Pune:- A woman, 34, diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, as a teenager, saw her first natural menstrual cycle in February—six months after starting Mounjaro for weight management. This spotlights a broader shift as more women with the condition turn to GLP -1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) drugs for metabolic relief and, improved fertility. The trend is accelerating across India, even though the drugs are not officially approved for treating PCOS and are prescribed primarily for type-2 diabetes and obesity, doctors said.
“I have had PCOS since I can remember…with that comes infertility,” she said, on the condition of anonymity. While she was initially put on Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) to prepare for a round of IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatment for infertility in 2024-25, she stopped when two rounds of IVF failed. She was prescribed Mounjaro in August, with the starting dose of 2.5mg to treat blood sugar, obesity and blood pressure.
Scores of women diagnosed with PCOS—typically involves weight gain or difficulty losing weight due to insulin resistance—have been turning to GLP-1 injectables over the past year. Doctors across specialties reported a quick pick-up among PCOS patients seeking the medicines and expect the pool to expand quickly, given the recent influx of cheaper generics since last month.
Doctors say GLP-1s work for patients by reducing insulin resistance and weight, and easing symptoms such as acne and irregular periods. They have also shown a positive effect on fertility.
GLP-1s are officially indicated to treat diabetes and obesity, which often accompany PCOS, a hormonal disorder. PCOS symptoms span specialties including dermatology, gynaecology, diabetes and endocrinology, with doctors across these segments
seeing patients benefiting from these drugs. Several companies have directed marketing and field forces towards these specialties.
“PCOS is a metabolic-endocrine-gynae issue. It’s driven by excess insulin, insulin resistance, obesity and inflammation. GLP-1s actually treat all this,” said Mumbai-based diabetologist Dr. Rajiv Kovil. Polycystic ovary syndrome is a hormonal disorder in women characterized by insulin resistance
that leads to excess insulin, excess androgens (male hormones), irregular periods, and small cysts on the ovaries. It shows symptoms such as infertility, acne, excessive hair growth, and weight gain, and can even lead to type-2 diabetes and heart disease.
The disorder is extremely common in India. A nationwide study published in 2024 found 7-20% of women surveyed had PCOS, depending on the diagnostic criteria. Of these, 43% had obesity, 92% because a lot of PCOS symptoms—excess had dyslipidemia (unhealthy hair growth, imbalance of lipids or fat), 33% acne, and dark patches—are had non-alcoholic fatty liver skin related. disease, 25% had metabolic Dr. Satish Bhatia, a dermatologist syndrome, 3.4% had diabetes, and cosmetologist at while 8.3% had hypertension. the Indian Cancer Society in
“There has been a shift in Mumbai, said using GLP-1s had treating PCOS from a symptom-only led to noticeable improvements treatment to a metabolic-focused in acne, oily skin and management… thickened skin in patients. there has been a However, he was noticeable rise in PCOS affects firm in emphazising the use of GLP-1 7-20% of Indian that the condition receptor agonists women, with was metabolic, specifically in many also facing and that the women who are medication is not
diabetes, obesity struggling with a dermatological
and metabolic obesity and insulin therapy. “Whenever
syndrome resistance,” we do recommend, said Dr. Shweta we go in Wazir, a Gurugram-based tandem with the gynaecologist at endocrinologist,” he said, adding Motherhood Hospital. that there are also side-effects
Apart from GLP-1s, patients such as severe hair loss are prescribed metformin for that need to be kept in mind. insulin resistance or birth control According to the Central pills for menstrual cycle Drugs Standard Control Organisation regulation, along with lifestyle (CDSCO) guidelines, changes. Several patients Mint only endocrinologists, internal spoke to said the initial recommendation medicine specialists, and for GLP-1 came cardiologists can prescribe from dermatologists. This is GLP-1s. With GLP-1 semaglutide being launched at half the innovators’ price by Indian firm through March, the patient pool is set to balloon.
Bariatric surgeon Dr. Neha Shah, who runs a weight-loss clinic in Chennai, said patients with PCOS make 20% of total number of patients seeking GLP-1s, up from 5% last March, when Mounjaro was launched. Women account for 60% of such patients in her practice.
Dr Bhatia projects the use of GLP-1s for PCOS to grow three times this year. This mimics global trends. In the US, prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs for women with PCOS have rise more than sevenfold since 2021, according to a December 2025 report by Reuters, citing health data firm Truveta.
The lack of global phase-3 clinical trials for the effects of GLP-1s on PCOS by drugmakers is a glaring gap, say doctors.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are testing their drugs for other conditions such as addiction and Alzheimer’s.
