Peptides For Menopause | A Comprehensive Overview

Researchers working in the field of peptides for menopause may be wondering about the best compounds to address the most common menopausal complaints.

Menopause is a critical period in a woman's life that is associated with a variety of symptoms, including:

• Reduced libido
• Weight gain
• Skin problems
• Increased anxiety
• Difficulty concentrating

To shed light on the topic, our team of experts has pooled data from clinical trials on peptides that can potentially address these complaints, and have thoroughly reviewed their mechanisms of action, efficacy, and safety profiles.

Keep reading to also discover our most trusted vendors of research peptides where scientists can source high-quality compounds for their experiments.

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Top 3 Peptides For Menopause

Before we delve into the science of peptides for menopause, here are three notable peptides that should be considered for menopause research due to their potent benefits, favorable safety profiles, and extensive clinical backing.

1. Tirzepatide for Weight Management

Tirzepatide is a novel dual-incretin receptor agonist that mimics the functions of both glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Both hormones are produced by the digestive system in response to food intake to regulate blood sugar and appetite. This dual mechanism is thought to account for terzepatide’s excellent efficacy [1, 2].

Due to its potent effect on glycemic control, the peptide is approved for use in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Additionally, the peptide was found to suppress appetite and induce weight loss in T2D, which led to its investigation as a weight loss medication in non-diabetics [3].

The peptide is currently under active research in phase-3 trials as a weight loss medication, and the preliminary results show comparable or greater efficacy than other incretin mimetics that are already approved for weight loss. Namely, trials have shown a mean 20.9% weight reduction after 72 weeks at the highest weekly dose [4, 5].

2. PT-141 for Sexual Health

PT-141, aka bremelanotide, is a cyclic heptapeptide and an agonist to the melanocortin receptors (MCRs) found in different organs and systems. It mimics the function of the α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) [6].

The peptide activates the MC4-R found in the brain, which regulates sexual function, energy homeostasis, and appetite regulation. As a result, PT-141 significantly increases sexual desire
and is approved for human use in premenopausal female subjects with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). It is yet to be studied in menopausal women [6, 7, 8].

3. GHK-Cu for Skin Health and Anti-Aging

GHK-Cu, aka copper peptide, is a naturally occurring tripeptide (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine-copper) that is found in human bodily fluids (blood, urine, saliva, etc.). Studies reveal that its levels decline with age, and the application of synthetic GHK-Cu, either topically or via injection, can upregulate reparative processes [9].

For example, it has been shown to interact with dermal fibroblasts in the skin and upregulate the production of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans. It is reported to protect the skin against active radicals and UV damage, reduce wrinkles, increase elasticity, smooth rough skin, and improve overall skin appearance [10, 11, 12].

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What Are Peptides?

Peptides are a class of molecules found in all living organisms that, similarly to proteins, are made of amino acids. The amino acids are linked together via peptide bonds to form a specific amino acid sequence that determines the properties of the peptide.

The amino acid chains are usually made of 2-50 amino acids that are linked in a linear formation, although some peptides, such as PT-141, can have cyclic or other non-linear configurations [13].

The molecules have diverse roles in the human body and are emerging as promising drug development candidates due to their capabilities as cellular messengers, hormone regulators, and antimicrobial agents [13].

Naturally occurring, partially modified, and synthetically designed peptides offer therapeutic potential by targeting specific receptors or molecules. Their vast range of functions and potential for modification makes peptides a thrilling field of research for human health [14].

Currently, there are over 60 approved peptide-based drugs and many more in various stages of research, marking peptide therapy as one of the fastest-growing areas in pharmacological research [15].

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How Do Peptides Work With Menopause?

Peptides may work for menopause in various ways by addressing the issues that arise during this period. Common issues in menopausal women include [16]:

• Lack of libido
• Sexual dysfunction (vaginal dryness, difficulty reaching an orgasm, etc.)
• Weight gain, especially abdominal fat gain
• Mood changes
• Difficulty concentrating
• Thinning and dry skin

Different peptides may address each of these complaints in perimenopausal and postmenopausal subjects.

As mentioned, peptides such as PT-141 can activate specific receptors in the brain, resulting in increased sexual desire and improved vaginal blood flow in women [8]. The peptide has been tested and approved only for premenopausal women but it likely holds similar potential for menopausal women, as well.

