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Best Peptides for Men, Ranked by Human Evidence

The peptides men use with the strongest human evidence are prescription drugs: GLP-1s, tesamorelin and hCG. Who the trials enrolled, and what they measured.

The short version

The peptides with the best human evidence that men use are prescription drugs for specific conditions. They are the GLP-1 weight-loss medicines, tesamorelin for HIV-related belly fat, and hCG for low testosterone caused by the pituitary. PT-141 is approved for women only. The growth-hormone and recovery peptides sold online to men have hormone measurements and small studies at best. There are almost no trials of the outcomes they are bought for.

  • The GLP-1 weight trials enrolled mostly women; the semaglutide heart-outcomes trial was 72% men.
  • Tesamorelin's two pivotal trials were 84-86% men, all with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.
  • PT-141's label says it is not indicated in men; the largest trial in men carries an expression of concern.
  • In a 2-year trial in older adults, MK-677 added lean mass but did not improve strength or function.
  • This is a ranking of evidence, not advice on what any man should take.

The peptides with the strongest human evidence that men use are prescription drugs. They are the GLP-1 weight-loss medicines, tesamorelin for HIV-related belly fat, and hCG for one kind of low testosterone. The growth-hormone and recovery peptides sold online to men have hormone measurements at best. There are almost no trials of the outcomes they are bought for.

The ranking orders each compound by the strongest human evidence for the use men buy it for. It is not advice. The approved drugs treat diagnosed conditions and need a prescriber. A high rank means better trials, not that a compound will help a particular man.

The ranking at a glance

RankCompoundHuman evidenceWhat was measuredUS legal statusRead more
1GLP-1 medicines (semaglutide, tirzepatide)Large randomised trials, from hundreds to 17,604 peopleBody weight; heart attacks, strokes and heart deaths (semaglutide)Prescription drugs (Wegovy, Zepbound and others)Semaglutide, tirzepatide
2TesamorelinTwo pivotal randomised trials of about 400 people each, 84-86% menDeep belly fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophyPrescription drug (Egrifta WR)Tesamorelin
3hCGApproved for one form of male hypogonadism; small studies in men on testosteroneTestosterone inside the testes; semen measuresPrescription drug (e.g. Novarel)hCG
4PT-141 (bremelanotide)Small developer studies in men, plus one 342-man trial under an expression of concernErections measured by a device; erectile function scoresPrescription drug for premenopausal women onlyPT-141
5GonadorelinSmall non-randomised studies in men with congenital hypogonadismTime to sperm productionNo approved product on the US marketGonadorelin
6KisspeptinInfusion studies in a handful of healthy menLH and testosterone over hoursNot FDA-approved; sold as a research chemicalKisspeptin
7GH secretagogues (MK-677, sermorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin)One 2-year MK-677 trial in 65 older adults; short hormone studiesLean mass; GH and IGF-1 levelsNot FDA-approved; sermorelin’s approvals discontinuedMK-677
8BPC-157 and TB-5005 small BPC-157 studies; none for TB-500Knee pain and colitis symptoms (BPC-157)Not FDA-approved; sold as research chemicalsBPC-157

1. GLP-1 medicines: the biggest trials, mostly in women

Strong human evidence

Consistent findings across large trials or meta-analyses. FDA approvals for weight management built on large randomised trials, a 17,604-person heart-outcomes trial of semaglutide, and a 751-person head-to-head trial. The weight trials enrolled mostly women.

Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) are peptide drugs approved for weight management and type 2 diabetes. They have the largest trial record of any peptide men use. In a 72-week head-to-head trial of 751 adults with obesity, weight fell 20.2% on tirzepatide and 13.7% on semaglutide (Aronne 2025 - Aronne LJ, Horn DB, le Roux CW et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(1):26-36., in the references below).

The main weight trials enrolled mostly women, as the enrolment table below shows. Men were the majority in the heart and sleep apnoea trials. Wegovy’s heart-outcomes trial enrolled 17,604 adults with heart disease, 72% of them men. It cut the risk of heart attack, stroke or heart death by about 20% (hazard ratio 0.80), according to the label.

Both drugs need a prescription. FDA warns that compounded versions are not FDA-approved, and that unapproved drugs sold as “for research purposes” are sold illegally.

