Ozempic Has Some 'Vaginal Side Effects' That You Definitely Should Know About

What Is Ozempic?

The easiest way to explain what Ozempic is, is it’s an injectable prescribed drug that has been approved to provide beneficial support to people who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. What it’s not (at least not yet) approved for is using it for weight loss purposes only (Wegovy is, though). So, why are so many individuals currently taking it for exactly that reason?

Well, the way that Ozempic works is it mimics a natural hormone in your system that signals to your brain that you’ve had enough to eat. Not only that but it slows down the digestion process in your system too. In fact, some say that the medication, in some ways, works similarly to how bariatric surgery does.

Something else to take note of when it comes to Ozempic is the active ingredient in it, known as semaglutide, which can definitely result in weight loss — in fact, diabetic medications, in general, can help people to shed pounds.

And so, since many individuals are able to reportedly lose as much as15-20 percent of their body weight while taking Ozempic (some even start to see results after taking the first dose of it although significant results can take anywhere from 8-12 weeks), it’s no wonder that 1 in 8 Americans have either taken or are taking Ozempic (or some other type of GLP-1) medication and young people (especially female ones) are taking it now more than ever.

Because, after all, something that can help you to shed pounds, rather quickly, that sounds like the ultimate option, right?

Well, read this all the way through before you jump all the way in.

Why Are Some Potential Side Effects of Taking Ozempic?

So, before I get into the main purpose of this article, let me share with you some of the side effects that can come with taking Ozempic, starting with its price point. If your insurance is willing to cover it, you can find yourself paying no more than around $25 a month. Not bad at all. Okay, but what if it doesn’t? You can easily be looking at dishing out as much as a whopping $1,000 monthly — and since, again, it’s currently only approved for treating diabetes, this means that if you only want to take it for weight loss reasons, your insurance company is probably going to deny you.

Even beyond your bank account, though, it’s a drug that can bring some real challenges into your world. Some of the physical potential side effects of taking Ozempic include:

• Nausea
• Abdominal cramping
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Stomach Flu Symptoms
• Gas
• Fatigue
• Blood Vessel Damage (which can lead to vision problems)
• “Ozempic Face” (sagging of the skin and premature aging)
• Stomach Paralysis

In rare cases, Ozempic can also cause thyroid cancer, kidney issues, gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia, and pancreatitis, not to mention the fact that once you stop taking Ozempic, there is a great chance that not only you will gain the weight that you lost back…you can gain additional weight too (it’s called “Ozempic rebound”).

However, what really tripped me out, more than anything else (as far as the side effects of the drug goes), is taking Ozempic has the potential to switch up some things as far as your vagina is concerned too — and since you know that I like to talk about that particular body part a lot around these parts before I close out, please…let’s discuss.

What Can Ozempic “Do” to Your Vagina?

Even if you pretty much assumed that Ozempic had at least a few side effects (I mean, most medications do, although that list is pretty long, y’all), I’d venture to say that it never even crossed your mind that it could cause your vagina to go all NeNe Leakes on you by saying, “Now, why am I in it?” LOL. And yet:

1. Since Ozempic can cause extreme weight loss, that could throw your hormones out of balance which could alter the health and vitality of your vaginal tissues.

2. If Ozempic does result in you constantly vomiting or having regular bouts of diarrhea, that could lead to dehydration which could cause you to experience vaginal dryness, a sore vulva, vaginal irritation, a burning sensation when you urinate, pain or discomfort during sex and/or even vaginitis.

3. Something else that Ozempic has the potential to do is alteryour gut which could result in more “bad bacteria” getting into your system which could result in yeast infections.

4. Since there is a chance that the potential drastic/rapid weight loss that comes with Ozempic can weaken your bones and muscles, vaginal laxity (looser muscles or tissues in your vaginal area including your labia) should also be a concern.

5. Ozempic can also lower your dopamine levels. This is important to keep in mind because dopamine is a “pleasure” neurotransmitter — and since a peak time when it’s heightened is during an orgasm, well…I’m pretty sure that you get where I am going with that, chile.

6. And boy, if this one ain’t a plot twist, some health professionals believe that Ozempic can also decrease the potency of your birth control (by delaying how fast the meds are able to get through your system).

Okay, so what if, after taking all of this in, you still want to give Ozempic a try? Well, for starters, really take whatever your doctor says is best seriously and literally. Next — and again — because the price tag is so high, avoid the temptation of going the generic route; that could give you so much more than what you bargained for (and absolutely not in a good way). Definitely keep in mind that you still have to bring some discipline into your life’s routine by eating healthy and exercising.

And when it comes to your vagina, specifically? Stay hydrated, take a probiotic, keep some vaginal lubrication nearby, do not ignore a drastic change in discharge or how your vagina or vulva feels, and speak with your physician about if you should take extra precautions as it relates to birth control.

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Is Ozempic a fad? In the wise words of one of my favorite throwback groups DeBarge, time will reveal. Please just make sure that before you decide to partake that you get as much information as possible — especially since — and it really can’t be said enough — it hasn’t been approved for weight loss (yet).

Especially since it can do some things to your vagina that I’m sure you would like to avoid.

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