Peptides for Menopause: Benefits, Types, and Side Effects

[Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be used as medical advice or to replace advice from your physician. Consult a medical professional before beginning any new health regimen, including the use of peptides.]

You know how our bodies change over time? Well, for women in their 40s and 50s, some big changes start happening.

Your metabolism slows down, making it harder to stay in shape. You might notice more hair in your brush or feel warmer than usual. Your periods might get weird, you may experience muscle aches, and you could even easily forget things.

These are all signs of menopause.

But here’s something that could make menopause easier to handle – peptides. Let’s learn more about them!

TL;DR – Best Peptides for Menopause

Here’s a rundown of the top peptides that can help with menopausal symptoms:

• CJC-1295
• Tesamorelin
• Epitalon
• Bremelanotide (PT-141)

Disclaimer: Always talk to your doctor before starting any new treatments. These peptides show promise, but everyone’s body is different.

Symptoms and Challenges of Menopause

The phase leading up to menopause is called perimenopause and usually starts around the age of 45-55. It’s characterized by fluctuating estrogen levels that manifest in various symptoms before periods stop completely.

Some of the most troublesome menopausal symptoms include:

• Vasomotor Issues: Hot flashes, night sweats, and palpitations. Up to 80% of women experience hot flashes due to declining estrogen.
• Vaginal Atrophy: Thinning vaginal walls lead to dryness, irritation, pain, and discomfort during intercourse.
• Weight Gain: Fat accumulation in the abdomen due to slowed metabolism and loss of muscle mass from lower estrogen. Difficulty losing stubborn weight.
• Mood Changes: One minute, you’re laughing; the next, you’re crying. Hormonal changes can wreak havoc on your emotions (increased nervousness, anxiety, irritability, and depression).
• Sleep Disturbances: Insomnia and interrupted sleep patterns.
• Low Libido: Declining estrogen alters sexual arousal pathways in the brain, reducing desire.
• Cognitive Impairment: “Brain fog,” trouble concentrating and remembering things.
• Bone Loss: As estrogen levels drop, you’re at higher risk for osteoporosis.
• Aging Skin: Loss of collagen leads to wrinkles, sagging, and dullness.

These changes often persist for years and can significantly reduce your vitality and self-image.

However, peptide therapy is a promising option for more graceful menopausal transitions.

Role of Peptide Therapy in Menopause Management

As women enter perimenopause, their reproductive hormones – estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone – begin to decline.

But that’s not all — other crucial regulatory hormones, like human growth hormone (HGH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), also decrease with age.

This is where peptide therapy works, offering a sophisticated approach to managing the menopausal transition.

Here’s how it can help:

• Hormone Regulation: Peptides can help stimulate the production of hormones that decline during menopause, helping restore balance.
• Symptom Relief: Peptides can alleviate menopausal symptoms by targeting specific bodily functions. For instance, the peptide bremelanotide (PT-141) acts directly on receptors in the brain involved with sexual arousal and appetite.
• Natural Approach: Unlike synthetic hormone replacement therapy, peptides work with your body’s natural processes.
• Personalized Treatment: Peptide therapy can be tailored to address your specific symptoms and concerns.
• Multifaceted Benefits: Many peptides offer multiple benefits, addressing several menopausal symptoms at once.

Types of Peptides Used in Menopause Treatment   

There is a growing roster of highly promising peptides to help address common menopausal complaints:

1. Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin is a growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) with 44 amino acids. This little powerhouse was FDA-approved in 2010 and passed all the safety checks.

Tesamorelin was originally created to help people with HIV who were dealing with extra belly fat. But scientists realized it could be helpful for other reasons, too, including women going through menopause.

