In a recent study published in the IJIR: Your Sexual Medicine Journal, researchers assess the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) in obese and non-diabetic men following semaglutide treatment.
Study:Prescribing semaglutide for weight loss in non-diabetic, obese patients is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction: a TriNetX database study. Image Credit: Korawat photo shoot / Shutterstock.com
Semaglutide is an incretin mimetic medication that increases the release of insulin from the pancreas and, as a result, is used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity.
Currently, semaglutide is considered one of the most effective anti-obesity interventions, with some scientists describing the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of this drug as a "paradigm shift" in anti-obesity treatment. In addition to its T2D and obesity benefits, semaglutide has been clinically validated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, and strokes in obese men and women.
Despite these benefits, semaglutide use has been associated with sexual dysfunction, particularly in non-diabetic men. Nevertheless, additional research is needed to determine the risk of this side effect in patients prescribed semaglutide.
As semaglutide gains traction for its role in weight loss, a nuanced exploration of its known side effects becomes imperative."
In the present study, researchers assess sexual dysfunction risks associated with semaglutide use by non-diabetic and obese men. Study participants were recruited from the TriNetX, LLC Research Network, which includes electronic medical records, demographic details, and insurance claims for 118 million individuals across 81 healthcare organizations.
Inclusion criteria for participation in the study included adult men between 18 and 50 years of age with medically confirmed obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) value exceeding 30, and no diagnosis of diabetes. Individuals were excluded if they reported a clinical history of ED, penile surgeries, or testosterone deficiency.
Data were obtained between June 2021 and December 2023, including participants' medical and demographic records. Participants were stratified into cases, which included semaglutide users and controls with measured outcomes, including an ED diagnosis one month or more following semaglutide use or a novel testosterone deficiency diagnosis following drug administration.
The present study was almost exclusively statistical, with all statistical analyses carried out using the TriNetX platform. The univariate analysis involved the Chi-square test and T-test with between-group variation tested using propensity matching.
Corrections were made for known ED and testosterone deficiency risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, or hypertension. The smaller cohort participants were matched to their nearest demographic neighbor before analysis to improve comparisons between cases and controls.
Participant screening identified 3,094 individuals meeting inclusion criteria, who were then matched to an equal number of controls. Participant demographic data revealed a mean age of 37.8 across both cohorts, 74% of whom were White. The primary medical distinction between the cohorts was identified as BMI, with cases exhibiting a mean BMI of 38.7 kg/m2, while controls showed a mean BMI of 37.2.
Of the study participants who were prescribed semaglutide, 1.47% were diagnosed with ED or prescribed a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5I), which is a class of drugs widely used in the management of ED. Comparatively, 0.32% of control patients were diagnosed with ED or prescribed PDE5Is. Moreover, 1.53% of cases were diagnosed with testosterone deficiency after being prescribed semaglutide as compared to 0.80% of men in the matched control group.
The current study highlights a significant increase in the risks of both ED and testosterone deficiency in men prescribed semaglutide. Nevertheless, this increase was only 1.47%, which may be acceptable to most patients, given the weight loss and cardiovascular benefits associated with semaglutide treatment.
Semaglutide may interact with Leydig cells, which express the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor and regulate GLP-1 secretion. By stimulating GLP-1 receptors present in the cavernosal tissue, semaglutide treatment may reduce pulsatile testosterone secretion and increase smooth muscle relaxation.
As there is scant research investigating the sexual side effects of semaglutide, all current explanations are purely speculation that necessitate further exploration in basic science research and clinical trials."
