News | GLP-1 drugs may improve testosterone levels and sperm quality in obese men
GLP-1 drugs, beyond their use in weight loss and diabetes treatment, may also be associated with improvements in male reproductive health. Recently, a study to be presented at the American Endocrine Society annual meeting ENDO 2026 showed that long-term use of GLP-1 drugs showed no signs of impairing male hormone levels or fertility. On the contrary, in men with obesity-related low testosterone, these drugs may help improve testosterone levels and sperm quality, while addressing the underlying issue of obesity and metabolic abnormalities.
The study was conducted by scientists from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and Warwick Medical School in the UK. The research team searched medical databases to screen published randomized controlled clinical trials, focusing on the effects of GLP-1 drugs compared with other treatments or placebo on reproductive and metabolic indicators in men aged 18 to 65 years.
The researchers primarily assessed testosterone levels and changes in related hormones regulating testicular function, while also including indicators such as sperm quality, body weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, and overall metabolic health. To reduce bias, two independent reviewers audited the relevant studies, and a total of 5 clinical trials met the inclusion criteria.
The analysis results showed that existing clinical trials found no negative effects of GLP-1 drugs on male hormone levels, sexual function, or sperm quality. Among them, a 24-week study of semaglutide showed improvements in sperm morphology and cholesterol levels in participants, while testosterone and related hormone levels remained stable. Another 16-week study of liraglutide showed that in men with low testosterone caused by overweight or obesity, testosterone and related hormone levels increased after treatment.
The study also suggested that, compared with testosterone replacement therapy alone, intervening in obesity and metabolic abnormalities may lead to better overall health outcomes. The research team believes this finding has important clinical significance, because obesity itself can affect male reproductive health through multiple mechanisms, including lowering testosterone levels, affecting sperm production, exacerbating inflammatory states, and disrupting metabolic balance. If the underlying cause can be improved at the level of body weight and metabolic health, male hormone levels and fertility-related indicators may subsequently improve.
Pratibha Natesh, an endocrinology expert at Warwick Medical School and lead researcher of the team, stated that this study supports a shift in clinical thinking from "directly prescribing testosterone replacement therapy for obese men with low testosterone" to "prioritizing the root cause of overweight and poor metabolic health." She noted that improving obesity and metabolic status may allow the body to naturally restore hormone levels, while also helping to preserve fertility.
This view also addresses an important issue in the treatment of male low testosterone. Although testosterone replacement therapy can increase testosterone levels in the blood, it is not always an ideal choice for men with fertility needs, because exogenous testosterone may suppress the hormonal axis that regulates sperm production in the body, thereby affecting sperm production. In contrast, GLP-1 drugs primarily work by improving body weight, blood sugar, insulin resistance, and metabolic status, which theoretically is closer to addressing the cause behind obesity-related low testosterone.
However, the researchers emphasized that the current evidence is still in its early stages. Although the results of existing clinical trials are generally positive, the number of included studies is small, and there are differences in results between different studies. Therefore, larger, more rigorously designed, and longer follow-up studies are still needed to fully assess the long-term effects of GLP-1 drugs on male fertility.
The research team also specifically reminded that most of the reproductive benefits observed so far are likely indirect effects, namely improvements in hormone and sperm indicators through weight loss and improved metabolic health, rather than GLP-1 drugs directly acting as treatments for male infertility or hypogonadism. In other words, GLP-1 drugs have not yet been evaluated as a specific treatment option for male infertility or low testosterone.
As GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide and liraglutide are widely used in the management of obesity and 2 diabetes, public attention on their long-term safety and potential additional benefits continues to grow. For men of reproductive age, whether drugs affect sperm quality, hormone levels, and future fertility plans is a question of practical significance. This study provides a clearer direction of evidence for this question: at least from existing randomized controlled trials, GLP-1 drugs have not shown signals of reproductive harm, and may bring certain improvements in men with obesity-related low testosterone.
Natesh stated that the positive effects of improving metabolic health may go far beyond body weight itself. The research team hopes that this evidence-based information can help patients and clinicians view GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs more rationally, considering body weight, metabolism, hormones, and fertility needs when making treatment choices.
Overall, this study provides new ideas for the management of reproductive health in obese men. In the future, if more studies confirm that GLP-1 drugs can safely improve testosterone levels and sperm quality, then the management of male low testosterone and fertility may place greater emphasis on treating metabolic causes rather than relying solely on hormone replacement.
