Evidence That Semaglutide Represents an Important Tool for Treatment of Irregular Menses and Chronic Anovulation in Women with Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome
Irregular menses and chronic anovulation are key components of Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), but available treatments generally only mask the clinical problem, which presents itself again when the drugs are stopped. Because reduction of body weight in these patients is often associated with improvement of menstrual cycles, we evaluated the effects of treatment with semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist that has emerged as an effective treatment for obesity.
Methods
A total of 96 women with PMOS and body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 completed a six-month treatment protocol with semaglutide using an individualized dose-escalation regimen. Body weight, fasting glucose, insulin levels, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and ovulatory function were assessed before and after treatment.
Results
After six months of treatment, mean body weight decreased significantly (-11.3 ± 5%, p < 0.01). Before treatment, 83% of PMOS patients presented with oligomenorrhea and anovulatory cycles. Following treatment, ovulatory cycles were observed in 52.5% of previously anovulatory women. The results were particularly good in overweight patients, with almost 95% of these PMOS patients achieving menstrual cycle normalization and ovulation, but also in patients with mild obesity. Results were less favorable in PMOS patients with moderate or severe obesity, but 25% of these patients achieved menstrual ovulatory cycle normalization when treated with semaglutide.
Conclusions
This study represents an important therapeutic advancement, suggesting that women with PMOS and excessive body weight should be considered for treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists before proceeding to therapies specifically aimed at inducing normal cycles and ovulation.
PMID 42452625 42452625 DOI 10.3390/jcm15135165 10.3390/jcm15135165 Carmina et al. 2026, Carmina 2026
Keywords
GLP-1 agonist treatment of PMOS, GLP-1 agonists, PCOS, PMOS, chronic anovulation in PMOS, irregular menses, obese PMOS, semaglutide
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