Diabetes and weight management medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy have been hailed as "miracles" for helping people drop significant pounds and regulate blood sugar levels. They are not cure-alls. Yet, unlike other health and wellness trends, such as fad diets, the medications are generally hailed by social media users and medical professionals alike for their effectiveness as tools for weight and blood sugar management when combined with diet and exercise.
A 2021 trial showed that weekly 2.4 mg doses of semaglutide (the generic name for Wegovy and Ozempic) could help people lower body weight by about 15%. A 2024 study comparing semaglutide to tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) found people on tirzepatide lost more weight than those on semaglutide.
Why are we asking about polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ) and weight loss medication, then?
Other potential benefits have emerged, including buzz that these drugs could reduce alcohol cravings. Recently, Gracie McGraw, daughter of country musicians Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, said she was taking a “low dose of Mounjaro” for PCOS. She's also taken Ozempic for the condition. She's not alone—other people with PCOS say taking these weight loss medications helped improve symptoms, such as regulating their periods.
"Ozempic and Mounjaro are FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes," says Dr. Beverly Tchang, MD , an endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist. "They are effective diabetes medications because they reduce blood sugar, improve insulin production, helpt with weight loss, and reduce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition that occurs in about half of women who have PCOS."
Experts aren't surprised by the discussion about PCOS and Ozempic, Mounjaro and similar drugs. However, they say it's essential to speak with your doctor before getting on one of these medications for PCOS-related reasons.
"Anti-obesity medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide can impact individuals differently based on their overall health and existing conditions," says Dr. Michael Glickman, MD , the founder and CEO of Revolution Medicine.
Doctors discussed what we know (and don't) about drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro for PCOS, including whether it's safe during pregnancy or while trying to conceive.
Related: The Unexpected Health Benefit of Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic That No One's Talking About
What Is PCOS?
PCOS is short for polycystic ovarian syndrome, a hormonal condition. "The symptoms of PCOS include irregular periods, excessive hair growth, weight gain, obesity, acne and infertility . They are physically and emotionally challenging, often starting in adolescence," says Dr. Sherry Ross, MD , a board-certified OBGYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center . "Some [people] may also experience signs of elevated androgen levels (male hormones), like excess facial hair or excess acne."
The precise cause of PCOS is unknown. "It likely is caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors," Dr. Kyle Graham, MD, a board-certified OBGYN and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group, says. "At the level of the ovary, there is abnormal development of the ovarian follicles during a woman's monthly cycle. When the hormones from the ovary are imbalanced monthly, the hormones around the entire body can be imbalanced."
We do know that PCOS affects about 5 million people in the U.S., with the CDC noting that it can impact fertility and a person's risk for other chronic conditions, including diabetes .
Mounjaro & Ozempic for PCOS: Why It Might Help
Since Ozempic and Mounjaro treat a condition that people with PCOS are at a higher risk for (diabetes), the idea that the drugs might help with symptoms makes sense. Ozempic and Mounjaro are part of a class of medications called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP -1 ) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).
"Ozempic mimics the hormone GLP-1 while Mounjaro acts on two hormones, GLP-1 and GIP," says Dr. Jocelyn A. Carlo, MD , the director of gynecology with Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. "The dual action of GLP-1 and GIP can be more effective than a single action drug in regulating weight and blood sugar. Both will target certain common features associated with PCOS like insulin resistance and obesity."
Ozempic and Mounjaro are only approved for managing type 2 diabetes. However, they can help people lose weight, and their counterparts, Wegovy and Zepbound, are FDA-approved for weight management in people with obesity or who are overweight with specific underlying conditions. That's important.
"By aiding in weight loss, they can help restore hormonal balance, as excess body fat increases estrogen levels," Dr. Glickman says.
Related: These Ozempic Before and After Photos Give a Real-Life Glimpse of What Life is Like on Weight Loss Medication
Should You Take Ozempic If You're Pregnant or Trying To Conceive?
PCOS can affect fertility, but experts warn against taking it if you're actively trying to become pregnant (or already expecting).
"It's contraindicated in pregnancy," Dr. Graham says. "If you are trying to get pregnant, you should also not take semaglutide. In fact, you should stop semaglutide two months before trying to get pregnant."
Related: What It's Like to Take Ozempic, Week by Week
Has The FDA Approved Ozempic and Mounjaro For PCOS?
No. "GLP-1 drugs are not currently FDA approved for the treatment of PCOS alone," Dr. Carlo says. "Ozempic is specifically approved only for treating type 2 diabetes."
Ditto for Mounjaro. "However, many providers consider them an excellent off-label option for managing PCOS," Dr. Glickman says.
Off-label uses of these drugs have been controversial, including amid shortages. Unanswered questions about safety and efficacy exist because the theories haven't been tested in rigorous, FDA-reviewed trials.
For what it's worth, Dr. Ross believes that, with time, research and persistence, FDA approval for Ozempic for PCOS is plausible. However, she says that speaking with a healthcare provider before taking any drug, FDA-approved or not, is important. Dr. Tchang agrees.
"Women should speak with their doctors to discuss their symptoms of PCOS and determine a strategy on how to manage it, and this strategy may or may not include medications like Ozempic or Mounjaro, depending on other health conditions," Dr. Tchang says.
Up Next:
Related: Stars Who've Used Ozempic and Weight Loss Drugs
Sources
- Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. NEJM .
- Semaglutide vs Tirzepatide for Weight Loss in Adults With Overweight or Obesity. JAMA Internal Medicine .
- Dr. Beverly Tchang, MD, endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist
Dr. Michael Glickman, MD , the founder and CEO of Revolution Medicine
Dr. Sherry Ross, MD , a board-certified OBGYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center
Dr. Kyle Graham , MD, a board-certified OBGYN and medical director at Pediatrix Medical Group
Diabetes and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). CDC .
Dr. Jocelyn A. Carlo , MD, the director of gynecology with Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
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