How to stretch and strengthen your pelvic floor
Statistics show that one-third of women and 16% of men will experience some type of pelvic floor disease in their lifetime.
GLP-1 usage is on the rise, and researchers are looking for other health benefits associated with the drug, such as its effects on bladder health.
However, as GLP-1’s popularity has grown, nicknames such as “Ozempic’s chest” and “Ozempic’s face” have also proliferated. Now, a new side effect has been revealed: “Ozempic vagina.”
This is not a medical diagnosis, but is used colloquially to refer to vaginal changes that can occur due to the effects of GLP-1 on muscle mass, hormones, and the gastrointestinal system. Pelvic floor experts warn that common GLP-1 side effects, such as rapid weight loss and constipation, can cause pelvic floor dysfunction and a range of unpleasant symptoms that can affect users’ sex lives.
“If you’re using GLP-1 and you lose weight too quickly, it’s going to have a huge impact on your tissues and muscles everywhere,” explains nurse and pelvic floor specialist Kathy Cates. “People talk about the ‘Ozempik face’ and it’s the same thing: fat loss, tissue integrity loss, all of which are important for a healthy pelvic floor.”
Impact of GLP-1 use on women’s health
Vaginal changes due to GLP-1 use may include decreased lubrication, vaginal dryness, decreased pelvic floor strength, and symptoms related to pelvic floor weakness such as bladder leakage and painful sex.
Constipation is also a common side effect of GLP-1, putting strain on the pelvic floor muscles and increasing the risk of pelvic organ prolapse, bladder or fecal incontinence, and chronic pain. Experts estimate that up to 50% of people who suffer from long-term constipation also have pelvic floor dysfunction.
Kates has many patients taking GLP-1 and prescribes microdosing to help regulate menstrual cycles and help patients with underlying inflammatory conditions.
“With microdosing, we don’t see the significant gastrointestinal effects that we see with more standard doses,” Kates explains.
“People want to lose weight that way, but they can’t because it negatively impacts pelvic floor function, muscle tone, and motor control,” she says.
Targeted research on GLP-1 and pelvic floor dysfunction is limited. However, there is a link between obesity and overactive bladder syndrome.
A November 2025 study found that the use of GLP-1 receptor antagonists (RAs), including semaglutide, was associated with lower rates of urinary retention and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in non-diabetic women being treated for overactive bladder syndrome. The current study, sponsored by Hartford Healthcare, aims to understand how weight loss treatment affects pelvic floor symptoms. According to ClinicalTrials.gov, it’s still in its early stages.
How to reduce uncomfortable pelvic floor symptoms
The first action to reduce uncomfortable pelvic floor symptoms associated with GLP-1 is to reduce constipation.
Cates recommends using the Squatty Potty, whether it’s an actual stool or a stack of books to prop your feet up. According to Kates and WebMD, as soon as you raise your knees above your hips, your colon straightens and is in the ideal position for effortless defecation.
Diaphragmatic breathing, also known as abdominal breathing or abdominal breathing, is a deep breathing technique that helps stretch and stretch your pelvic floor muscles. Helps relax muscles while increasing strength and flexibility.
“If you don’t start with length, you’ll never develop strength,” Cates says. “Every article we read about the pelvic floor is like, ‘Just do Kegels…’ Kegels aren’t right for everyone, but diaphragmatic breathing is right for everyone.”
