By now you’ve probably heard about GLP-1sIt is sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy. This class of medications mimics naturally occurring hormones involved in controlling appetite and regulating blood sugar to treat type 2 diabetes and aid in weight loss efforts. It should come as no surprise, then, that conversations around these common medications focus largely on their scope. However, some scientists are starting to look more closely at how it affects something perhaps more personal: our sex lives.
Almost at present One in five Americans reported taking or taking GLP-1, according to a recent poll. As the number of people using these drugs has risen, so have anecdotal reports of how they affect daily users – and yes, that includes things like pleasure and sex drive. Although there isn’t a lot of research on the relationship between sexual health and GLP-1 yet, more scientists are starting to investigate the possible effects.
In a review published in pillars of obesity In March 2026, for example, researchers suggested that GLP-1 may influence desire by affecting brain chemistry. But how can these medications affect sex drive? Is there a way to continue your sex life while using GLP-1? We enlisted the help of experts to find out.
GLP-1 agonists may reduce your thirst while alleviating hunger.
To understand how GLP-1 affects sexual desire, it’s helpful to know how it works more broadly.
Some options, such as Wegovy and Ozempic, contain semaglutide, which is a synthetic version of a natural hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1. Semaglutide binds to GLP-1 receptors throughout the brain and body, helping to regulate appetite, blood sugar and feelings of fullness, says James Simon, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist and reproductive endocrinologist and one of the researchers behind pillars of obesity study, tells SELF.
Other options, such as Zepbound and Mounjaro, contain a different active ingredient called tirzepatide, which mimics both GLP-1 and a related hormone, thus affecting the body in similar ways to semaglutide.
In addition to reporting decreased appetite and increased satiety, a number of patients have also found that these weight-loss medications calm what they call “food noise.” But as it turns out, the same parts of the brain that control appetite are also responsible for other reward-seeking behaviors, according to Dr. Simon. He says this could help explain why taking GLP-1 may have the added effect of reducing appetite for another pleasurable activity: sex.
