Step 1: Assessment—Individualization is Key

Every peptide plan begins with a comprehensive assessment:

• Medical History & Lab Evaluation: I review thyroid function, sex hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone), IGF-1 levels, fasting glucose, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers. Understanding these baselines ensures safety and personalization.

• Body Composition Analysis: Lean mass versus fat mass informs peptide selection and dosing strategies.

• Lifestyle Review: Sleep patterns, exercise habits, nutrition quality, and stress levels influence both peptide effectiveness and overall health outcomes.

This step ensures the plan is evidence-based and aligned with each woman's physiology, lifestyle, and goals.

Step 2: Selecting Peptides—Mechanistic Rationale

Not all peptides are created equal, and choice depends on both the desired physiological outcomes and safety considerations. Key categories I consider include:

1. Growth Hormone–Releasing Peptides (GHRPs) and Secretagogues:

   • Peptides such as Ipamorelin, Sermorelin, and CJC-1295 support GH secretion in a controlled, physiologic manner.

   • Benefits: Improved lean mass, fat metabolism, recovery, and sleep quality (Bach et al., 2022).

   • Consideration: Monitoring IGF-1 is essential to avoid overexposure.

2. Metabolic Peptides:

   • AOD-9604 (a fragment of human GH) and Tesamorelin can assist in targeting visceral fat without overstimulating IGF-1 pathways.

   • Evidence indicates they can complement diet and exercise in midlife women struggling with central adiposity (Gupta et al., 2020).

3. Repair and Recovery Peptides:

   • BPC-157 and TB-500 support tissue repair, joint health, and recovery from injuries, particularly beneficial in women with age-related connective tissue changes.

4. Sex Hormone Modulators (Adjunctive):

   • While not strictly peptides, understanding the interplay of estrogen and testosterone with peptide therapy allows for synergy in metabolic and musculoskeletal outcomes.

Step 3: Integrating Lifestyle for Synergy

A peptide plan without lifestyle alignment is unlikely to produce meaningful or lasting results. I emphasize:

• Resistance and Functional Training: Stimulates GH naturally, preserves muscle mass, and enhances metabolic health.

• Protein Intake Optimization: Adequate protein (1.2–1.6 g/kg/day) supports peptide-mediated lean mass gains.

• Sleep Hygiene: Peptides like GHRPs are most effective when nocturnal GH pulses coincide with high-quality sleep.

• Stress Management: Chronic cortisol elevation can blunt peptide efficacy and accelerate catabolic processes.

Step 4: Dosing, Timing, and Monitoring

In clinical practice, the timing and titration of peptides are critical:

• Evening Administration: Many peptides mimic the body’s natural nocturnal GH pulse, supporting repair and recovery.

• Cycle and Duration: Short cycles with periodic breaks reduce desensitization and allow physiological adaptation.

• Ongoing Monitoring: Regular labs (IGF-1, metabolic panel) and symptom tracking ensure safety and measurable outcomes.

Step 5: Real-World Examples

Consider a 48-year-old perimenopausal woman struggling with central weight gain, fatigue, and disrupted sleep:

• Baseline Assessment: Low-normal IGF-1, mildly elevated fasting glucose, reduced lean mass.

• Peptide Plan: Ipamorelin 200 mcg nightly + CJC-1295 (without DAC) twice weekly.

• Lifestyle Integration: Strength training 3x/week, high-protein diet, sleep consistency, mindfulness-based stress reduction.

• Outcome after 12 Weeks: Improved lean mass, reduction in visceral fat, better sleep, increased energy, and improved mood.

This illustrates the importance of a tailored, integrative approach.

Step 6: Safety and Ethical Considerations

Peptides are not without risk. Key principles:

• Always verify purity through trusted compounding pharmacies or research-grade sources.

• Avoid unverified products or “off-label” use without supervision.

• Continuous evaluation of metabolic, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal parameters.

• Transparency about limitations—peptides support but do not replace healthy lifestyle habits.

Discover the Full Holistic Plan

What you’ve seen so far is only half of the holistic approach we’ve designed for women navigating perimenopause and menopause. The other half combines expert guidance from our licensed medical provider with my specialized expertise in peptide therapy, creating a truly integrated strategy that addresses hormonal balance, metabolism, recovery, and overall vitality.

To explore the full plan, join our women’s only Skool community and register for our free live webinar on December 17. This is your chance to gain practical, evidence-based tools, ask questions in real time, and connect with other women who understand exactly what midlife challenges feel like. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to take meaningful action for your health.

Click the buttons below to join and register now!