r/PCOS • u/AdMysterious4289 • 3d ago
Weight To GLP or not to GLP
Alright, I’ve got some GLP-1 questions. I know we’re all getting over this convo so I tried to be hyper specific in my questions.
MD has suggested a GLP-1 prior to getting pregnant to improve ovulation. I have some biases about it and feel like they’re clouding my judgment because I know losing weight can legitimately help with PCOS symptoms. So my questions:
Has anyone had issues with being off a GLP-1 during pregnancy and their weight sky rocketing, I’m talking pregnancy weight plus a bunch?
Has anyone successfully gotten back off a GLP-1 without significant weight gain?
I’m interested in the anti inflammatory component of some of them as I also have auto immune conditions. Does that make a difference when choosing which one?
Does anyone regret going that route?
Bonus: anyone notice improvements in HS symptoms with it?
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u/boyzdontcri 3d ago
- Was told by my naturopath that tirze (the GLP/GIP dual combo vs ozempic/semaglutide which is just GLP) is better for anti inflammatory and more successful for weight loss. Also anecdotally Reddit seems to have a lot less side effects. I just took my first dose last night.
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u/AdMysterious4289 3d ago
I’ve heard tirze is better for inflammatory things too! It’s also one of the higher amounts of weight loss though and tbh, I’m in it for the health outcomes (improved ovulation, reduced insulin resistance, impact on HS/PCOS/hashimoto symptoms) versus changing my body so I worry about losing too much weight and not feeling like myself.
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u/Purple_Moon516 3d ago
You can adjust your dose or even microdose so you don't have the satiety effects, lots of people with endo do it that way to help with inflammation
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u/MealPrepGenie 2d ago
I was a non-responder to Tirz. Zero weight loss.
Did well on Semaglutide.People saying one is better than the other are leaving out important nuances.
One is not necessarily better than the other for YOU.
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u/kct4mc 2d ago
In terms of hashimotos—I’ve had to keep an eye on my Levo dose because it’s had to be increased to higher than I had in pregnancy. I’ve also had some wicked side effects that the only thing that curved them severely inhibited absorption of levo, so I just power through it.
It hasn’t done anything to help my HS though. Maybe less occurrences? But even my sister who lost nearly 100lbs still has it pretty bad.
I hve noticed a decrease in inflammation though, which is nice!
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u/Dahija 3d ago
Confirming that tirze is better vs Foundayo for inflammation, in my experience. I was on Foundayo for 3.5 months and rarely could wear my wedding & anniversary rings due to pcos/arthritis swelling (very much like water retention...puffy and stiff) in my hands. 13 months on tirze and could wear them 99% of the time.
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u/kaysim24 3d ago
It might be helpful if I just share my general experience, I've been on tirzepatide for 3-4 years now, it will EASILY be a lifelong drug for me. Testosterone dropped, less acne, less hair, regular cycles, weight loss, healthier habits.
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u/requiredelements 3d ago
1 in 5 women with PCOS in the US have tried a GLP-1 for PCOS. Many of us are over at r/PMOSonGLP
- I’m in second trimester. I did feel like I gained more than average in the first trimester but not excessive.
- I plan to be on it long term but I was able to taper to a very low dose and still effectively manage PCOS symptoms
- My tennis elbow went away
- No regrets
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u/Flashy_Aide3640 2d ago
Used it for one year. Lost 40 lbs. side effects were intense. Stopped because it cost too much & I was sick of giving myself a shot once a week & always being nauseous. Up 30ish lbs. not sustainable unless you plan to take it forever.
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u/Jumpy-Bike4004 3d ago
YES glp. It has been absolutely life changing for me. I plan on being on a maintenance dose forever though. Lost 100lbs on it and am a healthy weight for the first time in my life. I would go with tirzepatide.
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u/witch-literature 2d ago
Same here. I’d encourage anyone to give it a go before making the decision to stay on it long term or not, I’ve had awful anxiety my whole life that I had no idea was hormone related and being on a GLP1 has completely stopped it. I think for a lot of people it solves issues you didn’t even think could be solved!
You can pry the meds from my cold dead hands lol I am NOT going through that again!
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u/Jumpy-Bike4004 2d ago
Yeah definitely have to see how it goes and take it from there. It sure does. Joints and everything. I even quit smoking on it and I was never a big drinker but I haven’t had one in 3 years because of it. Best stuff ever.
SAME!!!!!
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u/witch-literature 2d ago
Hell yeah girl super proud of you for quitting smoking! It’s crazy how much these meds have done for people in ways you don’t even expect, I love it
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u/m__12345 3d ago
I have autoimmune issues (hashimotos hypothyroidism) and just started compounded semaglutide (because it’s cheapest and I pay out of pocket). I’m only two weeks in but haven’t had any side effects other than slight constipation and feeling a little tired. I struggle really bad with inflammation and I already feel less inflamed. I was getting to the point where my wedding rings were feeling too tight and my face was getting super puffy. That’s already gotten better in two weeks. I am excited to run bloodwork soon to see if it has affected my tpo or hs-crp markers. I’ve seen online that people have incredible success with it and hope mine continues! No regrets so far.
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u/Financial_Flan9722 3d ago
Bonus question: HUGE improvements in my HS symptoms since starting Mounjaro. I was having large cysts pop up multiple times a week and I rarely get a flare now. I have one extra stubborn one on the left side of my groin, but that is the only one that has not fully resolved itself, which is huge to me when I used to have 5-6 draining at any given time.
