GLP-1 weight-loss drugs may boost testosterone and sperm count in men, new research suggests

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your Canadian healthcare provider about your situation.

A 24-week clinical study out of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, published in June 2026, found that men aged 18 to 65 with high body mass index who took GLP-1 receptor agonist medications saw measurable gains in testosterone levels, sperm count, and sperm size and shape. The findings, reported by CTV News on June 15, 2026, add a new dimension to the conversation around GLP-1 drugs in Canada, where semaglutide (sold as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy for weight management) and liraglutide (sold as Victoza and Saxenda) are already approved by Health Canada for metabolic indications. For Canadian men currently taking or considering these medications, the study raises a question worth discussing with a physician: could weight-related hormonal improvements be a secondary benefit? The answer, for now, is a cautious maybe.

What this means in Canada

Health Canada has approved semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) for type 2 diabetes management and, in higher-dose formulations, for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight plus at least one weight-related condition. Neither drug carries a Health Canada indication for male infertility or testosterone deficiency. Prescribing them specifically to improve fertility would be off-label, which is legal in Canada but means the prescribing physician takes on additional clinical responsibility.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) has not issued a position statement on GLP-1 medications and male reproductive health. The Canadian Urological Association similarly has no published guidance on this application as of June 2026. Provincial drug coverage reflects the approved indications: in Ontario, OHIP's Exceptional Access Program covers Ozempic for type 2 diabetes under specific criteria; Wegovy is listed on some provincial formularies for obesity but with prior authorization requirements. In Quebec, RAMQ covers certain GLP-1 agents for diabetes. British Columbia's PharmaCare and Alberta's AHCIP have comparable diabetes-focused coverage. None of these programs would cover a GLP-1 prescribed solely for fertility purposes. Canadians paying out of pocket for Wegovy can expect to spend roughly $350 to $500 CAD per month depending on dose and pharmacy.

Canadian telehealth platforms that prescribe GLP-1 medications, including Felix (a Canadian men's and general health platform) and Science & Humans (scienceandhumans.com), currently offer these drugs within their approved indications. Neither platform lists male fertility as a treatment category for GLP-1s. US-based platforms such as Hone Health and Ro do not serve Canadian patients.

Why this matters

GLP-1 receptor agonists work primarily by mimicking the gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, slowing gastric emptying and signalling satiety to the brain. The weight loss that typically follows can shift the body's hormonal balance. In men with obesity, excess adipose tissue converts testosterone to estrogen through a process called aromatization, which can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reduce both testosterone production and sperm output. Losing body fat through any means tends to partially reverse this. The study's lead investigator, Dr. Natesh, told CTV News that GLP-1 medications may also reduce systemic inflammation and metabolic stress, both of which can independently limit sperm production.

The finding that matters most for clinical practice is the comparison with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). TRT, while effective at raising serum testosterone, is well-documented to suppress the body's own sperm production by shutting down the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. For men with obesity-related low testosterone who also want to preserve or improve fertility, a treatment that raises testosterone indirectly through weight loss rather than by exogenous hormone administration would be a meaningful alternative. Dr. Natesh noted this distinction explicitly.

Male infertility is not a niche concern in Canada. Statistics Canada data and reproductive medicine clinics consistently report that a male factor is identified in roughly half of couples experiencing difficulty conceiving, a figure that aligns with the Yale Medicine estimate cited in the original study report. Canadian fertility clinics in major centres, including those affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and the Ottawa Fertility Centre, routinely evaluate male partners as part of standard workups.

What Canadian patients should know

If you are a Canadian man currently taking semaglutide or another GLP-1 agent for diabetes or weight management, the study suggests you may see incidental improvements in testosterone and sperm parameters, particularly if your BMI is elevated. This is not a reason to start a GLP-1 drug specifically for fertility without a proper evaluation.

Dr. Amin Herati, a urologist and director of male infertility at Johns Hopkins Hospital who was not involved in the research, made a point worth repeating for Canadian patients: a fertility evaluation with a reproductive urologist or andrologist should come before any treatment decision. In Canada, referrals to reproductive urologists are available through the public system, though wait times vary by province. Ontario and British Columbia tend to have shorter waits in urban centres; patients in rural areas or Atlantic Canada may face longer delays.

Dr. Herati also flagged a counterintuitive risk: rapid fat loss, whether from GLP-1 medications or bariatric surgery, can sometimes signal to the brain that conditions are not suitable for reproduction, potentially suppressing fertility in the short term. This is not a reason to avoid these medications, but it is a reason to work with a physician rather than self-managing dose or timing.

Beyond medication, the researchers noted that lifestyle factors remain relevant regardless of GLP-1 use: reducing ultraprocessed food intake, regular physical activity, limiting sedentary time, cutting smoking and alcohol, improving sleep, and avoiding repeated exposure to wet heat (such as daily hot tub use) all have evidence behind them for male reproductive health.

Limitations and open questions

The study was conducted entirely in men with high BMI. Dr. Lidia Minguez Alarcon, a reproductive epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School who reviewed the research, told CTV News that it is not clear whether men with normal body weight would see the same benefits. The hormonal mechanism proposed, reversing obesity-driven aromatization and inflammation, would logically apply less to men who are not overweight.

The study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal as of this writing, so independent assessment of the methodology, sample size, and statistical controls is not yet possible. Health Canada has not commented on the findings. The SOGC has not issued a position statement. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has not announced any funded follow-up trials on this specific question.

The study also cannot tell us whether the testosterone and sperm improvements translate into higher live birth rates, which is the outcome that matters most to couples trying to conceive. Sperm count and morphology are proxies, not guarantees.

For Canadian men, the practical takeaway is straightforward: if you are on a GLP-1 drug and concerned about fertility, or if you are considering one and fertility is a factor, bring both topics to your family physician or a reproductive urologist. The evidence is early, the Canadian regulatory picture has not changed, and no one should be starting or stopping a prescribed medication based on a single preliminary study.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your Canadian healthcare provider about your situation.

Editorial note

Hormone Journal articles are written by our editorial team and reviewed against published clinical guidelines, with a focus on Canadian patient access. We do not promote specific clinics or providers.