Ozempic impairs patients’ sexual performance

The use of Ozempic has been associated with a series of side effects, such as bad breath, hair loss and even weight gain after stopping the medication. Now, men claim to be experiencing erectile dysfunction, as reported in several posts on the online forum Reddit.

“I’m a 39-year-old man and, until I started Ozempic, I had no problems with erectile dysfunction,” said one alleged user. “I have been using Ozempic for three months. The testosterone level dropped very quickly and I’m on treatment to fix that now.”

Another person wrote: “I started taking Ozempic for type 2 diabetes about six months ago, increasing my dosage every four weeks until I reached 1 mg. During this period, I found it almost impossible to achieve or maintain an erection.”

The evidence is not purely anecdotal. Although studies on the link between Ozempic and impotence are scarce, a survey from February this year found that one in 75 men reported experiencing the symptom of erotic dysfunction.

Some health experts say the side effect has to do with the fact that Ozempic is a semiglutide. The medication may potentially contribute to impotence due to its effects on vascular smooth muscle and blood flow, according to a 2021 study.

It is worth mentioning that studies have already shown decreasing levels of testosterone – an important factor in libido – due to weight loss caused by Ozempic. Research has even revealed that weight loss can “reduce the prevalence of low testosterone levels in overweight middle-aged men” by almost 50%.

Despite the reports, there is still no scientifically proven information about the sexual side effect.