Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. There are a lot of difficult symptoms that come with PCOS like irregular periods, acne, hair loss, ovarian cysts, infertility, mood swings, fatigue, and weight gain! That last one is what I want to talk about today.
If you’ve ever tried to lose weight with PCOS . . . you know it’s tough. There are several factors working against Cysters that can make weight management SUPER hard. Though there are ways to naturally lose weight with PCOS, many women find themselves looking into popular weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
I’m sure you have a lot of questions about whether these can help with PCOS or at least help you lose weight. I have another post on Ozempic, so in this article I’m going to help answer some of those questions about Wegovy! Here’s what you need to consider when looking into Wegovy for PCOS:
Should You Take Wegovy for PCOS?
Wegovy has become a really popular prescription for chronic weight management. But . . . is it right for PCOS? It’s important to understand exactly how Wegovy works before considering talking to your doctor about getting on this weight loss drug.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is an injectable prescription drug that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat weight management problems. It’s the brand name for a drug called semaglutide. It works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon peptide-1 (GLP-1) in your body. This hormone helps with reducing blood sugar levels, regulating appetite, and slowing digestion. That last one is especially important because if your food moves more slowly through your body, you’ll feel full faster and longer, which has an additional benefit of reducing appetite.
All these functions of Wegovy make it an effective weight loss medication, which is its primary use! (Unlike Ozempic, it’s not used to treat type 2 diabetes. It’s actually FDA-approved for weight loss. ) It also reduces the risk of heart disease.
Of course, with any prescription, there are potential side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, bloating, gas, heartburn, and more. Discuss the potential downsides and benefits of Wegovy for PCOS further with a doctor if you’re interested in taking it. They can go through your medical history and current habits to determine if Wegovy is the right choice.
Is Wegovy Good for PCOS?
One of the main issues that comes with PCOS is insulin resistance. Up to 80% of women with PCOS experience it! To put it simply, insulin resistance is when your body becomes less responsive to glucose. Instead of converting the sugar to energy, you absorb it into your bloodstream, and your body stores the glucose as fat. As your metablism increases the production of insulin, it can make it harder to lose body weight, but it can worsen hormonal imbalances and inflammation that contribute to lots of symptoms of PCOS!
Will Wegovy address insulin resistance? Technically, yes. Wegovy’s method of action can drive down insulin levels, prevent overeating, and encourage healthy digestion to help increase insulin sensitivity, lose weight, ease fatigue, and relieve other PCOS symptoms, too.
However, like any prescription, weight loss medications like Wegovy aren’t a treatment for PCOS. Wegovy will help improve insulin sensitivity while you’re on it, but when you get off Wegovy, your insulin resistance will return unless you’ve made the necessary lifestyle changes to naturally heal your body and reverse your symptoms. And, yes, naturally healing your PCOS symptoms IS POSSIBLE!
My advice is that if you choose to get on a prescription, make sure to have an exit plan. This includes how to manage your symptoms if they reappear. Long-term use of these drugs can cause lots of negative side effects and other downsides. You don’t have to be on Wegovy for a lifetime, especially if alternative solutions are available. PS. Download The Cysterhood app to help you lose weight with PCOS. Get access to exercises, meal plans and recipes designed for PCOS weight loss.
Does Wegovy Make You Tired?
Yes! A common side effect of Wegovy is fatigue. And, for people with PCOS, this is a big deal. Chances are, you probably already struggle with chronic fatigue or daytime tiredness. It’s a common PCOS symptom due to high insulin levels and hormonal imbalances.
But, how does Wegovy cause fatigue if it reduces insulin resistance? That’s a great question. It’s actually because Wegovy can be so effective at reducing appetite that you don’t bring in enough calories. To lose weight, you need a calorie deficit—but you don’t want to go too low calorie. When you don’t eat enough, your body doesn’t have the fuel or nutrients to stay energized, alert.
This is actually why I caution Cysters on doing so-called “low calorie” diets. Eating too few calories can lower insulin resistance—but if you don’t eat enough, it can signal your body that you’re in an emergency. This can raise cortisol levels (the stress hormone), which has a domino effect of worsening hormone balance, triggering inflammation, and . . . increasing insulin resistance.
So, if Wegovy’s appetite suppression effect causes you to eat too little, it could make you tired and make the medication less effective at dropping weight. Plus, with unaddressed hormonal imbalances and inflammation, Wegovy could make all PCOS symptoms worse (if you eat too little.)
Pros of Wegovy for PCOS
- Promotes weight loss
- Improves insulin resistance
- Lowers blood sugar and androgens
- Supports menstrual regularity
- May enhance fertility
- Improves heart health markers
Cons of Wegovy for PCOS
- Causes nausea, fatigue, or constipation
- Risk of gallstones with rapid weight loss
- Expensive and often not covered for PCOS
- Requires weekly injections
- Can lead to undereating or deficiencies
- Weight regain if stopped
- Limited long-term PCOS data
How To Take Wegovy for PCOS
Step 1: Remove a Wegovy pen from the refrigerator 30 minutes before injection.
First, you’ll need to remove your pen from the refrigerator 30 minutes before injection. Wegovy needs to be taken consistently, so take out your Wegovy pen at the same time each day and inject it at a set time daily.
Step 2: Wash your hands.
Before handling your pen, wash your hands thoroughly.
Step 3: Clean the injection area.
Don’t only clean your hands, but clean your skin where you’re going to inject your dose. You can inject it on the upper front of the thigh, on the lower stomach, or on the upper arm. Clean the area with an alcohol wipe or soap and water.
Step 4: Inject your dose.
Next, press the Wegovy pen firmly against your injection site to deploy the needle. (They’re already dosed appropriately, so there’s no need to measure anything.) You’ll hear a click when you’ve pressed hard enough. The yellow bar in the window will lower as you inject. When the yellow bar has stopped moving, remove the needle.
Step 5: Throw away the pen.
Finally, dispose of the pen in a sharps container. Remember, this is a needle, so it shouldn’t be thrown out in a regular trash can!
Talk to your doctor before considering Wegovy for PCOS.
Managing your weight with PCOS can seem impossible, but it’s far from impossible! You don’t need weight loss drugs or any prescriptions to get to your ideal weight. With the right strategies, you can actually solve the root cause of not only your weight gain issues but the root cause of many of your PCOS symptoms!
You can find out more on how to lose weight with PCOS on the blog, on the podcast, and on The Cysterhood app. Whatever you need, I’m here for you!
