A man recently shared his unusual experience with gaining what’s been dubbed an ‘Ozempic penis,’ prompting medical professionals to weigh in on this unexpected phenomenon.
Ozempic, a medication administered via injection, is originally intended to assist individuals with type two diabetes in controlling their blood sugar levels. However, it has gained popularity among those looking to lose weight due to its appetite-suppressing properties.
This drug, whose active ingredient is semaglutide, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2017 specifically for diabetic patients. Despite its intended use, many have started using it solely for weight management.
Interestingly, Ozempic appears to have an effect on penis size as well.
This observation coincides with recent data showing a notable increase in the average size of British penises from 2022 to 2024. The average size grew by 0.46 inches, from 5.17 inches to 5.63 inches.
Venezuelans saw the most significant increase, with an average growth of 1.42 inches, bringing the average size to 6.67 inches over the same period.
Dr. Richard Viney, speaking to Diabetes.co.uk, offered some insights: “Men’s penises shorten as they get older due to increasing body fat and increasing prostate size drawing the penis back into the body.”
“It’s theoretically possible that new drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, which are used to treat diabetes and obesity respectively and encourage weight loss, could also play a role. As men lose weight, their penises appear larger,” he explained.
An anonymous man who has been using Ozempic described noticing changes in his anatomy after starting the drug.
In a Reddit post, he wrote: “I recently measured myself down there and noticed I gained about 1 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 was thinner.”
“I also bone pressed during measurement before and also this time,” he added.
While there’s much discussion about penis size, it’s crucial to remember that medically, the size of one’s penis isn’t significant.
Pharmacist Navin Khosla, speaking again to Diabetes.co.uk, stated: “While the data is interesting, penis size doesn’t matter in a medical sense.
“Just as people have different preferences in fashion, eye colors, or partner characteristics, some are attracted to larger penises or breasts, while others prefer smaller sizes.”
Despite Ozempic’s growing popularity, the long-term effects, especially concerning muscle loss, remain uncertain.
Dr. Ben Bickman from Brigham Young University in Utah highlighted that many users regain weight after stopping Ozempic.
“Ozempic is effective at reducing cravings… however well this works, it works until it doesn’t,” Bickman explained.
“At around two years of use, people find that sweet cravings return to normal,” he noted.