Key Takeaways
- PCOS and weight gain often go together because of insulin resistance.
- Lifestyle changes help, but cravings and binge eating can make them harder to sustain.
- Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide) can support weight loss in PCOS and may also improve periods, insulin resistance, acne, excess hair growth, and fertility.
- In the UK, Wegovy is licensed for weight management. At Voy, we also prescribe it for people with PCOS who meet the lower BMI threshold of 27 or above.
If you live with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), you’ll know how tough it can be to manage your weight and hormonal symptoms. Weight gain and insulin resistance often go hand in hand with PCOS, which can make other symptoms feel even harder to cope with.
Recently, weight loss medications like Wegovy and Ozempic (which are both brands of semaglutide) have been making headlines. But can they help specifically with PCOS?
Here’s what the evidence says about Wegovy and PCOS, and what you should consider if you’re thinking about PCOS treatment in the UK.
How does Wegovy help with PCOS?
PCOS is one of the most common hormonal conditions, affecting around 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. It can cause a range of symptoms, including irregular or absent periods; weight gain; excess hair growth on the face, chest or back (known as hirsutism); acne; and difficulty getting pregnant.
A key driver of these symptoms in PCOS is insulin resistance, which makes it harder for your body to regulate blood sugar. This not only contributes to weight gain but also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Even modest weight loss—around 5% of your body weight—can improve insulin sensitivity, regulating your mental cycles, improving hormonal balance and easing symptoms like excess hair growth or acne.
That’s where semaglutide comes in. Ozempic and Wegovy drive weight loss because they are GLP-1 receptor agonists, which means they mimic a natural hormone that helps regulate your appetite and blood sugar. By reducing hunger and slowing digestion, semaglutide can support weight loss, which may improve other PCOS symptoms too.
Why lifestyle changes can be harder with PCOS
If you have PCOS, you may have been told—sometimes repeatedly—to “just lose weight”. It’s usually the first advice people hear, as national guidelines encourage eating well and exercising regularly if you have PCOS. While healthy habits are important, the reality is that PCOS makes weight loss and long-term lifestyle changes harder.
Research backs this up. In a large study, women with PCOS were significantly more likely to experience binge eating and strong food cravings compared to participants without PCOS.
This helps explain why lifestyle changes, though essential, can feel so difficult to maintain with PCOS and highlights why some people may benefit from additional tools like Wegovy or Ozempic.
Effectiveness of Wegovy for PCOS
Although semaglutide wasn’t originally developed for PCOS, growing evidence shows it can be effective for women with the condition, especially where lifestyle changes alone haven’t been enough.
Improvements beyond weight loss
In one study of women with PCOS who had not responded to lifestyle interventions, weekly low-dose semaglutide led to positive changes. Alongside an average weight loss of 7.6 kg after three months (and 11.5 kg after six months), around 8 in 10 women saw their periods return to normal—and most showed improvements in insulin resistance and blood sugar control—with very few side effects.
This shows that semaglutide’s impact goes beyond weight, helping to restore hormonal balance and fertility.
How semaglutide compares to other PCOS treatments
First-line treatments for PCOS often include lifestyle changes, the combined oral contraceptive pill, or metformin. Each has benefits—like improving acne, regulating cycles, or supporting insulin sensitivity—but not everyone responds well, and side effects can be an issue.
If you’re already taking metformin, you don’t necessarily have to stop it to try Wegovy. In fact, a recent randomised trial compared metformin alone with metformin plus semaglutide in women with PCOS. Women on the combination not only lost more weight but also had greater improvements in insulin resistance, cycle regularity, and natural pregnancy rates.
Wegovy beyond PCOS
Outside of PCOS, Wegovy has extensive evidence, with large trials showing average weight loss of around 20.7% over 72 weeks when used with lifestyle support. This makes it one of the most effective licensed weight loss medications available.
Note for Mounjaro users
If you’re switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy due to cost or supply issues, it’s normal to wonder if your results will continue. Many people with PCOS still do well on Wegovy when they combine medication with the basics—dose titration, protein intake, resistance training, and good sleep. Individual results vary, so it’s important to set realistic goals with your clinician and track progress.
Wegovy and PCOS: Side effects and safety
The side effects of Wegovy are generally the same for people with PCOS as for anyone else taking semaglutide. The most common are:
- Nausea
- Stomach upset (diarrhoea, constipation, or bloating)
- Headaches
- Fatigue
These symptoms are usually mild and often settle within the first few weeks as your body adjusts. To make this easier, treatment begins at a low dose and is increased gradually over time.
Wegovy has been studied in thousands of people over several years and has a well-established safety profile. However, it isn’t suitable for everyone. Wegovy should not be used during pregnancy or while trying to conceive, and it may not be appropriate if you have certain health conditions or take particular medications. At Voy, a clinician will always check your full medical history and confirm your eligibility to make sure Wegovy is safe for you.
Side effects support at Voy
"If you're using Voy and you experience any side effects, rest assured that our expert clinicians are just a message or phone call away. They can adjust your dose, prescribe medication to ease your symptoms, or simply offer reassurance.
Everyone responds differently to weight loss treatment and we'll help you find what feels right for you."
Can Wegovy be prescribed for PCOS in the UK?
Yes, but with an important caveat. Wegovy is licensed in the UK for weight management, not specifically for PCOS. If you have PCOS and meet the BMI criteria for obesity treatment, Wegovy can be prescribed under its licensed use to support weight loss.
If a clinician prescribes it specifically to treat PCOS symptoms, that counts as off-label use—a common, safe medical practice when evidence supports the benefit.
In the UK, Wegovy is usually prescribed if:
- You have a BMI of 30 or above, or
- You have a BMI of 27 or above with a weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes).
At Voy, we follow the standard eligibility rules for weight-loss treatment but also recognise the impact PCOS has on weight and metabolic health. That’s why we prescribe Wegovy to people with PCOS who have a BMI of 27 or above, provided it’s clinically safe and appropriate.
Not sure if you qualify? Complete our quick eligibility questionnaire. One of our clinicians will review your health information and let you know whether Wegovy weight loss injections are right for you.
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