News | NHS funds research into weight-loss drugs as possible first-line PCOS treatment
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has awarded dedicated funding to new research on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), focusing on an increasingly prominent approach: incorporating weight-loss and glucose-lowering drugs into systematic PCOS management.
The project is led by Dr. Shagaf Bakour, a gynecologist and Director of Medical Education at Aston Medical School, Aston University, and was jointly designed with Dr. Hoda Harb, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust. It received £60,000 through the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Research Fellowship program to help translate frontline clinical practice into academic research.
PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age, affecting up to about 10%. Typical features include irregular menstruation, infertility, acne, and hirsutism, often with obesity, insulin resistance, and elevated risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This combined reproductive and metabolic burden makes PCOS both highly complex and prone to fragmented care.
The study will assess the potential use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in PCOS. Originally used for diabetes and weight management, these drugs have rapidly become more common because of their substantial weight-loss effects. Examples include Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide).
Because people with PCOS are more likely to have obesity and insulin resistance, GLP-1 drugs target a central disease mechanism and may indirectly improve ovulation and fertility while improving metabolic health.
The project will proceed in two phases:
Phase one will systematically evaluate evidence. Researchers will review clinical studies and real-world data on GLP-1 receptor agonists for PCOS, define the limits of current evidence, and identify key knowledge gaps. They will focus on outcomes that matter to patients, including weight change, metabolic measures, reproductive outcomes, and quality of life, so research goals remain aligned with clinical needs.
Phase two will be a real-world feasibility study. After ethical approval and a data-governance framework are in place, the team plans to link data from reproductive medicine services, general practitioner (GP) records, and weight-management clinics. It will assess GLP-1 drugs in routine care, including consistency of efficacy, access, and whether they can reduce variation in current PCOS treatment pathways.
Dr. Shagaf Bakour said PCOS care is currently uneven, with recommendations varying widely by region and clinician and patients often lacking a clear, consistent pathway. “Our goal is to give women with PCOS clearer, evidence-based treatment options while promoting more consistent clinical management. This is about not only fertility, but also long-term health.”
He added that the study aims to determine whether GLP-1 drugs can improve both overall and reproductive health and support more standardized local services. Long-term goals include publishing high-quality evidence, securing larger external grants, and reducing the burden of long-term PCOS complications.
Professor Elizabeth Hughes, Director of Research and Development at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said PCOS and related infertility carry a heavy emotional burden, making research urgent. “We need research to continue advancing women's health services and help future generations better address this common but long-underestimated condition.”
The study's value extends beyond testing one drug. It could redefine PCOS treatment by moving from fragmented, symptom-led care toward systematic management centered on metabolic mechanisms. Positive findings could position GLP-1 drugs as an important link between weight loss, metabolism, and fertility.
News | NHS funds research into weight-loss drugs as possible first-line PCOS treatment
News | NHS funds research into weight-loss drugs as possible first-line PCOS treatment
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has awarded dedicated funding to new research on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), focusing on an increasingly prominent approach: incorporating weight-loss and glucose-lowering drugs into systematic PCOS management.
The project is led by Dr. Shagaf Bakour, a gynecologist and Director of Medical Education at Aston Medical School, Aston University, and was jointly designed with Dr. Hoda Harb, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust. It received £60,000 through the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Research Fellowship program to help translate frontline clinical practice into academic research.
PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age, affecting up to about 10%. Typical features include irregular menstruation, infertility, acne, and hirsutism, often with obesity, insulin resistance, and elevated risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This combined reproductive and metabolic burden makes PCOS both highly complex and prone to fragmented care.
The study will assess the potential use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in PCOS. Originally used for diabetes and weight management, these drugs have rapidly become more common because of their substantial weight-loss effects. Examples include Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide).
Because people with PCOS are more likely to have obesity and insulin resistance, GLP-1 drugs target a central disease mechanism and may indirectly improve ovulation and fertility while improving metabolic health.
The project will proceed in two phases:
Phase one will systematically evaluate evidence. Researchers will review clinical studies and real-world data on GLP-1 receptor agonists for PCOS, define the limits of current evidence, and identify key knowledge gaps. They will focus on outcomes that matter to patients, including weight change, metabolic measures, reproductive outcomes, and quality of life, so research goals remain aligned with clinical needs.
Phase two will be a real-world feasibility study. After ethical approval and a data-governance framework are in place, the team plans to link data from reproductive medicine services, general practitioner (GP) records, and weight-management clinics. It will assess GLP-1 drugs in routine care, including consistency of efficacy, access, and whether they can reduce variation in current PCOS treatment pathways.
Dr. Shagaf Bakour said PCOS care is currently uneven, with recommendations varying widely by region and clinician and patients often lacking a clear, consistent pathway. “Our goal is to give women with PCOS clearer, evidence-based treatment options while promoting more consistent clinical management. This is about not only fertility, but also long-term health.”
He added that the study aims to determine whether GLP-1 drugs can improve both overall and reproductive health and support more standardized local services. Long-term goals include publishing high-quality evidence, securing larger external grants, and reducing the burden of long-term PCOS complications.
Professor Elizabeth Hughes, Director of Research and Development at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, said PCOS and related infertility carry a heavy emotional burden, making research urgent. “We need research to continue advancing women's health services and help future generations better address this common but long-underestimated condition.”
The study's value extends beyond testing one drug. It could redefine PCOS treatment by moving from fragmented, symptom-led care toward systematic management centered on metabolic mechanisms. Positive findings could position GLP-1 drugs as an important link between weight loss, metabolism, and fertility.
Source:
Compiled from online sources