A study linked GLP-1 medications to an improvement in PMOS symptoms
A small study in the U.S. showed that GLP-1 agonists may help with weight loss and improve hormonal markers in women with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). According to Fortune, the study participants also experienced positive changes in their menstrual cycles and testosterone levels.
PMOS is a hormonal condition formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome. According to the report, it affects approximately one in eight women worldwide. Possible symptoms of the condition include irregular periods, weight gain, unwanted hair growth, acne, and insulin resistance. Diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms can vary and overlap with those of other conditions.
One of the study participants, 18-year-old Charlotte Tuzalin, was treated with weekly semaglutide injections for 10 months. She reported that her unwanted hair growth slowed down and her menstrual cycles normalized. Preliminary results of the study, published in June in the journal *Fertility and Sterility*, showed that eight of the 11 participants who completed the trial lost at least 10% of their body weight. The median weight loss was about 42 pounds, or approximately 19 kilograms, and the median reduction in testosterone levels was 52%.
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Six participants experienced more frequent menstrual periods, and four began having monthly cycles. In three studies led by Melanie Kree, director of the PMOS Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado, women who received GLP-1 medications lost more weight than participants in the control groups. Levels of testosterone, glucose, and insulin also decreased. In addition to semaglutide injections, some trials examined semaglutide tablets and exenatide injections.
Researchers note that the existing studies are small, so research into the effectiveness of these medications for PMOS is ongoing. Some doctors are already prescribing them off-label; however, insurance coverage is often a barrier: the drugs are not specifically approved for the treatment of PMOS, and some insurers do not cover them even for weight loss. Doctors also emphasize that GLP-1 agonists do not work for all patients, may cause nausea and constipation, and weight may return after discontinuing therapy.
