Ozempic side effect: Male users reveal change to their genitals after injection

Ozempic, also known as Semaglutide, was originally developed to regulate blood sugar in individuals with type 2 diabetes. (Image credit: AFP)

Ozempic, the diabetes medication that has soared in popularity for its weight-loss effects, is now at the centre of a new side effect: claims of penis enlargement. Male users of the injectable drug are taking to online forums, particularly Reddit, to report an increase in penile size since starting the treatment.

This phenomenon, now being colloquially dubbed "Ozempic penis" or "Ozemd**k," involves numerous individuals asserting noticeable gains in length, the New York Post reported. "I recently measured myself down there and noticed I gained about one inch," an anonymous user claimed on a Reddit thread. The user clarified, "Now I think people will say it was because of the fat loss. However, at the time I measured myself before (4 years ago), I was thinner."

Other users quickly echoed these claims. "Yes," one happy Redditor responded. "I gained 1.5 inches in length. No joke. Like you I obviously know how long I was before I got very fat. Then after about seven months on Tirzepatide in my case I gained 1.5 inches in length. Definitely not all from weight loss." A third man also remarked, "I noticed that happen to me as well." Another commenter claimed, "Yeah, wife has definitely noticed a difference, was 278lbs (126 kg) down to under 200lbs (90 kg)."

While some men attribute this perceived increase to improved blood flow or reduced fat in the pubic area due to significant weight loss, not all explanations point to direct enlargement from the drug itself. One Redditor suggested the size difference could simply be due to varying external conditions during measurements. "I feel like nobody is really reading what you are writing, that they blame the weight loss while you measured the first time when you were actually lighter," a Redditor explained. "Ozempic does not enlarge your penis, but an erect penis may change size considerably depending on time of day, temperature, and factors other than sexual arousal. So it’s probably just simply that."

How effective is Ozempic as a weight-loss drug?

Ozempic, also known as Semaglutide, was originally developed to regulate blood sugar in individuals with type 2 diabetes. It is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, mimicking a hormone that helps control hunger and increase satiety. While it has gained widespread off-label use for weight loss, and a higher-dose version, Wegovy, is approved for obesity management, the claims of penile enlargement add to a growing list of alleged side effects, including "Ozempic mouth," which involves pronounced folds and sagging around the mouth area.

Regarding Ozempic's efficacy in weight reduction, Dr Vyankatesh Shivane, a consultant diabetologist and metabolic physician at Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai, stated, "With Ozempic, we see dramatic weight loss—up to 15 to 20 percent in some cases. This not only helps with diabetes control but also lowers cardiovascular risk and improves metabolic health." Clinical trials further indicate that higher doses of semaglutide (Wegovy) could lead to even more significant weight loss.

Experts, however, caution that maintaining weight loss is heavily reliant on continued use of the drug. Dr Shivane warned, "Once a patient stops taking Ozempic, weight regain is common if lifestyle changes are not maintained."