sends the signal, helping you eat less than normal.

Semaglutide also slows down your digestion so food stays in your stomach longer. This means you won’t be hungry as often. This helps develop a pattern of eating fewer calories than you burn, which lets you lose weight.

What Effects Does Semaglutide Have On A Woman’s Sex Drive?

Yes, most of the side effects of semaglutide are digestive; however, anything that changes your digestive hormones can mess with sexual ones too. We’ll need to see more conclusive research before we say that one of the side effects of semaglutide is changes to libido.

But there is a connection between taking weight loss medication and having sexual issues. Men have shown symptoms of disorders like erectile dysfunction when they take weight loss drugs. Women on semaglutide have fewer obvious sexual dysfunctions, but they have shown concerns about a decrease in sex drive.

For women, the most common way semaglutide can impact your sex life is by causing a hormonal change that leads to lowered libido. You might notice that you don’t have the desire to engage in sexual activity as often as you did. While using semaglutide, it’s possible you could experience changes or fluctuations in sensation during sex.

If you notice any changes in your sexual activity while you’re on a weight loss program, you can talk to your provider. They’ll suggest monitoring your responses to sexual activity to see exactly what’s changed. They can then help you find out how to regain your normal sex life.

Low sex drive could also be caused by combining semaglutide with another medication. Be sure you’ve told your provider what medicines you take and the dosage. Once they’ve ruled out medication as the cause, your provider can figure out the best way to treat your low sex drive.

Is Low Sex Drive A Permanent Side Effect Of Semaglutide?

Until we have more scientific proof, we can’t say whether low sex drive is a permanent side effect of semaglutide; however, most patients say that as their body adjusts to the medicine, the side effects–gastrointestinal and sexual–seem to decrease or resolve completely. 

If you’re still having problems with low interest in sex after you’ve been using injections for a while, ask your provider about your issues to see what they recommend. They may suggest you switch to a different weight loss drug if the sexual effects are impacting your daily life.

Semaglutide And Female Sex Drive

While not an official side effect, semaglutide sometimes causes women to experience a decrease in their sex drive. You still want to lose weight but side effects shouldn’t change how you live. The providers at Allure Esthetic can walk you through your entire weight loss journey–and help with any problems that may come up along the way.