When it comes to GLP medications, it turns out there are gender differences,
and for women the GLP medications effectiveness may change as estrogen levels change with menopause. (Yes, another lovely change with menopause). This is part of why we at Biohackr Health support women in menopause seeing if hormone replacement is right for you. (We offer pelleting in the clinic designed based on your hormone lab results, or a visit with our clinicians to prescribe HRT pills and patches).
So what is the study?
This was published in January 2025 in Endocrinology, “GLP-1 and Its Analogs: Does Sex Matter?”
For those of you with no attention span, the answer seems to be yes.
COMBINING GLP-1 AND ESTROGEN LEADS TO SYNERGISTIC EFFECT ON WEIGHT LOSS, GLYCEMIC CONTROL, AND FOOD REWARD
They discussed how more gender based research needs to be done to see how GLPs affect women differently, particularly pre vs post menopause. This was a review paper. They highlight:
- Estrogen and GLP-1 act on overlapping brain regions. These regions reduce food intake and increase energy expenditure.
- When you lose estrogen – ovary removal, receptor deletion or bloc- this leads to weight gain and increased “food motivated behavior”
- Your body makes GLP-1. They have found GLPs are LESS effective in rats whose ovaries have been removed, and this is restored by estrogen treatments
- Estrogen injections reduce food motivated behavior.
- COMBINING GLP-1 AND ESTROGEN LEADS TO SYNERGISTIC EFFECT ON WEIGHT LOSS, GLYCEMIC CONTROL, AND FOOD REWARD
- Hypothalamic GLP-1R expression increases during late proestrus, when estrogen levels are high
- GLP-1 secretion from pancreas or intestinal cells is increased in direct action of estrogen in these cells.
- Post menopausal women show less decrease in HbA1c on GLPs
They conclude:
“Overall, while we did not find evidence for many qualitative sex differences in the therapeutic effect of clinically approved GLP-1 analogs, a growing body of literature highlights quantitative sex differences in the response to GLP-1 and its analogs as well as an interaction of these therapeutics with estrogens.”
How can Biohackr Health help?
We treat many women in perimenopause and menopause. We see many women dealing with hormone issues and weight gain issues. This study indicates treating both has a synergistic effect.
- TEST. Where are you in your hormone levels? Are you perimenopausal? Menopausal? The advice originally given by the giant WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) study 20 years ago has been debunked. New data shows the benefits of hormone replacement for brain (significant dementia reduction), heart, bones, skin quality, and mood are great. Now add your own endogenous GLP and GLP medications being more effective. TEST
- GLP TREATMENTS are available in our clinic. We do this a lot, and tailor our GLP treatments to our patient’s needs.
- HORMONE REPLACEMENT. See our page and blogs on the subject. Overwhelmed? Do a telehealth visit with our clinicians who can walk you through your hormone levels and symptoms and what the best treatment may be for you. HRT
Hormone replacement, particularly in older women, is compelling. You need to start around menopause or the five years after. There is data that suggest starting it later is not as effective. There may be a small increase in breast cancer risk. Blogs on estrogen
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MEDICAL REFERENCE: GLP DOES SEX MATTER