‘Ozempic vulva’ has become one of the latest phenomena reported by GLP-1 users, and it's left some people shocked.
In recent times, GLP-1 medications have risen in popularity with people hoping to shed pounds.
While Ozempic isn’t licensed as a weight loss treatment - it's intended to be used to treat type 2 diabetes - the drug's active ingredient, semaglutide, can help regulate your appetite, keeping you full for longer.
However, with more people talking about their usage, reports have come flooding in about the varying side effects, including gas, hollowed cheeks, sagging skin, and more.
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But for some, the drug has also impacted their sex drive and genitals.
According to one user on Reddit, they explained that while they were able to lose weight, it came with an unexpected and uncomfortable cost.
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They began: “I’ve lost 20 kg or 44 lbs. I’ve been really lucky and I have no noticeable sagging skin in my tummy or my arms/legs.”
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However, it wasn’t until they visited the gynaecologist’s office that they realized they’d lost weight in an area that isn’t usually thought about.
The user said they had been ‘experiencing pain when biking and sitting for long periods’, writing: “Turns out I’ve lost all my fat pads in my vulva! She told me my vulva is saggy and I will continue to experience pain when biking/sitting unless I have surgery or put on fillers.”
The Redditor went on to state that they had been recommended to also do pelvic floor physical therapy if fillers were not appealing.
Noting it was a shock to learn that they had lost fat from their vulva, the user said they have realized they can feel their pelvic bones.
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The vulva is the external part of the female genitals, particularly the labia majora that covers the labia minora, while the vagina is the inner canal.
Even though they were previously concerned about fat in that area and considered fat removal, in light of their recent gyno visit, the Reddit user decided against any procedures to restore fat to the vulva.
People in the comments suggested getting proper biking shorts that are padded, and recommended being equipped for long journeys.
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Others agreed with fat injections and fillers, but the poster was firmly against this.
They wrote: “I would never ever ever get fillers or surgery for my vulva for this, honestly I thought the doc was insane for recommending these. I will be buying bike shorts and do shorter biking sessions for a while.”
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The strange side effect of Ozempic might have caught the Redditor off guard, but it seems to be something others have experienced too.
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Dr Justin Perron, a specialist plastic surgeon and board member of the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, told the Daily Mail: “The labia majora, like other fatty areas, can lose volume after substantial weight loss.”
He said he has seen an increase in genital rejuvenation consultations because of weight loss drugs, noting: “I personally see these requests several times a week.”
However, if you opt into getting the procedure, just know that sex is off the table for a week so that you can heal properly.
Ozempic's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, told LADbible Group in a statement: "Patient safety is of the utmost importance to Novo Nordisk. We continuously collect safety data on our marketed GLP-1 RA medicines and work closely with the authorities to ensure patient safety.
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"We recommend patients take these medications only for their approved indications and under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Treatment decisions should be made together with a healthcare provider who can evaluate the appropriateness of using a GLP-1 based on assessment of a patient’s individual medical profile.
"We recommend that any UK patient experiencing side effects while taking GLP receptor agonists including Wegovy®▼ or Ozempic® report them to their healthcare provider and via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/"
Britt Jones