There are many active research studies investigating the possible role of GLP-1’s in potentially managing disease processes and associated symptoms of many different chronic conditions across all body systems. There is specific interest in their evolving role as inflammation-reducing drugs. Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition, causing diffuse bodily inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and metabolic dysfunction, which can obviously cause a very long list of possible symptoms. Endometriosis also affects the networks in which our GI and nervous systems communicate. GLP-1 medications are known to directly affect all these systems, so the endometriosis community is increasingly interested in their potential role in managing endometriosis symptoms.

While GLP-1 medications are not considered first-line options in endometriosis care, I believe they may be appropriate to consider in individuals with severe or refractory symptoms. I have personally cared for patients with surgically documented endometriosis who have used GLP-1 medications, specifically for endometriosis symptom management or otherwise, and reported improvements in abdominal bloating, brain fog, mood, energy levels, and pelvic pain. However, some patients with endometriosis that have trialed GLP-1 medications have experienced no significant change in associated symptoms. Some patients develop side effects that may cause them to stop the medication as well.

Because GLP-1’s are still being researched in the management of chronic inflammation, it is considered experimental, and these medications are not covered by most insurance policies for a diagnosis of endometriosis. If a GLP-1 medication is prescribed for symptom management in endometriosis, it is usually sent to a compounding pharmacy to be individually prepared for the patient. It is often compounded with vitamin B12 for metabolism and energy support. In the setting of endometriosis symptom management, dosing for these medications typically starts very low and increases very slowly. Compounding the medication allows for small, intentional dosing adjustments based on patient feedback, which is a significant benefit. However, these compounded medications do tend to be quite costly, often at least $400 per month, which is a significant con.

Given the current available medical research and evidence, I do believe that GLP-1 medications can be considered for symptom management in some patients with endometriosis. At Pacific Endometriosis and Pelvic Surgery, we are committed to continuous learning and evolving with the evidence to best support the endometriosis community. While GLP-1 medications are not our specialty, we do hope there is more published research specifically into the potential role of GLP-1 medications in endometriosis, adenomyosis, and pelvic pain management in the future.

Please see the attached references for further education regarding GLP-1’s for chronic inflammation and endometriosis care.

References

Alharbi, S. H. (2024). Anti-inflammatory role of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and its clinical implications. Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 15, 20420188231222367. https://doi.org/10.1177/20420188231222367

Bendotti, G., Montefusco, L., Lunati, M. E., Usuelli, V., Pastore, I., Lazzaroni, E., Assi, E., Seelam, A. J., El Essawy, B., Jang, J., Loretelli, C., D’Addio, F., Berra, C., Ben Nasr, M., Zuccotti, G., & Fiorina, P. (2022). The anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. Pharmacological Research, 182, 106320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106320

Desai, S. N., Reed, C. C., Mendez, Y., Yang, Q., & Guan, X. (2026). The hidden link between endometriosis and obesity: A state-of-the-art review. Cureus, 18(2), e102896. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.102896

He, Y., Xu, B., Zhang, M., Chen, D., Wu, S., Gao, J., Liu, Y., Zhang, Z., Kuang, J., & Fang, Q. (2025). Advances in GLP-1 receptor agonists for pain treatment and their future potential. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 26(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-025-01979-4

Ros-Madrid, I., Cano-Mármol, R. P., Ferrer-Gomez, M., & Ramos-Molina, B. (2025). Anti-inflammatory properties of GLP-1 receptor agonists and other ancillary benefits from a pharmacological perspective. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 103(12): 369-377. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjpp-2025-0148

Krasnyi, A. M., Sadekova, A. A., Smolnova, T. Y., Chursin, V. V., Buralkina, N. A., Chuprynin, V. D., Yarotskaya, E., Pavlovich, S. V., & Sukhikh, G. T. (2022). The levels of ghrelin, glucagon, visfatin and GLP-1 are decreased in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis along with the increased expression of the CD10 protease by the macrophages. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(18), 10361. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810361

Mehdi, S. F., Pusapati, S., Anwar, M. S., Lohana, D., Kumar, P., Nandula, S. A., Nawaz, F. K., Tracey, K., Yang, H., LeRoith, D., Brownstein, M. J., & Roth, J. (2023). Glucagon-like peptide-1: A multi-faceted anti-inflammatory agent. Frontiers in Immunology, 14, 1148209. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1148209

Quodling, N., Carrick, F. R., Hoffman, N., & Jemni, M. (2026). The potential indirect impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the management of fibromyalgia. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 15(9), 3330. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15093330