SERIES: MYTHS READ AGAINST THE SCIENCE

Do GLP-1 peptides cause erectile dysfunction?

There's one observational study suggesting a small effect in non-diabetic obese men. The evidence is thin, and no trial designed to test this has reported yet.

The Study

A 2024 study compared about 3,000 men in two groups: half were on semaglutide for weight loss; half were not. New erectile dysfunction showed up in about 1 in 67 men in the semaglutide group, versus about 1 in 300 in the comparison group.

The peptide group's rate was roughly four-and-a-half times higher. Both rates are small.

The Limits

The study was observational, which means it can flag a signal but can't prove the peptide caused it. Men who are obese and non-diabetic carry their own cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors that the study can't fully control for.

Erectile function is shaped by sleep, hormones, vascular health, stress, and medications. A weight-loss intervention moves several of those at once, in different directions.

What this means

References

01Able et al. 2024, *International Journal of Impotence Research* (PMID 38778151).Source line — see article bodyPMID

← Science / Explained

SERIES: MYTHS READ AGAINST THE SCIENCE

Do GLP-1 peptides cause erectile dysfunction?

There's one observational study suggesting a small effect in non-diabetic obese men. The evidence is thin, and no trial designed to test this has reported yet.

The Study

The peptide group's rate was roughly four-and-a-half times higher. Both rates are small.

The Limits

Erectile function is shaped by sleep, hormones, vascular health, stress, and medications. A weight-loss intervention moves several of those at once, in different directions.

What this means

References

01Able et al. 2024, *International Journal of Impotence Research* (PMID 38778151).Source line — see article body