Health Care

GLP-1s and endometriosis: Could there be a new treatment?

Comments:

by Steph Whiteside - 04/25/26 7:38 AM ET

Comments:

Link copied

by Steph Whiteside - 04/25/26 7:38 AM ET

Comments:

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

(NewsNation) — Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic could be a possible treatment for endometriosis, with research investigating the possible benefits.

Although they were originally developed to treat diabetes, GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy have been found to help with weight loss and have other benefits for the heart, kidneys and brain.

Research on GLP-1s and endometriosis is in its very early stages, with few studies and more research needed. However, some women have shared experiences on social media, saying that their endometriosis symptoms improved while on a GLP-1.

Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside the uterus, attaching to nearby organs and the pelvic wall.

The condition causes inflammation, pelvic pain, irregular bleeding and extreme menstrual cramps. It’s estimated that 6.5 million people in the U.S. have endometriosis, roughly 11 percent of American women.

Endometriosis is typically treated with hormone therapies, pain management or surgery. However, the condition is difficult to treat, and no treatment is universally effective.

Recent studies have shown that people with endometriosis have lower levels of GLP-1, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite. That’s the same hormone that the drugs target, increasing the hormone in the body.

GLP-1s have also been shown to reduce systemic inflammation in parts of the body. Inflammation can contribute to the development and progression of endometriosis, another sign that weight loss drugs may have an impact.

There is also a theory that, by helping with weight loss, GLP-1s could reduce estrogen, which is produced by excess fat tissue, and alleviate severe symptoms.

Still, more research is needed to determine whether the drugs can benefit people with endometriosis and how they work.

Add as preferred source on Google