GLP-1s: Should You Be Prescribing Them? The Great Debate from the 27th Annual SMSNA Fall Scientific Meeting
On Thursday, October 8, at the 27th Annual SMSNA Fall Scientific Meeting, Drs. Amy Pearlman and Kevin Chu engaged in a lively debate about whether sexual health professionals should prescribe GLP-1 medications.
Dr. Pearlman argued that sexual health professionals should prescribe GLP-1s. She cited a systematic review of 10 studies showing that GLP-1s may improve erectile dysfunction (ED), likely indirectly through weight loss. Dr. Pearlman also presented a case in which fertility improved with GLP-1 use. Other data showed that men with diabetes who were taking semaglutide experienced improvements in ED, while the same was not observed in men without diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight and muscle mass can contribute to overall sexual health and vitality. Dr. Pearlman pointed out that many of the necessary procedures are already in place and may simply need to be adapted. She asked Dr. Chu: If sexual health professionals already prescribe treatments for conditions associated with metabolic disease, why shouldn't they treat metabolic disease itself?
Dr. Chu argued that sexual health professionals should not prescribe GLP-1s. He explained that ED is often the "canary in the coal mine" for other health concerns. However, most sexual medicine professionals do not directly manage conditions such as hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Dr. Chu noted that the same studies Dr. Pearlman cited could also support his argument, as the evidence remains inconclusive about whether GLP-1s improve ED or fertility. He also raised concerns about adverse events that may be beyond a sexual health professional's scope of practice, potentially creating additional burdens for both providers and patients. Instead, he recommended a multidisciplinary approach in which specialists work together to manage ED, ejaculatory disorders, and underlying metabolic conditions.
Should GLP-1 prescribing become part of sexual medicine practice, or is it best left to other specialists?
You may also be interested in...
Other Popular Articles
What Is the Average Penis Size?
If you have ever wondered how your penis compares to others in terms of size, you are not alone. Many men are curious to know how their penises stack up compared to the average. Unfortunately, general curiosity can sometimes give way to full-on obsession and anxiety about penis size. This can be an unhealthy and often unnecessary fixation, especially because most men who think their penises are too small have perfectly normal-sized penises.
Can Sex Reduce Menstrual Cramps?
The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine.
Having sex while you experience menstrual cramps is healthy and can provide significant benefits. While it might not be the first activity that comes to mind when your PMS or period cramping begins, many people enjoy sex to reduce menstrual cramps, experience increased pleasure and benefit from other advantages. Learn more about having sex while menstrual cramps are happening and how it can help your body.
What Is Sensate Focus and How Does It Work?
Sensate focus is a technique used to improve intimacy and communication between partners around sex, reduce sexual performance anxiety, and shift away from ingrained, goal-oriented sexual patterns that may not be serving a couple.
What Is Jelqing, and Does It Actually Work?
The term “jelqing” refers to a set of penis stretching exercises that some believe can make the penis bigger. Although the practice has gained attention and popularity in blogs and internet forums in recent years, there is no scientific evidence that it is an effective way to permanently increase the size of one’s penis. In fact, in some cases, jelqing may actually cause damage to the penis, so it is a good idea to get all the facts before setting off to try it.
How Long Does It Take the Average Man to Ejaculate?
On average, it takes a man between 5 to 7 minutes to orgasm and ejaculate during sexual intercourse.
Can Sex Throw off Your Vaginal pH Balance?
The SMSNA periodically receives and publishes ‘guest editorials.’ The current article was submitted by Mia Barnes, a freelance writer and researcher who specializes in women's health, wellness, and healthy living. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Body+Mind Magazine.
Your vagina is a pretty powerful organ. It is a pathway for menstrual blood and babies. It also is a main player in sexual intercourse. You might hear about your vagina’s pH and worry that yours is at risk. Here’s what to know about vaginal pH, including the impacts sex could have.
Attention: Restrictions on use of SMSNA content in third party applications, including artificial intelligence technologies, such as large language models and generative AI.
You are prohibited from using or uploading content you accessed through this website into external applications, bots, software, or websites, including those using artificial intelligence technologies and infrastructure, including deep learning, machine learning and large language models and generative AI.
Subscribe for our Newsletter!