Moreover, the peptide can suppress appetite and may help with weight loss. Currently, PT-141 is in phase 1 trials as a potential weight loss peptide [17].

Further, several peptides that mimic the function of the incretin hormone GLP-1 are already approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as weight loss medications thanks to their potent appetite-suppressing effects [18].

Others, like the aforementioned dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide, are in phase-3 trials and show superior appetite suppressant and weight loss effects. Tirzepatide and the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide have been reported to significantly reduce energy intake compared to placebo during an ad libitum (unrestricted) buffet-style meal [19].

Following 26 weeks of therapy, the energy intake of the tirzepatide (15mg/weekly) group was -309.8kcal lower, and that of the semaglutide (1mg/weekly) group was -245.5kcal lower than placebo [19].

Short peptides such as GHK-Cu can also aid with collagen production and reduce wrinkles in premenopausal and menopausal women. The peptide works by passing through the outer skin layers and exerting its beneficial effects on the dermis when applied topically [9, 10, 11, 12].

Once there, it could function as a preliminary alert for skin repair. This is because its amino acid sequence is embedded within the alpha 2(I) chain of type I collagen—a primary structural protein in the skin. In the event of injury, the trauma activates proteolytic enzymes, which break down collagen to produce GHK and trigger a cascade of repair processes [9, 10, 11, 12].

Nootropic peptides such as the unique heptapeptide Selank have also been reported to reduce anxiety and improve cognition in test subjects. It may help menopausal symptoms such as anxiety and depression by interacting with the brain's neurotransmitters (like GABA and enkephalins) and neurotrophic factors [20].

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Does Peptide Therapy for Menopause Actually Work?

Numerous clinical trials, including large phase-3 studies, have shown that peptide-based compounds can help with various complaints that commonly arise during menopause, such as low libido, overweight and obesity, thinning skin, increased anxiety, and more.

Here is a rundown of the data on key compounds:

PT-141

PT-141 has been FDA-approved for HSDD in premenopausal women based on two phase-3 trials including over 1000 female subjects and which show improved sexual desire and reduced distress during intercourse [21]. PT-141 is yet to be tested in postmenopausal women.

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide has been shown to result in significant appetite suppression and weight reduction in study volunteers. It was demonstrated to induce up to a 20.9% body weight reduction for 72 weeks at 15mg/weekly in a phase-3 trial including over 2500 overweight and obese volunteers [5].

GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu has been likewise shown in smaller clinical trials to significantly improve skin appearance and reduce signs of aging, which are common concerns in menopausal women. For example, a trial in 40 female subjects aged from 40 to 65 years (therefore including menopausal women) has shown that GHK-Cu applied topically twice daily in the course of 8 weeks reduced wrinkle volume by 55.8% and wrinkle depth by 32.8% [12].

Selank

Selank is approved in Russia for therapy in anxiety disorders, may provide both anxiolytic and nootropic benefits [20]. It has been shown to have comparable anxiolytic effects to the antidepressant medazepam in 62 patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Moreover, the peptide also resulted in antiasthenic and psychostimulant effects, which improved overall quality of life [22].

While these compounds are not developed specifically for menopausal women, there is significant evidence to suggest that research peptides may provide benefits for some of the most common concerns that arise during menopause.

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Best Peptides For Menopause and Women

Menopause is associated with a variety of complaints, and as a result, there is a wide range of research peptides that may provide benefits during this physiological period.

Below, we will delve deeper into the mechanisms and benefits of the peptides to be considered by scientists when conducting research on menopause and its symptoms:

Peptides For Fat Loss

The best peptides for addressing weight management concerns, including in menopausal subjects, are the incretin mimetics tirzepatide and semaglutide.

Tirzepatide

This 39 amino acid peptide is a first-in-class dual GIP/GLP-1 mimetic that shares similarities with the sequences of both GIP and the GLP-1 agonist exenatide. In addition, the peptide is bound to a C20 fatty di-acid moiety that extends its half-life to five days [23, 24].

The peptide may thus be applied as a once-weekly injection. It was FDA-approved for T2D management at a dose of up to 15mg/weekly based on the results of several phase-3 studies from the SURPASS clinical development program, showing up to a -3.02% reduction in glycated hemoglobin [25].

