The Essentials

Understanding Wegovy

A complete introduction to semaglutide for women - how the weekly injection and daily oral tablet work, who they may suit, and what treatment tends to look like in practice.

Educational summaryReviewed against public clinical guidance

Medical Disclaimer · Wegovy Woman is educational. Nothing here replaces advice from your doctor or prescribing clinician.

What is Wegovy?

A GLP-1 medication used alongside diet and movement

Wegovy is a brand name for semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It mimics a hormone the gut naturally releases after eating, which helps regulate appetite, slow stomach emptying and signal fullness to the brain.

Semaglutide is prescribed as part of a broader plan - nutrition, movement, sleep and clinical follow-up - rather than as a stand-alone solution. Most clinical trials in adults with obesity have shown average weight reductions of around 15% of body weight over roughly 12 months, though individual results vary widely.

Semaglutide is available in two forms: a once-weekly injection (marketed as Wegovy) and a daily oral tablet (oral semaglutide, marketed as Rybelsus, with a higher-dose oral Wegovy tablet approved in some regions for weight management). Both contain the same active ingredient, but the delivery, dosing and everyday experience differ.

Injections vs. tablets

Two ways to take semaglutide

Your clinician will decide which format is appropriate based on your medical history, goals and tolerance. Here is a plain-English comparison of the two.

Weekly injection

Wegovy injectable

A pre-filled pen taken once a week, on the same day, at any time of day, with or without food.

Active ingredient: Semaglutide
Dosing schedule: Once weekly, subcutaneous
Typical dose steps: 0.25 → 0.5 → 1.0 → 1.7 → 2.4 mg, over ~16 weeks
Injection sites: Abdomen, thigh or upper arm; rotate weekly
Storage: Refrigerated until first use; then room temp per label
Missed dose: Take within 48 hrs; otherwise skip and resume schedule

Worth knowing

Steady weekly plasma levels - many people find appetite effects more predictable.
Requires comfort with self-injection; pens are designed to be simple.
Higher licensed dose specifically for weight management in most markets.

Daily tablet

Oral semaglutide

A tablet taken once a day, first thing in the morning, with a small sip of water and nothing else for 30 minutes.

Active ingredient: Semaglutide (oral formulation)
Dosing schedule: Once daily, oral
Typical dose steps: 3 → 7 → 14 mg (Rybelsus); higher-dose oral Wegovy up to 25 mg where approved
How to take: On waking, with ≤120 ml water, no food/drink/other meds for 30 min
Storage: Room temperature, keep in original blister
Missed dose: Skip that day; resume the next morning

Worth knowing

No injections - often preferred for needle anxiety.
Strict fasting window is essential; absorption drops sharply otherwise.
Higher-dose oral Wegovy for weight loss is newer; availability varies by country.

Dose ranges and product availability differ between the UK, EU, US and other regions. Always follow the schedule your prescribing clinician and the current patient information leaflet give you.

How it works

What semaglutide does in the body

Appetite signalling

Acts on GLP-1 receptors in the brain to reduce hunger and food-related noise between meals.

Gastric emptying

Slows how quickly food leaves the stomach, so smaller meals feel satisfying for longer.

Blood sugar regulation

Encourages insulin release when glucose is high and dampens glucagon, smoothing post-meal spikes.

Who it may suit

Suitability & eligibility

Semaglutide for weight management is generally considered for adults who meet clinical criteria. Only a qualified prescriber can confirm whether it is right for you.

Adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27+ with a weight-related condition (e.g. hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnoea)
Where lifestyle changes alone have not produced sustained results
Alongside a plan for nutrition, movement and follow-up appointments
In some regions, approved for adolescents 12+ under specialist care

When it isn't recommended

Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding
Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2
History of pancreatitis or severe gastrointestinal disease
Known hypersensitivity to semaglutide or excipients
Certain interactions with other diabetes or weight medications

This list is not exhaustive. Share your full medical history and current medications with your prescriber.

Side effects

What people commonly experience

Side effects are most common during dose increases and typically ease as the body adjusts. Report anything severe or persistent to your clinician.

Very common

More than 1 in 10 people

Nausea, especially at dose increases
Diarrhoea or constipation
Vomiting
Abdominal pain or discomfort
Headache and fatigue
Reduced appetite (intended effect)

Common

Up to 1 in 10

Reflux or indigestion
Burping and bloating
Dizziness
Gallstones
Injection-site reactions (injectable)
Altered sense of taste

Seek urgent advice

Rare but important

Severe, persistent abdominal pain (possible pancreatitis)
Signs of dehydration from prolonged vomiting/diarrhoea
Symptoms of an allergic reaction
Sudden vision changes (if diabetic)
Very low blood sugar if on insulin or sulfonylureas

What to expect

A typical treatment timeline

Semaglutide is titrated slowly on purpose. Rushing rarely helps and often makes side effects worse.

1Weeks 1-4
Lowest starting dose. Appetite may quieten within days; nausea and fatigue are common as the body adjusts.
2Weeks 5-16
Dose steps up roughly every 4 weeks. Some people plateau at a lower dose that suits them well; others continue to the maintenance dose.
3Months 4-6
Weight loss typically becomes steady and visible. Focus on protein, hydration and strength work to protect muscle.
4Months 6-12+
Maintenance phase. Regular clinical reviews assess weight, wellbeing, side effects and whether to continue, pause or adjust.

Before your appointment

Questions worth asking your clinician

Is semaglutide clinically appropriate for me - and would the injection or the tablet suit me better?
What dose will I start on, and how quickly will we titrate up?
What side effects should I expect, and when should I contact you?
How will we track progress - weight, measurements, bloods, wellbeing?
How will this interact with medications or conditions I already have?
What is the plan if I plateau, or if side effects become unmanageable?
How long is treatment likely to continue, and what happens when I stop?
What lifestyle support (nutrition, movement, sleep) do you recommend alongside it?