Let’s look at some research. A big study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found:

• People who took Tesamorelin for 26 weeks lost about 15% of their belly fat
• Their triglyceride levels (a type of fat in your blood) dropped by 50 mg/dL
• They didn’t lose fat from other parts of their body, showing Tesamorelin targets belly fat specifically

A 2010 study in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes found:

• After 26 weeks, people taking Tesamorelin lost about 15.4% of their visceral fat (that’s the dangerous fat around your organs).
• By 52 weeks, the fat loss increased to 17.5%!
• People also saw improvements in their cholesterol levels and felt better about their body image.

Tesamorelin might also have something to offer for brain fog.

Did you know that about two-thirds of women struggle with thinking clearly during menopause? This happens because your estrogen levels drop, which can slow down your brain activity.

A study by Spanish scientists found that using Tesamorelin daily for 20 weeks could help with:

• Executive function (ability to plan and make decisions)
• Verbal memory (remembering words and language)
• Visual memory (remembering what you see)

These benefits were seen in adults with mild cognitive impairment and healthy older adults. 

Remember, though, that Tesamorelin is a prescription medication. That means you’ll need to talk to your doctor before taking it.

2. CJC-1295

As we get older, our bodies slow down in making growth hormones. This can lead to all sorts of issues like:

• Feeling tired all the time
• Losing muscle
• Gaining weight 
• Bones getting weaker
• Skin losing its glow

CJC-1295 peptide tells your body to make more growth hormones, which can solve all these problems.

In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers gave CJC-1295 to healthy adults (21—61 years old).

Here’s what they found:

• After a single injection, growth hormone levels increased by 2 to 10 times for six days or more.
• Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels increased by 1.5 to 3 times for 9-11 days.
• These changes happened without any serious side effects.

The researchers estimated that CJC-1295 sticks around your body for 5.8 to 8.1 days. 

3. Epitalon

This peptide is a bit different. Instead of focusing on growth hormones, Epitalon is all about working with your pineal gland—  a tiny gland in your brain that plays a big role in your sleep-wake cycle and how your body ages.

Here’s what makes Epitalon special:

• Telomere Protector: It helps protect and even lengthen your telomeres, which are like caps on your DNA that keep it healthy.
• Antioxidant Booster: It helps your body make more of its own antioxidants.
• Sleep Improver: It helps your pineal gland make melatonin, which you need for good sleep.
• Mood Elevator: Some studies say it might help improve mood.
• Immune System Supporter: It could help keep your immune system strong.

A 2012 “Current Aging Science” study explored how Epitalon might help with reproductive cycles. 

Here’s what they found:

• Epitalon helped correct disturbed daily rhythms of important brain chemicals in female rats. These chemicals, norepinephrine and dopamine, play a big role in reproductive cycles.
• Epitalon was particularly effective in an area of the brain called the median eminence. It acted like a timekeeper for dopamine levels, keeping them low around 5 a.m. and then letting them increase by 11 a.m.
• The researchers used a substance called DMH to mimic premature aging of the reproductive system. Epitalon protected against this, suggesting it might help prevent early aging of reproductive functions.
• Epitalon might help normalize the daily signals needed for the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. This hormone is crucial for reproductive health.

4. Bremelanotide

During menopause, estrogen levels plummet, which can mess with your sex life. Your vagina might become less elastic and drier, making intercourse uncomfortable. You might also find it harder to get aroused.

Bremelanotide, also known as PT-141, is a game-changer for women dealing with such menopause-related sexual issues. It got official approval in 2019 from the FDA for treating low sexual desire in premenopausal women.

Here’s why:

• Brain Booster: Bremelanotide can potentially target your brain and activate melanocortin receptors, which play a big role in sexual arousal, mood, and even appetite.
• Less Distress: About 35% of women using Bremelanotide felt less distressed about their low desire, compared to 31% in the placebo group.
• Proven Results: In a study with 1,247 premenopausal women, those who used Vyleesi (the brand name for Bremelanotide) saw their sexual desire score increase by 1.2 points. 
• Overall Improvement: Another study showed that women using Bremelanotide for 12 weeks had better scores on the sexual function index. 