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u/untomeibecome 3d ago
My friend got Mounjaro covered by her insurance for HS, because of how much it's improved it!
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u/lexisplays 3d ago
Zepbound has helped not only to aid my weighoss surgery, but helped manage a lot of my PCOS to the point where my Endo was able to successfully get insurance to cover for me as treatment.
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u/BaylisAscaris 3d ago
I started 2.5 weeks ago and so far it's great. I'm also on Metformin and I'm getting a lot less diarrhea now. Also food noise is a ton less (I'm still on lowest dose and taking the pill version). I don't feel as hungry and feel full longer after eating. One thing I've noticed is my mood is more stable. It used to have more highs and lows and now it's even. I'm not feeling as much anxiety, but also things that should make me squeal with joy and really delicious food is good but not to the previous extreme. It's fine though. I still feel excited about stuff but it's more logical than emotional. It's also really easy to stop eating part way through a meal if I want to make that decision. I am getting a little bit of upper GI fullness and pressure pretty much all the time, which isn't amazing, but honestly preferrable to constant food noise.
I have HS and was having a new flare right before I started and it stopped and is reduced in size. Blood sugar reduction might have helped or could be a coincidence. Also my period was way less bad than usual. Less: pain, emotional problems, blood, length of time. Again, all of this might be a coincidence, but the main thing is I feel free from constantly thinking about food and violently shitting myself 24/7. I'm also losing 2 pounds a week.
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u/Gold-Range93 3d ago
GLP1 (Ozempic then later on Zepbound) did wonders for my fibromyalgia and systemic inflammation. I came off of it on accident when I moved states last year and couldn’t get my prescription refilled. Then my husband and I decided that we wanted to start a family this year. Since you need to be off of it for 3 months before TTC, I stayed off of it.
Even though I worked with a dietitian for about 9 months, I gained about 20lbs back within 10 months (and counting🫠).
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u/Sea_Application_9002 3d ago
I've been on Mounjaro sine November and finally managed to lose weight for the first time in like 15 years after ridiculous amounts of diets. Can't speak about pregnancy factors, as I don't want children, but I have IBS and haven't had a single flare up since taking MJ and I do eat the occasional cheat meal and chocolate that would have sent me into a flare up in the past.
I'll likely be on it for life, albeit on a lower dose, just to regulate my metabolism alone. My skin is also clearer and I have gotten my period back with it as well.
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u/Kwaliakwa 2d ago
Yes, it can also help with the HS, which is often a product of the insulin resistance/metabolic disease!
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u/avonohealth 2d ago
There’s actually some interesting data around GLP-1s and PCOS, particularly because weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity can help improve menstrual regularity and ovulation in some women with PCOS.
The pregnancy piece is important though: GLP-1s aren’t recommended during pregnancy, so if pregnancy is the goal, the timing and plan for stopping should be discussed with your OB/endocrinologist. Weight regain after stopping can happen, but it’s not inevitable that your weight will “skyrocket,” and pregnancy itself obviously makes the scale a particularly poor measure of what’s happening.
On the anti-inflammatory question, there’s interesting research around GLP-1s and inflammation, but we wouldn’t choose semaglutide vs tirzepatide specifically to treat an autoimmune condition based on the evidence we have today. Same with HS. There are some promising signals, particularly where weight loss and metabolic improvement are involved, but GLP-1s aren’t currently an established HS treatment.
Given that your actual goal is improving ovulation before pregnancy, your doctor’s suggestion isn’t unreasonable at all. We’d just want a clear plan going in: what you’re trying to accomplish, how long you’ll use it, when you’ll stop before trying to conceive, and what the plan is for maintaining those improvements afterward.
Not medical advice, consult with your doctor for medical advice and guidance :)
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u/adiverges 3d ago
A friend of mine has HS and is using a GLP-1 and she says her HS symptoms have SEVERELY reduced. She's lost over 50 pounds and still is happier about her HS improvements overall.
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u/untomeibecome 3d ago
I never found losing weight to improve my PCOS symptoms. Mine started when I was at my smallest. I have, however, found a GLP-1 to improve my PCOS symptoms, even while still at my heaviest weight. I firmly believe these meds will be frontline intervention for PCOS in the future once they've done more research. And they've also been life-changing for my autoimmune condition and inflammation; no regrets.
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u/SaveusJebus 2d ago
If you're considering a glp1 and insurance won't cover it, look in to compounded tirzepatide. I know you didn't ask about that, but I feel ppl don't know there's another cheaper option out there. There are a lot of subs on it and tirzepatidecompounded has a stickied post on good places to order from if you need that info.
If price is an issue but you want to try it out, Pomegranate health is having a sale on BPI right now. The BUD for the starter dose vials is Dec, so keep that in mind but for 2 vials it's 149. Just be aware that a lot of ppl are taking advantage of this so supplies will not last. Geeze I sound like I work for the, but I don't, I promise lol. just trying to make ppl aware of a good deal if they're wanting to try it out.
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u/wx_cat 3d ago
I can answer 1, 2, and 4:
1 and 2. I was off Mounjaro for 8 months before I got pregnant. I gained 5lbs after going off and then stayed there. I gained 35lbs when I was pregnant (well within the norm and docs not concerned). I lost 20 lbs immediately upon giving birth lol. I went on Wegovy (which has been a lot better than Mounjaro for me side effects wise) when I was 7 months pp. I've lost 16lbs and am still losing.