Ozempic and the menstrual cycle: can weight loss drugs affect your period?

We asked Dr. Yael Cooperman, M.D. about how weight loss medications like Ozempic might affect your period.

While the FDA and clinical trials haven’t reported any direct effects of Ozempic and other medications like it (Wegovy, Saxenda, etc.) on the menstrual cycle, these medications, which all belong to a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, can stimulate significant weight loss. Rapid and significant weight loss can disrupt your menstrual cycle. For people who previously had regular periods, the medications can put a halt to their menstrual cycle altogether. This is referred to by doctors as functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, and it’s common in female athletes. For the most part, when weight stabilizes at a healthy level, periods return, and there should be no long-term effect on your fertility.

There’s also a condition called PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), which often involves  overweight and elevated blood sugar levels. People with this condition may experience irregular or absent periods, which can be a sign of anovulatory cycles (or menstrual cycles during which an egg isn’t released). For people with PCOS, weight loss can bring back normal cycles and help a person restore their fertility.

Also, getting blood sugar levels to consistently normal levels before trying to conceive is crucial for both fetal and maternal health. Remember that Ozempic and similar drugs should not be used if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. If you want to try medications like Ozempic for weight loss or blood sugar control, speak to your healthcare provider about how these drugs might impact your period. 

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Current version

August 23, 2023

Written by

Yael Cooperman, MD

Fact checked by

Felix Gussone, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Felix Gussone, MD, Ro

Felix Gussone is a physician, health journalist and a Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.