2. Tesamorelin: approved, and tested mostly in men

Strong human evidence

Consistent findings across large trials or meta-analyses. Two pivotal randomised trials of about 400 people each behind its FDA approval, 84-86% of them men, all with HIV-associated lipodystrophy. No trial in healthy men was found.

Tesamorelin (Egrifta WR) is a growth-hormone-releasing peptide approved to reduce excess belly fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy. Its two pivotal trials randomised 412 and 404 people, and 86% and 84% of them were men, per the label.

In one of those trials, deep belly (visceral) fat fell 10.9% over six months on tesamorelin, against 0.6% on placebo (Falutz 2010 - Falutz J, Potvin D, Mamputu JC et al. Effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor, in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2010;53(3):311-22., in the references below). The loss reversed quickly in people switched to placebo. IGF-1 rose, and blood sugar measures did not change.

The label says it is not a weight-loss drug and tells prescribers to monitor IGF-1. I found no trial of tesamorelin in healthy men.

3. hCG: approved for one cause of low testosterone

Moderate human evidence

Multiple randomised trials, though with limitations. FDA-approved for selected men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The studies of hCG alongside testosterone therapy are small: one randomised trial of 29 men and one chart review of 26.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) acts like the pituitary hormone LH and signals the testes to make testosterone. The Novarel label approves it for selected cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in men, meaning low testosterone caused by the pituitary. It is also approved for undescended testes in boys and for ovulation induction.

Some men on testosterone therapy add it to keep the testes working, because testosterone shuts down their own LH:

The Novarel label also states that hCG has not been shown to help with weight loss. For how it compares with kisspeptin, see kisspeptin vs hCG.

4. PT-141: approved for women only, with smaller trials in men

Moderate human evidence

Multiple randomised trials, though with limitations. Placebo-controlled trials in men: small studies run with its developer that measured erections with a device, and one 342-man randomised trial that carries a 2023 expression of concern from its journal. The approval trials enrolled only women.

Bremelanotide, sold as Vyleesi, is approved for premenopausal women with low sexual desire. Its two approval trials randomised 1,267 women (Kingsberg 2019 - Kingsberg SA, Clayton AH, Portman D et al. Bremelanotide for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Two Randomized Phase 3 Trials. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(5):899-908., in the references below). The label says it is not indicated in men or to enhance sexual performance.

It has also been tested in men:

5. Gonadorelin: real studies, but not of how men use it now

Limited human data

Small or uncontrolled human studies. Too little to settle the question either way. Non-randomised studies of pump-delivered gonadorelin in men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. I found no published trial of the low-dose injections men take alongside testosterone.

Gonadorelin is a copy of GnRH, the brain hormone that triggers LH and FSH. Both of its US approvals, Factrel and Lutrepulse, are listed as discontinued in FDA’s drug database.

In men, the clearest data come from pumps that deliver it in pulses. A non-randomised study followed 28 men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Sperm production started earlier with a gonadorelin pump than with hCG-based therapy, at a median of 6 months against 14 (Zhang 2019 - Zhang L, Cai K, Wang Y et al. The Pulsatile Gonadorelin Pump Induces Earlier Spermatogenesis Than Cyclical Gonadotropin Therapy in Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Men. Am J Mens Health. 2019;13(1):1557988318818280., in the references below). The popular use today, low-dose injections alongside testosterone, has no published trial I could find.

6. Kisspeptin: raises testosterone for hours in small studies

Limited human data

Small or uncontrolled human studies. Too little to settle the question either way. Single-dose and infusion studies lasting minutes to a day, in groups of 4 to 6 healthy men. These are hormone measurements, not treatment trials.

Kisspeptin sits upstream of GnRH. In 6 healthy men, a 90-minute infusion of kisspeptin-54 raised LH, FSH and testosterone compared with saline (Dhillo 2005 - Dhillo WS, Chaudhri OB, Patterson M et al. Kisspeptin-54 stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis in human males. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90(12):6609-15., in the references below). In 4 men, kisspeptin-10 infused for 22.5 hours raised testosterone from 16.6 to 24.0 nmol/L (George 2011 - George JT, Veldhuis JD, Roseweir AK et al. Kisspeptin-10 is a potent stimulator of LH and increases pulse frequency in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(8):E1228-36., in the references below).