It is currently under investigation as a weight loss medication in nondiabetics as a part of another clinical development program called SURMOUNT. The first two phase-3 clinical trials are already published and report significant weight loss at both 10mg/weekly and 15mg/weekly [5, 26].

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Semaglutide

This peptide is made of 31 amino acids and shares 94% homology with the GLP-1 hormone. It has several modifications, including an octadecanoic (C-18) diacid moiety that extends its half-life to seven days and allows for once-weekly administration [27]

Semaglutide (up to 2mg/weekly) is FDA-approved for a wide variety of indications, including glycemic control and major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) reduction in T2D. The peptide is also approved at doses of up to 2.4mg/weekly for weight loss therapy in adults (BMI≥30 or BMI≥27 and weight-related comorbidities) and adolescents (12 years and older with a BMI for age/sex at ≥95th percentile) [18, 27, 28].

One of the latest weight loss studies with semaglutide is a phase-3b trial that reported on 68 weeks of therapy at 2.4mg/weekly in nondiabetic overweight and obese subjects, including 265 women (average age 49). Semaglutide led to 15.8% weight loss from baseline, which was estimated to equal about 33.7lb on average [29].

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Peptides For Skin Care and Anti-Aging

The best peptides to address skin care and aging concerns are the short peptides GHK-Cu and epithalon, which work at a cellular level to upregulate collagen production and slow cellular aging.

GHK-Cu

This tripeptide may act as a signal for skin repair and type I collagen synthesis, which is one of the main components of the intercellular matrix in the skin. It can also upregulate the production of other matrix components, including elastin and glycosaminoglycans [9, 10, 11, 12].

When applied topically, the peptide has also been reported to act as an antioxidant and reduce the photoaging effects of UV light. Clinical studies suggest that it may provide the following benefits for human skin [10]:

• Increased skin elasticity, improved firmness, and reversed thinning
• Reduced fine lines and depth of wrinkles
• Smoothed rough skin and improved overall skin appearance
• Evening out hyperpigmentation, skin spots, and lesions

GHK-Cu is also available as an injectable peptide for research. When injected, it may trigger various systemic effects, such as DNA repair, wound healing, lung tissue restoration, blood vessel formation, and neural growth [10].

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Epithalon

Epitalon, AEDG peptide, works by elongating the telomeres in cells such as skin fibroblasts, leading to delayed skin aging [30, 31].

The peptide has been shown to inhibit the apoptosis of skin fibroblasts and prevent the degradation of collagen by reducing the expression of the apoptosis-inducing caspase-3 and, consequently, MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9) in aged skin cells [32].

The authors also commented that when applied topically, epithalon increases the moisture content in the skin's surface layers and may visually reduce neck and face wrinkles in female subjects [32].

Epithalon can be obtained in an injectable form intended for scientific exploration. As such, it has been examined for its possible impact on aspects like sleep enhancement, long-term inflammation reduction, lifespan extension, conditions associated with aging, DNA restoration, and the prevention of cancerous growths [33, 34, 35, 36].

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Peptides For Sexual Health

Here is the best peptide for menopause when sexual health is a concern:

PT-141

As mentioned, this peptide is already FDA-approved for improving libido and sexual function in premenopausal subjects, and it may hold similar potential in menopausal women, although research is still lacking.

The peptide is noted to improve libido and vaginal blood flow in females, thereby potentially improving menopausal symptoms such as vaginal dryness and difficulties reaching an orgasm [8].

By activating the melanocortin receptors, the peptide may increase the release of dopamine in the brain and impact sexual response pathways. Consequently, it may boost sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction. However, it does not directly tackle other sexual dysfunction causes like physical or relationship issues [37].

Additionally, PT-141 may provide additional benefits for weight loss during menopause. For example, a trial in 27 obese female subjects has shown that PT-141 can reduce daily ad libitum energy intake by about -400 kcals and lead to a 1.7lb greater weight loss than placebo within 16 days [17].

Currently, the peptide is available for research in both injectable and intranasal formulations, both of which pass through the blood-brain barrier to exert their libido-boosting effects [38].

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Peptides for Mood and Cognition

Here is the best peptide for menopause when increased anxiety levels or concentration difficulties are a common complaint:

Selank

This heptapeptide, developed by the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Molecular Genetics, is currently utilized as an anxiolytic and nootropic drug in Russia and Ukraine [20]. It's a synthetic version of the human tetrapeptide tuftsin, with a Pro-Gly-Pro fragment at the C-terminus [39].