Journal reference:
Read this article:
Increased risk of erectile dysfunction with semaglutide in non-diabetic obese patients - News-Medical.Net
- TRANSPLANT VIEWS: Stem cell therapy used for diabetic patients [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2011]
- Diabetes - Video [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment vs Diet For Diabetes - Video [Last Updated On: January 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 12th, 2012]
- Orgenesis' Sarah Ferber, Ph.D on Using a Diabetes Patient's Own Liver Cells as a Novel Source of Insulin [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2012]
- Diabetes drug may kill cancer stem cells, study says [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2012]
- Diabetes reversed in mice using stem cells [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2012]
- Diabetes Reversed In Mice Thanks To Stem Cell Transplant [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2012]
- Diabetes Reversal In Mice Via Stem Cells [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2012]
- Diabetes drug makes brain cells grow [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2012]
- Diabetes drug helps brain growth, makes mice smarter [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2012]
- Diabetes study hit by lack of funds [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Stem Cells Lupus Testimony Stem Alive - Video [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2012]
- Common diabetes drug could fight ovarian cancer [Last Updated On: December 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: December 4th, 2012]
- Diabetes distresses bone marrow stem cells by damaging their microenvironment [Last Updated On: February 1st, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 1st, 2013]
- Mike Maldonado uses exercise to fight Diabetes and Cancer - Video [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2013]
- Diabetes : Deep-sea diving tank combined with stem cells to treat condition [Last Updated On: March 12th, 2013] [Originally Added On: March 12th, 2013]
- Diabetes team finds new hormone that could transform care [Last Updated On: April 25th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 25th, 2013]
- Hormone Shows Potential as Diabetes Treatment in Mice [Last Updated On: April 27th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 27th, 2013]
- Potential Diabetes Breakthrough - Video [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2013] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2013]
- Stem Cell Therapy Cures Type 1 Diabetes in Mice [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2013] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2013]
- John Chick: Giving diabetes the boot [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2013] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2013]
- Scientists Create Personalized Stem Cells, Raising Hopes for Diabetes Cure [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Stem Cells from a Diabetes Patient [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2014]
- Gut Cells May Be Coaxed to Make Insulin for People With Type 1 Diabetes [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2014]
- Diabetes tipo 2 Podra ser reversible? [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2014] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2014]
- James Shapiro: "Cutting Edge Islet and Stem Cell Transplant Therapies in the Clinic for Diabetes" - Video [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2014]
- Cure for Type 1 diabetes imminent after Harvard stem-cell breakthrough [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- New diabetes breakthrough 'bigger than the discovery of insulin' [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2014]
- A cure for diabetes and awful jokes [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2014]
- Stem Cell Success Raises Hopes of Type 1 Diabetes Cure [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2014]
- Major step toward diabetes cure - Video [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2014]
- Did Scientists Just Cure Type 1 Diabetes? - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2014]
- Muscle relaxant may treat rare form of diabetes, scientists find [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2014]
- TESTIMONI LAMININE - Ginjal Diabetes dan Komplikasi - Video [Last Updated On: December 3rd, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 3rd, 2014]
- Laminine - Seminar Diabetes - Video [Last Updated On: December 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 5th, 2014]
- Stem cells show promise for reversing type 2 diabetes [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2015]
- Vitamin D prevents diabetes and clogged arteries in mice [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2015]
- stemtech testimonial diabetes www afastemcell com - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2015]
- Afastemcell - testimoni penderita diabetes - Video [Last Updated On: April 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: April 29th, 2015]
- Diabetes.net Welcome to the Original Diabetes Network [Last Updated On: May 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 9th, 2015]
- Diabetes mellitus [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2015]
- Type 2 Diabetes: Everything You Need to Know [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2015]
- Diabetes Mellitus Center - Washington, DC - MedicineNet [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2015]
- Washington, DC - American Diabetes Association [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2015]
- Type 1 Diabetes: Causes, Tests, Symptoms and Treatments [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2015]
- Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and More [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2015]
- Diabetes mellitus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2015]
- Diabetes | Overview [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2015]
- Virginia Diabetes and Endocrinology [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2015]
- About Diabetes - American Heart Association [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2015]
- Diabetes [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2015]
- NIHSeniorHealth: Diabetes - What is Diabetes? [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2015]
- Diabetes Symptoms: Common Symptoms of Diabetes [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2015]
- Type 2 Diabetes Condition Center - Health.com [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2015]
- Diabetes - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Diabetes - NY ... [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2015]
- Raleigh North Carolina Office of the American Diabetes ... [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2015]
- Louisiana Office of the American Diabetes Association [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2015]
- Diabetes Basics - What is Diabetes? - Lifeclinic [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2015]
- Kentucky: Cabinet for Health and Family Services - Diabetes [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2015]
- Albuquerque-Santa Fe, New Mexico American Diabetes [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2015]
- Chicago Illinois Office of the American Diabetes Association [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2015]
- Wisconsin Diabetes Prevention and Control Program | Wisconsin ... [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2015]
- Diabetes Basics [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2016]
- Diabetes: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments - Health News [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2016]
- What Can I Eat If I Have Diabetes [Last Updated On: August 1st, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 1st, 2016]
- JDRF Type 1 Diabetes Research Funding and Advocacy [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2016]
- children with DIABETES Online Community [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2016]
- WHO | Diabetes programme [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2016]
- Bridgewater, New Jersey - American Diabetes Association [Last Updated On: August 14th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 14th, 2016]
- Diabetes Prevention and Control - New Jersey [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2016]
- NJDOH - Family Health services - New Jersey [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2016]
- Diabetes Australia [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2016]
- Diabetes Facts & Information | Joslin Diabetes Center [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2016]
- Diabetes mellitus type 2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2016]
- Diabetes - Better Health Channel [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2016]
- Diabetes Symptoms: American Diabetes Association [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2016]
- Types of Diabetes | NIDDK [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2016]
- Diabetes mellitus - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2016]
- Diabetes May Be Warning Sign of Pancreatic Cancer - WebMD [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Roche won't sell diabetes businessit's looking for deals to boost it instead - FierceBiotech [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]