Notícias | Os medicamentos GLP-1 podem melhorar os níveis de testosterona e a qualidade do esperma em homens com obesidade
News | GLP-1 drugs may improve testosterone levels and sperm quality in obese men
GLP-1 drugs, beyond their use in weight loss and diabetes treatment, may also be associated with improvements in male reproductive health. Recently, a study to be presented at the American Endocrine Society annual meeting ENDO 2026 showed that long-term use of GLP-1 drugs showed no signs of impairing male hormone levels or fertility. On the contrary, in men with obesity-related low testosterone, these drugs may help improve testosterone levels and sperm quality, while addressing the underlying issue of obesity and metabolic abnormalities.
The study was conducted by scientists from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and Warwick Medical School in the UK. The research team searched medical databases to screen published randomized controlled clinical trials, focusing on the effects of GLP-1 drugs compared with other treatments or placebo on reproductive and metabolic indicators in men aged 18 to 65 years.
The researchers primarily assessed testosterone levels and changes in related hormones regulating testicular function, while also including indicators such as sperm quality, body weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, and overall metabolic health. To reduce bias, two independent reviewers audited the relevant studies, and a total of 5 clinical trials met the inclusion criteria.
The analysis results showed that existing clinical trials found no negative effects of GLP-1 drugs on male hormone levels, sexual function, or sperm quality. Among them, a 24-week study of semaglutide showed improvements in sperm morphology and cholesterol levels in participants, while testosterone and related hormone levels remained stable. Another 16-week study of liraglutide showed that in men with low testosterone caused by overweight or obesity, testosterone and related hormone levels increased after treatment.
The study also suggested that, compared with testosterone replacement therapy alone, intervening in obesity and metabolic abnormalities may lead to better overall health outcomes. The research team believes this finding has important clinical significance, because obesity itself can affect male reproductive health through multiple mechanisms, including lowering testosterone levels, affecting sperm production, exacerbating inflammatory states, and disrupting metabolic balance. If the underlying cause can be improved at the level of body weight and metabolic health, male hormone levels and fertility-related indicators may subsequently improve.
Pratibha Natesh, an endocrinology expert at Warwick Medical School and lead researcher of the team, stated that this study supports a shift in clinical thinking from "directly prescribing testosterone replacement therapy for obese men with low testosterone" to "prioritizing the root cause of overweight and poor metabolic health." She noted that improving obesity and metabolic status may allow the body to naturally restore hormone levels, while also helping to preserve fertility.
This view also addresses an important issue in the treatment of male low testosterone. Although testosterone replacement therapy can increase testosterone levels in the blood, it is not always an ideal choice for men with fertility needs, because exogenous testosterone may suppress the hormonal axis that regulates sperm production in the body, thereby affecting sperm production. In contrast, GLP-1 drugs primarily work by improving body weight, blood sugar, insulin resistance, and metabolic status, which theoretically is closer to addressing the cause behind obesity-related low testosterone.
However, the researchers emphasized that the current evidence is still in its early stages. Although the results of existing clinical trials are generally positive, the number of included studies is small, and there are differences in results between different studies. Therefore, larger, more rigorously designed, and longer follow-up studies are still needed to fully assess the long-term effects of GLP-1 drugs on male fertility.
The research team also specifically reminded that most of the reproductive benefits observed so far are likely indirect effects, namely improvements in hormone and sperm indicators through weight loss and improved metabolic health, rather than GLP-1 drugs directly acting as treatments for male infertility or hypogonadism. In other words, GLP-1 drugs have not yet been evaluated as a specific treatment option for male infertility or low testosterone.
As GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide and liraglutide are widely used in the management of obesity and 2 diabetes, public attention on their long-term safety and potential additional benefits continues to grow. For men of reproductive age, whether drugs affect sperm quality, hormone levels, and future fertility plans is a question of practical significance. This study provides a clearer direction of evidence for this question: at least from existing randomized controlled trials, GLP-1 drugs have not shown signals of reproductive harm, and may bring certain improvements in men with obesity-related low testosterone.
Natesh stated that the positive effects of improving metabolic health may go far beyond body weight itself. The research team hopes that this evidence-based information can help patients and clinicians view GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs more rationally, considering body weight, metabolism, hormones, and fertility needs when making treatment choices.
Overall, this study provides new ideas for the management of reproductive health in obese men. In the future, if more studies confirm that GLP-1 drugs can safely improve testosterone levels and sperm quality, then the management of male low testosterone and fertility may place greater emphasis on treating metabolic causes rather than relying solely on hormone replacement.
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Collected from the internet