2026-06-16 13:00:23

Weight-loss jabs may improve testosterone levels and sperm quality in obese men.

Scientists say the blockbuster injections, known as GLP-1 drugs, could tackle one of the major underlying causes of male infertility by addressing excess weight and poor metabolic health.

Obesity is already linked to a host of serious conditions, including diabetes and cancer. But experts warn it can also disrupt hormone levels, impair sperm production and damage sperm shape, movement and count, making it harder for couples to conceive.

Now a review by researchers from the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and Warwick Medical School has found the drugs may offer benefits far beyond weight loss.

The team analysed five studies involving men aged 18 to 65 and found GLP-1 treatments had no negative effect on hormones, sexual function or sperm quality.

Instead, the results pointed towards improvements.

One 24-week study found semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, improved sperm shape and cholesterol levels while keeping hormone levels stable.

Another found liraglutide, sold as Saxenda, boosted testosterone levels within four months in men with obesity-related low testosterone. Their overall health outcomes were also better than those treated with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) alone.

Warwick Medical School’s Dr Pratibha Natesh, study lead, said: “This work supports a shift away from prescribing testosterone replacement in men with obesity and low testosterone and towards treating the underlying cause, excess weight and poor metabolic health, which can naturally restore hormone levels and preserve fertility.”

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