Some women may experience side effects like nausea, flushing, headaches, or reactions at the injection site. It can also temporarily increase blood pressure, so it’s not recommended if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease.

5. Collagen Peptides for Menopause

Collagen peptides deserve a special mention when it comes to menopause management. 

A 2024 research article published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology studied how collagen peptides might help women during menopause.

The research involved Asian women aged 43-65 who took 5 grams of collagen peptides daily (about a teaspoonful).

Here’s what they found out:

• Skin Firmness: These peptides can firm your skin. After 84 days, women who took them had denser skin.
• Skin Elasticity: Women noticed more elastic skin after just 28 days!
• Skin Moisture: Women taking collagen had more moisturized skin compared to those who didn’t take it.
• Wrinkle Reducer: Women saw their crow’s feet wrinkles become less deep after 28 days.
• Nail Health: Women taking collagen had less yellow, brighter nails.
• Feel-Good Factor: The women in the study who took collagen felt their skin looked more beautiful sooner than those who didn’t.

The study also showed that collagen peptides seem to work for different skin types. But they work best when combined with good skincare and a healthy lifestyle. 

Benefits of Peptide Use During Menopause

While every woman’s experience differs, clinical trials concluded that peptides can provide profound relief for some of the most troubling menopausal symptoms.

Benefits may include:

• Increased sexual desire and arousal
• Reduced vaginal dryness and discomfort
• Accelerated fat metabolism and weight loss
• Regulation of blood sugar and insulin sensitivity
• Corrected sleep disorders and increased energy
• Improved concentration, memory, and cognition
• Reduced anxiety and stabilized mood
• Increased skin elasticity, hydration, and brightness
• Stimulation of new collagen to fill wrinkles
• Thickened and strengthened hair
• Reversal of thinning skin and age spots
• Increased bone mineral density and joint lubrication
• Boosting the body’s IGF-1 levels for anti-aging effects

Side Effects of Peptide Therapy for Menopause

Peptides are highly safe and well-tolerated in studies, especially under clinical guidance. 

However, there are a few things to consider:

• Mild Discomfort: Some gastrointestinal disturbance, headaches, flushing, or fatigue. Usually temporarily.
• Injection Site Reactions: If peptides are administered via injection, you may experience redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site.
• Not for Active Cancers: Growth-promoting peptides may be contraindicated in hormone-sensitive cancers.
• Tolerance Built Over Time: The benefits of peptides may decrease with ongoing use. This is because the body adapts to consistent hormone stimulation.

Clinical-grade peptides and moderate doses are key to safety.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Let’s address some common queries about peptides for menopause.

What is the Cost of Peptide Therapy for Menopause?

The cost of peptide therapy can vary depending on the specific peptides used, the duration of treatment, and your location. 

On average, you might expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $1000 per month for peptide therapy.

Can Peptides Be Used Alongside Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Yes, peptides complement bioidentical hormone therapy, including estrogen, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid, and more. 

Peptides support natural hormone pathways, so they can work synergistically with replacement protocols overseen by a medical professional.

Are there Any Natural Peptide Alternatives for Menopause?

Certain foods, such as bone broth, egg whites, spirulina, and aged cheese, contain dietary peptides that may support skin, joints, and sleep. 

While therapeutic levels often require supplements, a peptide-rich diet maximizes their benefits.

How Quickly Do Peptides Work for Menopausal Symptoms?

Positive effects are often reported in just weeks or months versus years for untreated menopausal transitions full of misery. 

However, clinical improvements in fat burning, sexual function, skin quality, and lean body mass show results around the 6-month mark on peptide therapy.

Conclusion

Menopause doesn’t have to be a struggle. Peptides offer a promising way to manage symptoms and improve your quality of life during this transition.

Ready to learn more about different types of peptides? Visit AllAboutPeptides.com to explore our extensive range of educational resources.

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