GLP-1 weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy could increase testosterone levels and help prevent erectile dysfunction in men, according to a new study.
While more data is needed, researchers from St. Louis University Hospital saw significant increases in testosterone levels for men with obesity or Type 2 diabetes while taking GLP-1 medication.
Men who experience obesity or have Type 2 diabetes often have lower levels of testosterone, which can impact sexual function, muscle mass and bone density.
In the study, the testosterone levels of 110 adult men with obesity or Type 2 diabetes, who were taking GLP-1 medications and not taking testosterone therapies, were analyzed before and throughout 18 months of treatment. The average age in the study was 54.
The study showed that in addition to weight loss, “the proportion of men with normal levels of both total and free testosterone rose from 53% to 77%,” according to the Endocrine Society.
“Our study is among the first to provide compelling evidence that low testosterone can be reversed with the use of commonly prescribed anti-obesity medications,” said Dr. Shellsea Portillo Canales, an endocrinologist at St. Louis University Hospital.
The study’s findings also came with certain limitations. The study was retrospective, meaning researchers analyzed electronic health records rather than conducting a clinical trial. In addition, the testosterone levels of men included in the study were not measured after they stopped taking the GLP-1 medications.
“If weight is regained, testosterone levels could potentially drop again,” Portillo told NBC News.
GLP-1 medications have exploded in popularity due to their efficacy in controlling blood glucose and weight management, according to UChicago Medicine.
The results of the study were presented at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society’s yearly meeting in San Francisco.
