Men speak out on experience of 'Ozempic penis' as urologist explains true reality of the side effect
Men have shared their experiences with one of the more obscure side-effects of Ozempic.
The use of GLP-1 drugs, which were originally made to treat type 2 diabetes, have increased in recent times thanks to their popularity among celebrities, in particular.
Medications such as Ozempic or Mounjaro have become easy to access, as people can now get their jabs through the NHS usually prescribed for the purpose of weight-loss.
But with any drugs on offer comes a range of side-effects, which users have not been shy to share on social media.
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Big names such as Amy Schumer and Jeremy Clarkson have openly revealed that they'd swapped from Ozempic to Mounjaro, following some unpleasant experiences.
However, there's one particular side-effect that has, unsurprisingly, made headlines.
What is 'Ozempic Penis'?
'Ozempic Penis' is the new side-effect that people have been turning their heads at, and users are reporting experiencing some changes to their downstairs area.
According to claims on social media, men have claimed that they've been noticing some improvements in the size of their parts.
And due to this enlargement, the phenomenon has been coined as 'Ozempic Penis'.
While the pharmaceutical company that manufacture Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, have reiterated that the drug should only be used to treat diabetes, people have been using it to shave off the pounds.
This can come with its negatives according to a urologist, but a group of users online don't seem to mind much.
What have people's experiences been?
While the medicine doesn't clarify if it enlarges the penis, male users on Reddit have claimed that it might be a positive side-effect.
One user claimed that after losing a decent amount of weight, his 'junk definitely looks longer', asking if anyone had gone through the same thing.
There's no medical evidence backing up the claim, though a healthier heart may contribute to stronger erections, but other users seemed to report the same.
"I used to joke with my wife that this was bulls*** because we would've noticed two extra inches!' Turns out I did get it. It's when I'm flaccid," he claimed, adding that he 'was already pleased' with his size, but has got a 'confidence boost'.
A different user, who lost 60lbs over four months, said that his wife 'thinks my penis is larger from the meds', asking if it was an 'unseen side effect'.
One female user even chined in, saying: "It does get bigger/more hard with weight loss. I can confirm this with my own husband's weight loss."
Different users also reported that either they or their partners' penises got bigger, but how legitimate are these claims?
What has the urologist said?
Urologist Dr Martina Ambardjieva explained to HuffPost UK: “As a urologist, I can say there’s no evidence that semaglutide (Ozempic) or other GLP-1 agonists cause actual penile tissue growth.”
It turns out that it's to do with the perception of the individual's weight-loss, and the weight loss around the stomach area.
“When a man loses weight, particularly rapidly as with GLP-1 drugs, this fat pad shrinks, revealing more of the shaft and making the penis appear longer,” she revealed, highlighting that 'it’s not growth, it’s exposure.'
An expert in integrative health, Dr Kenneth Lipman, also told the Daily Mail that Ozempic may be getting 'some of the credit' for the gradual increase in average penis size around the world.
"What it does do is help men shed belly fat, which can reveal more of the penis. For some, it’s the first time in years they’ve seen it without a mirror," he said.
He also pointed out: "Consider that men just want bigger penises, and they may just be seeing what they want to see."
Topics: Ozempic, Social Media, Health
Joshua Nair