Does Ozempic Affect Your Period?

Whether you’re taking Ozempic® for type 2 diabetes or for weight loss, you’re probably noticing a lot of changes in your body. But when it comes to your menstrual cycle, you might be wondering, does Ozempic affect your period?

The answer: We don’t know. Whomp whomp.

There’s not much research on Ozempic’s effect on periods. But we do know that substantial weight loss — which Ozempic can cause — can impact your period and cause your cycle to become irregular.

On the other hand, Ozempic may help regularize periods for some.

Below, we dive into the science on Ozempic and menstrual cycles to find out whether you can expect the drug to cause any changes.

Ozempic might mess with your period, but the drug itself probably isn’t to blame. There aren’t many studies looking into Ozempic and periods directly, and menstrual cycle changes aren’t listed as a side effect.

So, what’s the deal? Ozempic can help you achieve substantial weight loss, and it’s the weight loss itself that can mess with your period.

Here’s what we know so far.

Cycle Regularity

Losing weight comes with many health benefits, but it may cause your periods to become irregular.

Research shows that weight changes — including weight loss or weight gain — are associated with irregular menstrual cycles among women who have obesity or abdominal obesity, which is obesity around the center of your body.

The more weight you lose, the more likely it is for your periods to become irregular.

Beyond menstrual irregularities, significant weight loss — think 10 percent or more of your body weight — can cause your periods to stop altogether. This is known as amenorrhea.

As Ozempic can cause significant weight loss, it may trigger irregular periods or amenorrhea.

But you might find your periods become more regular when you take Ozempic.

Research shows that women with obesity have at least twofold greater odds of having an irregular cycle compared to women without obesity. So, losing weight may help your periods become more regular.

That’s not all.

A 2023 study looked at the effects of semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic — on 27 women with obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The women took a weekly 0.5-milligram semaglutide injection for three months.

Almost 80 percent of the women lost at least five percent of their body weight, and 80 percent of those women saw their menstrual cycle lengths normalize.

It’s not just Ozempic. Studies on other glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists — the class of drug Ozempic belongs to — have found they can help regularize periods in women with PCOS.

Flow

Some women have reported online that their periods have become heavier since they started taking Ozempic. But heavier periods haven't been reported as an official side effect in clinical trials.

Just like with regularity, it’s also possible your periods may become lighter on Ozempic.

Research shows that obesity can cause heavier periods, so you may find losing weight with Ozempic causes your periods to become lighter and more manageable.

This is all speculation though, and Ozempic and its effect on menstrual flow haven’t been studied.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

There’s no evidence that Ozempic can affect PMS symptoms. Sensing a theme?

Specifically, PMS symptoms include:

• Tiredness

• Irritability

• Mood swings

• Cramps

• Breast tenderness

You might notice these symptoms before you start your period.

Research shows that the higher your body mass index (BMI), the higher your risk of PMS. So, again, losing weight on Ozempic may improve PMS symptoms, but there isn’t any research backing up this theory.

Spotting

Spotting — or light bleeding outside of your period — is never a welcome surprise.

Can Ozempic cause spotting? Probably not.

There isn’t any evidence that Ozempic can cause spotting. It isn’t listed as one of the common side effects of Ozempic, and it hasn’t been reported in clinical trials. But we can’t rule out the possibility completely.

Speak with your healthcare provider if you’re spotting to find out what might be causing it.

Spotting can be caused by things like:

• Stress

• Changes in hormone levels

• Inflammation

• Infections

• An underactive thyroid

Fertility

There’s no evidence that Ozempic can cause infertility. The weight loss caused by Ozempic may cause your periods to become irregular, which may make it harder to get pregnant. Still, this isn’t guaranteed to happen to everyone.

Ozempic may even be a good thing for your reproductive health.

Research shows that obesity is linked to infertility, so moving toward a healthy weight with the help of Ozempic may improve your chances of getting pregnant.

Beyond this, women with PCOS often struggle to get pregnant, and Ozempic may help them lose weight and have more regular periods, potentially increasing fertility.

FYI, there isn’t much research on using Ozempic when pregnant. Speak to your healthcare provider if you’re pregnant or planning on trying soon. They can recommend the best course of action for you.

Check out our guide to whether Ozempic can affect fertility to learn more.

Had a missed period on Ozempic? Don’t panic.

It’s unclear whether Ozempic can make you miss a period. There isn’t any research showing that it can have this effect and it hasn’t been reported in clinical trials. However, significant weight loss can cause your periods to become irregular or stop altogether, and Ozempic can lead to significant weight loss.

So, the drug itself probably isn’t making you miss a period, but the weight loss it causes might.

The good news is this shouldn’t last forever. You might find your periods normalize with time.

Speak to a healthcare provider if you’re concerned about the potential impact of Ozempic on your periods.

It’s unclear if Ozempic can affect hormones related to your menstrual cycle. There aren’t any studies looking into whether the drug affects hormones like estrogen or progesterone, and hormonal changes aren’t reported in clinical trials.

Losing weight can impact these hormones, however, and Ozempic affects other hormones in your body like insulin and glucagon, which lead to weight loss and improved blood sugar levels.

Ozempic and other semaglutide drugs affect hormones in your body, but does semaglutide affect your period? Unfortunately, we don’t have a solid answer on that yet.

Ozempic is still a relatively new drug, so there aren’t any studies looking into how it can affect menstruation. But from what we do know, there isn’t any evidence that Ozempic can cause changes to your period or menstrual cycle in general.

Here’s a recap:

• More research is needed into Ozempic and periods. There aren’t any studies looking into semaglutide and menstrual cycle or period-related changes, so we can’t draw any solid conclusions on whether Ozmepic affects your period or not.

• Ozempic probably won’t affect your period, but weight loss might. If you’re noticing fluctuations in your period — like a more irregular cycle, lighter flow, or perhaps no periods at all — this may be due to substantial weight loss caused by Ozempic, not Ozempic itself.

• Ozempic may improve your periods. There’s no guarantee and we’re just hypothesizing here, but excess weight and obesity are associated with heavier periods, PMS, and irregular periods, so losing weight with Ozempic — or any other method — may improve your periods in the long run.

It can be scary to notice changes in your periods, so don’t be afraid to reach out to a healthcare professional to get checked out. They can let you know if the menstrual changes you’ve noticed are anything to worry about.

If you’re looking into weight loss treatments, Ozempic is one option, but it’s not your only one. Weight loss drugs, like metformin and topiramate, can help you on your weight loss journey.

There are also drug-free lifestyle changes — like eating nutritious foods, incorporating more movement, drinking more water, and getting enough sleep — that can help you achieve your goals alongside medication, or as part of a holistic weight loss treatment plan.

If you’re hoping to start your weight loss journey, take our free online assessment to learn more.