https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7969-9314
-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
Meghan C Tveit, Sonya T Gelfand, James A Simon, Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist weight loss medications decrease sexual desire: a theoretical framework based in the serotonergic pathway, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 22, Issue 2, February 2025, Pages 215–216, https://doi.org/10.1093/jsxmed/qdae182
Close - Share Icon Share
Extract
In today’s culture, being overweight or obese is contrary to the idealized image of feminine beauty. As a result, individuals often turn to unproven dietary supplements and medications, or FDA-approved weight loss drugs in order to achieve a desired weight/body image. One such class of FDA-approved medications, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, has garnered extraordinary attention for its role in treating type II diabetes and inducing weight loss. While one may assume that improved body image associated with GLP-1 agonism would correlate with heightened sexual desire and function, there is limited literature on the effects of GLP-1 agonists on hedonistic pleasures such as sex in either men or women. Emerging literature suggests that GLP-1 agonists can reduce desire not only for food, but also for cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, opioids, and cocaine1 giving rise to their possible use in the cessation of drug and alcohol addiction. That said, how does this universal suppression of hedonistic drive truly impact one’s desire for sex? Here, we explore an alternative hypothesis, positing that rather than fostering an increase in sexual interest due to improvement in body image and multiple other mechanisms, the use of GLP-1 agonists may instead lead to a decrease in sexual desire. This assertion stems from a biological approach rooted in serotonergic neural circuitry. Through a critical examination of existing literature and theoretical frameworks, we aim to elucidate the potential implications of GLP-1 agonists on sexual desire.