Designed to cross the blood-brain barrier, Selank affects central nervous system receptors following subcutaneous or intranasal administration [40]. Research indicates Selank can enhance BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) expression in rat brains' hippocampal area post intranasal administration [41].

However, its primary impact lies in modulating neurotransmitters like opioid, serotonergic, and GABA signaling, which significantly reduces stress and anxiety [42, 43, 44]. Notably, Selank influences enkephalin signaling, a mood and stress reduction mechanism tied to opioid receptors [45, 46].

As a result, Selank was approved for human use by the Russian Ministry of Health in 2009 for anxiety relief, cognition improvement, and enhanced concentration [20].

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Peptides Side Effects and Safety

Similar to most medications, peptides may exert side effects, which usually range from mild to moderate. Adverse reactions may vary significantly between different compounds.

Let’s have a look at the safety findings for some of the peptides mentioned in this article.

PT-141

PT-141 has been tested in premenopausal women and it is reported to cause transient side effects such as nausea, flushing, and headaches, which affect 40%, 20.3%, and 11.3% of study volunteers, respectively [39]. The peptide may also lead to transient increases in blood pressure, especially when administered intranasally. PT-141 is recommended to be used on demand, and too frequent use (more than once within 24h or more than 8x per month) may also lead to darker skin and hyperpigmentation [47]. PT-141 has not been tested in menopausal women, so it is unknown if it can lead to additional side effects in this population.

Tirzepatide and Semaglutide

Weight loss peptides also have specific side effects, usually affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and occurring in 40–70% of test subjects. The most common complaints usually include nausea and diarrhea. Rarely, they may also lead to mild to moderate hepatobiliary disorders such as cholelithiasis and pancreatitis [48].

GHK-Cu, Epithalon, and Selank

GHK-Cu, epithalon, and selank have not been extensively studied in large clinical trials. Nevertheless, the preliminary research does not report any notable side effects among test subjects [10, 20].

Researchers are recommended to remain vigilant and exercise caution when administering peptide-based compounds to test subjects in menopause.

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Peptides, Women, and Menopause | FAQ

Below we have gathered some of the most frequently asked questions within the research community in regard to research peptides and menopausal symptoms.

What peptides help with menopause?

Peptides can help in a variety of ways to ease complaints arising during menopause. For example, PT-141 can help increase libido, while incretin mimetics such as tirzepatide and semaglutide help prevent weight gain and induce sustainable weight loss. The peptide Selank may also help reduce anxiety and improve mental concentration during menopause, while the GHK-Cu peptide can improve skin appearance and provide anti-aging effects.

Can peptides help balance hormones?

Menopausal women commonly complain of disturbed hormonal balance, which results in sexual dysfunction and weight gain, among other symptoms. Peptides administered therapeutically can help restore the needed balance. For example, incretin mimetics such as semaglutide can help reduce body weight and improve insulin resistance, which benefits ovarian function in women and helps restore hormonal balance.

What is the best way to boost metabolism during menopause?

A healthy diet and exercise are the two best strategies to boost metabolism during menopause and prevent weight gain. In addition, peptides such as tirzepatide and semaglutide have been shown to induce significant weight loss in test subjects, including middle-aged and older women.

How long can researchers take peptides?

The length of peptide therapy depends on the type of peptide, the research objective, and the individual responses of test subjects. Peptides like the weight loss drug semaglutide have been administered continuously for up to 104 weeks without any significant safety concerns or decline in effectiveness. Other peptides, such as PT-141, should not be used more often than 8 times per month to lower the risk of side effects.

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Peptides and Menopause | Verdict

Menopause is a period of intensive hormonal changes that result in various symptoms related to sexual health, aging, metabolism, mood, and cognition.

Peptide-based therapies may offer valuable options for managing each of these complaints in menopausal test subjects.

Examples include the libido-boosting peptide PT-141, the weight loss peptide tirzepatide, and the anti-aging peptide GHK-Cu, among many other beneficial compounds.

Investigators are encouraged to delve deeper into the effectiveness and mechanisms of these peptides before incorporating them into their experiments.

For qualified researcher looking for high-quality peptides, we highly recommend checking out our most trusted vendor of research compounds.

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