How Ozempic can treat PCOS

Creator: SingleCare
Published: 2023-06-21T09:00:49-04:00

The diabetes medication shows promise for improving PCOS symptoms

By Heidi Borst | Jun. 21, 2023 Medically reviewed by Lindsey Hudson, APRN, NP-C, CDCES

Maintaining a healthy weight is tough. In fact, in the United States, 1 in 3 adults is overweight (defined as a body mass index, or BMI, between 25 and 25.99), and two in five are obese (defined as a BMI over 30). Being obese and overweight leads to an increased risk of serious health issues, including high cholesterol, hypertension, stroke, cancer, and death.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, also called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), is also linked to obesity. The endocrine disorder affects up to 10% of women of reproductive age, 40%-80% of whom have obesity. The condition causes higher levels of androgen hormone production, resulting in symptoms such as irregular menstrual cycles, acne, excess hair growth, cysts, skin tags, thinning hair, skin darkening, and infertility.

Weight loss is critical to minimizing PCOS symptoms. In addition to eating a healthy diet and regular exercise, certain diabetes medications, including Ozempic, may help. Here’s what you need to know about the benefits of Ozempic for PCOS.

What is Ozempic?

Ozempic (semaglutide) belongs to a class of diabetes medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. These medications work by copying the action of a hormone called GLP-1 that’s released by the pancreas after eating. GLP-1 stimulates insulin secretion and decreases appetite and increases satiety (feeling full and satisfied).

The brand-name medication is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in adults and adolescents over the age of 12 as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not use insulin correctly, leading to high levels of blood glucose.

Ozempic comes in a prefilled syringe that you inject subcutaneously (under the skin) once a week in the stomach, thigh, or upper arm. A pill version of semaglutide called Rybelsus works the same as Ozempic but in daily doses.

Wegovy, another weekly injection of semaglutide, is FDA approved for use in patients with obesity, says Minisha Sood, MD, a board-certified endocrinologist at Northwell Health’s Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

At this time, Ozempic does not have FDA approval for weight loss, but it may be prescribed off-label for this purpose. There is no FDA-approved generic version of semaglutide injection currently available. There are compounded versions of injectable semaglutide available from compounding pharmacies, but these have not been tested by or approved by the FDA.

Is Ozempic good for PCOS?

While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, factors contributing to its onset include chronic inflammation, higher levels of androgens (male sex hormones that impede ovulation), weight gain, and insulin resistance, a precursor to prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes that impairs the body’s ability to use glucose efficiently.

Ozempic and other semaglutide medications have shown promise in women who are overweight or obese with PCOS, according to Dr. Sood, who explains that these medications improve metabolic parameters like weight loss and blood sugar levels. More studies looking at the effect of semaglutide GLP-1 receptor agonists on PCOS are underway, and Dr. Sood expects them to show a positive outcome of this class of drugs as a whole.

But does taking Ozempic increase fertility? In short, yes—but indirectly, says Monte Swarup, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN in Chandler, Arizona. The way it can help is due to the link between infertility and obesity, he says, adding that losing weight often helps patients who had stopped ovulating to restart their cycle. Ultimately, weight loss can improve fertility in certain situations and make pregnancy safer, says Dr. Swarup.

Related: What is PCOS?

Ozempic vs. metformin for PCOS

GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic improve the symptoms of PCOS in patients through weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity, says Dr. Sood. But she says that other GLP-1 RAs have more data to support their use as weight loss drugs.

For example, in a small study, 41 women who were obese but not diabetic were given exenatide injections (with no lifestyle changes). They experienced modest weight loss and significantly reduced waist circumferences. And research has shown that liraglutide is effective at weight loss and maintenance in individuals with or without Type 2 diabetes. Since obesity and PCOS are linked, these medications can also improve symptoms of PCOS.

A clinical trial on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Metformin, a drug used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes, is currently being conducted, says Dr. Swarup. While research is still ongoing, he says, patients have shown a reduction in body weight and metabolic and hormonal parameter improvement with semaglutide. That is, semaglutide has been shown to improve hormone regulation and metabolism, resulting in weight loss.

When it comes to the best weight loss medication for PCOS, a 2023 article published in the journal American Family Physician points to Metformin as a first-line treatment for individuals with PCOS who have metabolic issues such as insulin resistance. Dr. Swarup adds that the Type 2 diabetes drug acarbose is also helpful in treating insulin resistance and PCOS.

Will insurance cover Ozempic for PCOS?

Wegovy is the only semaglutide that is FDA approved for treating overweight and obesity, and it may be covered by insurance for individuals with PCOS who meet eligibility requirements, says Dr. Sood. That being said, many insurance plans will not cover weight loss medications, even if you qualify.

While a diagnosis of diabetes (and in some cases, prediabetes) qualifies you for coverage of Ozempic, the drug is not FDA approved for PCOS and weight loss, so health insurance won’t cover it for those conditions, confirms Dr. Swarup.

For accurate Ozempic coverage, be sure to consult with your health insurance provider.

How to save on Ozempic

The average monthly price of Ozempic (1 mg dose) is $1,250.44, but using SingleCare’s prescription drug discount card can lower the price to $818.46. We’re committed to helping you save on prescriptions. If you’ve never used our discount card, it’s easy! Just follow these three steps to get instant prescription savings the next time you’re picking up a medication:

Download our iOS or Android app or go to our website.
Search for your medication, adjusting for quantity, dosage, and zip code.
Choose the pharmacy closest to you and either print, text, or email yourself a free drug coupon.

At the pharmacy, show your pharmacist the coupon. It’s that simple!