You could say that taking Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists for weight loss has been a growing trend. But recent claims on social media and Internet forums seem to be taking such a statement to another level, as in a genital level. Yep, as a Reddit thread shows, some men have been asserting that their penises have grown larger since they started taking GLP-1 agonist medications. Some have been dubbing this perceived growth “Ozempic penis,” adding yet another “Ozempic [fill in body part here]
” nickname to a growing list. There are big questions, though, about the legitimacy and accuracy of such claims. After all, “accuracy” isn’t always the first word you may think of when it comes to men and what they say about their penis sizes.
Men Are Claiming Gains Of An Inch Or More In Length
Here are some examples of the lengths to which members of Reddit have been going to describe what GLP-1 agonists supposedly did to their members. An anonymous Redditor said, “I recently measured myself down there and noticed I gained about one inch. Now I think people will say it was because of the fat loss. However, at the time I measured myself before (4 years ago), I was thinner.”
Another anonymous Redditor went on even longer: “I gained 1.5 inches in length. No joke. Like you I obviously know how long I was before I got very fat. Then after about seven months on Tirzepatide in my case I gained 1.5 inches in length. Definitely not all from weight loss.”
Anonymous Claims On Social Media and The Internet In General Can Be Questionable
Of course, posts were from anonymous Redditors are the same as verified data or a peer-reviewed scientific study. Something posted on an Internet forum or social media can be like something written on the wall of toilet stall in a public restroom. Neither of the aforementioned Redditors provided any clear evidence supporting their claims. Of course, when some random guy comments about his penis, others may not be that inclined to say, “Show us some proof.”
Measurement Of Penis Length Can Be Tricky
Moreover, accurately measuring penis length can be in the words of Run-DMC tricky. If you want different measurements over time to be comparable, you’ve got to use the exact same landmarks consistently. The formal definition of penis length is measuring from the true base of the penis all the way to the tip. And if you are using a tape measure, you shouldn’t give it some slack. It should be held taut.
Plus, measurements should be done when the penis is fully erect. That’s because of the whole “grower” versus “shower” continuum. A so-called “grower” is someone whose penis gets significantly longer and maybe even wider when going from flaccid to erect whereas a so-called “shower” doesn’t undergo any such major change between the two states. The former can bring more of a surprise, while with the latter, what you already see at any time is essentially what you get. Whether you are a grower versus a shower depends on the elasticity of the tissue in your penis, the amount of collagen in your penis and blood flow to the penis.
Therefore, different measurements done at different degrees of erection could yield very different measurements. Remember all erections are not created equal. There are scales ranging from 0 to 4 and 0 to 10 to rate the firmness and rigidity of an erection, which can vary significantly by excitement, stimulation and other factors beyond you and your partner’s control. And you could say that it is hard to always achieve the hardest possible erection.
The Perceived Gains Could Be Due To Weight Loss
Despite the Redditors’ claims otherwise, weight loss is still the leading possibility behind these perceived increases in penis length. It’s important to remember that your penis is attached to your pelvis, at least it should be attached, and that the border between where your penis ends and the rest of the pelvis begins is not necessarily clear. Therefore, the amount of fat in the pelvis around the pubic area can affect the length of the penis that is visible and readily measurable.
On top of that, the GLP-1 agonists seem to be causing striking fat loss in different parts of the body that many people may not be used to seeing. That’s given rise to terms like “Ozempic finger” and “Wegovy butt” and “Ozempic mouth” and Ozempic feet” as I have covered in Forbes previously. So, if someone gained weight and then started taking GLP-1 agonist medications, the end result result may not be exactly what that person looked like previously.
Another Possibility Is Increased Penile Blood Flow
When you lose weight, another thing that can improve is blood flow to different parts of your body, including your penis. And blood flowing into the penis and staying in there are what results in and maintains erections. The greater the blood flow, the more erect and rigid the penis. So, there is the possibility that more rigid erections are being misinterpreted at longer penile length.
On the flip side, some on Reddit have complained of erectile dysfunction after starting GLP-1 agonists. As it stands now, ED is not an established side effect of such medications. But more studies may be needed to get a better sense of the range of possible side effects of Ozempic and other such medications over longer periods of time and in broader populations than those in the original clinical trials.
If You Notice A Change In Penis Size See Your Doctor
If you do notice a change in penis size in either direction, don’t simply say, “Yay” or “Them’s the breaks.” It could be a sign of a significant underlying problem. Growth in genital size could be a sign of a growth like a tumor or fluid accumulation. Decrease in genital size could be ED, which could be a sign of cardiovascular disease or other blood flow problems. You may want to check your testosterone levels as well.
Of course, anytime anyone claims that something can increase penis size, chances are there will be men out there who think, “How can I get some of that?” If you are thinking of injecting yourself with Ozempic or some other GLP-1 agonist just to increase your penis size, don’t. Again the long and the short of it is that claims on social media and the Internet are just not the same as peer-reviewed scientific studies.
