If you're a man taking a GLP-1 medication and thinking about growing your family, it's natural to wonder how the drug might affect your sperm. The honest answer is that the research is still young, and the headlines don't always capture the nuance.

Here's what current research suggests about GLP-1 medications and male fertility, where the uncertainty lies, and practical ways to support your sperm health while you plan.

GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) mimic a gut hormone to curb appetite and steady blood sugar. They're used for type 2 diabetes and weight management, and they've become common, which is exactly why the fertility questions are getting attention. Since these medications are often taken over months or years, timing them around trying to get pregnant is a real and increasingly common question.

Early findings are cautiously encouraging but far from settled.

The research is still limited, with relatively few studies examining sperm health directly.

A 2026 systematic review of 10 studies covering 639 men found that GLP-1 medications were associated with higher testosterone, particularly in men with obesity or type 2 diabetes. Some studies also showed improvement in semen quality, but the study authors stress that more controlled research is needed before drawing firm conclusions since the findings were not consistent across all populations.

Importantly, most of the available research involves GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and liraglutide, but there’s little research about the effects of tirzepatide on sperm.

The TLDR? Larger, longer-term studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Whatever you and your prescriber decide about the medication, the fundamentals of sperm health are firmly in your control. Sperm regenerate about every 3 months, so changes in nutrition and lifestyle now will affect your sperm health in 90 days.

A few reliable levers: eat well within your appetite, move your body, limit alcohol and smoking, and cover the nutrients that support sperm formation, like Zinc, Selenium, CoQ10, and DHA. It's also worth keeping the simple stuff in view: steady sleep, staying active, and avoiding excess heat to the area can all support healthier sperm over time.

The Male Fertility Power Pack is built around these, and it's clinically studied in Bird&Be's own research to support progressive sperm motility over 3 months. If you'd like a baseline first, an At-Home Sperm Test Kit measures parameters like motility and concentration so you can track changes. 

Not sure what fits? Our product guide compares the options, and our sperm health guide covers the nutrients in more detail.

A few situations are worth a dedicated conversation rather than a wait-and-see.

Reach out to your provider if you and your partner have been trying for a while without success, if a sperm test flags low numbers, or if you're weighing whether to adjust your medication around conception. Because weight loss itself can support sperm and testosterone in men with obesity, the right move isn't always obvious, which is exactly why it's a conversation, not a solo call. Bringing your prescriber and any fertility provider into the same discussion helps you weigh the trade-offs with your full picture in view.

For now, the research on GLP-1 medications and male fertility looks cautiously reassuring, especially where weight loss improves underlying metabolic health, but it's early, and the big long-term studies aren't in yet. That uncertainty is a reason to stay informed, not alarmed.

Focus on what you can control, your habits and sperm-supporting nutrition, and bring your prescriber into any medication decisions. If you'd like the essentials in one place, our fertility quiz can help you and your partner find your starting point.