Women Turn to Unregulated Peptides to Manage Menopause Symptoms
A growing online community discusses using experimental compounds, often with code words, to address issues like hot flashes, memory loss, and weight gain.
An increasing number of women are turning to synthetic peptides, many of which are not approved for human use, to manage the challenging symptoms of menopause. This trend has led to the development of a unique online lexicon and a burgeoning "gray market" where individuals seek and administer these compounds with limited medical oversight.
Women like Stephanie Corn, 56, who experienced severe memory problems, fatigue, and pain after being placed in chemically induced menopause, found relief through peptides. After months of research, Corn began ordering peptides online and reports a significant improvement in her quality of life, including lifted depression, increased energy, and reduced pain. "I can do all of those things now, not because of my doctor, but because of peptides," Corn stated.
Peptides, which are short chains of amino acids that act as signaling molecules in the body, occur naturally but are also synthesized. While some, like insulin and semaglutide, are FDA-approved for medical treatments, many others are sold for "research use only." Despite these labels, individuals are increasingly using them for self-treatment. Dr. Rachel Pessah-Pollack, an endocrinologist at NYU Langone, noted that this reflects a broader frustration among menopausal women whose symptoms are often undertreated by conventional medicine.
The Language of Online Peptides
To navigate content moderation on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, the online community has adopted a secret language. Peptides are referred to as "peppers," users are "pepper farmers," and experiments are "research projects." Specific peptides also have nicknames, such as "ratatouille" for retatrutide and "semolina" for semaglutide. This coded communication allows users to share information and experiences without their content being removed.
Lacretia Riekeberg, 47, uses peptides to manage perimenopause symptoms, including hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog, fatigue, low libido, mood swings, and frozen shoulder. She has tried 13 different peptides since March, sourcing, reconstituting, and injecting them herself. "This is the season of life to be working with your body and your hormones, not against them," Riekeberg said.
Darla Allison, 45, initially found relief from severe joint pain with a peptide blend called "Wolverine Blend" (BPC-157 and TB-500) left for her at her restaurant. She has since explored other peptides online to address perimenopause symptoms, crediting them with aiding weight loss, improving skin, and alleviating brain fog, night sweats, and fatigue. Allison expressed frustration that medical professionals she consulted were unaware of peptide treatments: "If it wasn’t for the influencers, I don’t know what I would have done, because not a single doctor I [saw] knew anything about peptides."
Christinia Cherry, 51, a phlebotomist, turned to peptides after struggling with weight gain during menopause and finding FDA-approved options like Wegovy too expensive. After weeks of research, she began using retatrutide, an experimental drug that targets appetite and metabolism hormones. Cherry reported losing weight, experiencing reduced bloating, and feeling more "normal." She has since used other experimental peptides for night sweats, hot flashes, memory, mood, and energy, stating, "We’re aging in reverse."
Risks and Unknowns
Despite the perceived benefits, the unregulated nature of these peptides presents significant risks. The FDA has warned about unapproved products containing incorrect ingredients, inaccurate dosages, or substances that do not match their labels. Jay Campbell, a seller of peptides and bioregulators, cautioned about scammers in the space and the potential for fake products due to the lack of oversight.
User error is also a concern. "And then there are people stacking multiple compounds that we’ve never studied in humans, using these very high doses that are potentially harmful," warned Dr. Pessah-Pollack. Riekeberg experienced this firsthand when she took too high a dose of CJC-1295, causing significant swelling. Corn also experienced a painful nerve issue after an improper injection of a copper peptide.
Gina Nacnac, a marketing consultant, initially sought peptides to address low testosterone and perimenopausal symptoms. She experienced intense fluid retention, joint aches, and carpal tunnel after taking a high dose of Tesamorelin, a peptide approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy but not general weight loss. Although her symptoms subsided after discontinuing the peptide, she later had a severe reaction to Tesamorelin that others in the peptide community dismissed. "This is the problem with peptides. Nobody really knows," Nacnac said.
Nacnac advises caution for those entering the peptide market, suggesting the importance of working with a vetted medical professional experienced with peptides. She noted that some telehealth companies outsource care to physicians who do not directly interact with patients, a practice she finds concerning. "In the beginning, I was a big advocate of peptides, but after going on my journey, I’ve seen that there can be real adverse reactions," she concluded.