Kisspeptin-10 is not FDA-approved. FDA lists it among compounding substances that may pose significant safety risks, citing possible immune reactions.

7. Growth-hormone secretagogues: hormone rises, little else measured

Limited human data

Small or uncontrolled human studies. Too little to settle the question either way. One 2-year randomised trial of MK-677 in 65 adults aged 60 to 81, which added lean mass without improving strength or function, plus short hormone studies of the others. Ipamorelin's trial in bowel-surgery patients found no benefit.

MK-677 (ibutamoren), sermorelin, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are sold to men for muscle, fat loss and recovery. They raise growth hormone and IGF-1.

The longest trial is of MK-677. In 65 healthy adults aged 60 to 81, 25 mg a day raised GH and IGF-1 to young-adult levels (Nass 2008 - Nass R, Pezzoli SS, Oliveri MC et al. Effects of an oral ghrelin mimetic on body composition and clinical outcomes in healthy older adults: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2008;149(9):601-11., in the references below). Lean mass rose 1.1 kg over a year, against a 0.5 kg fall on placebo, but strength and function did not change. Fasting blood sugar rose and insulin sensitivity fell. FDA lists MK-677 among compounding substances with significant safety risks because of a possible link to congestive heart failure.

For the others, the human data are mostly hormone levels:

Sermorelin’s FDA approvals, sold as Geref, are discontinued. MK-677, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin are not FDA-approved.

8. BPC-157 and TB-500: recovery peptides with almost no human data

Limited human data

Small or uncontrolled human studies. Too little to settle the question either way. BPC-157: five small published human studies in about 80 people; the only placebo-controlled trial in patients, in ulcerative colitis, found no significant difference.

Animal / lab only

Studied in cells or animals. No controlled trials in humans. TB-500: FDA's July 2026 review found no clinical study or human exposure data by any route.

Men buy BPC-157 and TB-500 for injuries. FDA’s July 2026 briefing lists five small published human studies of BPC-157, and none of TB-500. Both are sold as research chemicals. The evidence for joints and tendons is ranked on best peptides for joint pain.

Who the trials actually enrolled

Product copy says “for men”. The trial rosters are more specific:

TrialPeopleSexSource
Wegovy weight trial, adults without diabetes1,96174% femaleWegovy label
Wegovy heart-outcomes trial, adults with heart disease17,60472% maleWegovy label
Zepbound weight trial, adults without diabetes2,53968% femaleZepbound label
Zepbound sleep apnoea trials234 and 23567% and 72% maleZepbound label
Egrifta pivotal trials, HIV lipodystrophy412 and 40486% and 84% maleEgrifta WR label
Vyleesi (PT-141) approval trials1,267All premenopausal womenKingsberg 2019 - Kingsberg SA, Clayton AH, Portman D et al. Bremelanotide for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Two Randomized Phase 3 Trials. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(5):899-908., in the references below
hCG with testosterone, dose study29All menCoviello 2005 - Coviello AD, Matsumoto AM, Bremner WJ et al. Low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin maintains intratesticular testosterone in normal men with testosterone-induced gonadotropin suppression. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90(5):2595-602., in the references below
MK-677 two-year trial65Men and women aged 60 to 81Nass 2008 - Nass R, Pezzoli SS, Oliveri MC et al. Effects of an oral ghrelin mimetic on body composition and clinical outcomes in healthy older adults: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2008;149(9):601-11., in the references below
Growth-hormone secretagogues with testosterone14All menSigalos 2017 - Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW, Allison A et al. Growth Hormone Secretagogue Treatment in Hypogonadal Men Raises Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels. Am J Mens Health. 2017;11(6):1752-1757., in the references below

The trials with the highest share of men are tesamorelin’s and the heart and sleep apnoea trials. The research peptides marketed to men were tested in tiny groups, if at all.

What is better, TRT or peptides?

They do different jobs. Testosterone replacement therapy is approved testosterone for men with diagnosed hypogonadism. No research peptide is approved to treat low testosterone. hCG is approved for one form of it. Men on TRT sometimes add it to keep the testes working. I found no published trial testing a research peptide combined with testosterone therapy for safety. More: TRT and peptides.

Common questions

What peptides should a 40 year old man take?

No trial answers that, so this is what the evidence covers, not advice. The peptides with strong evidence are prescription drugs for diagnosed conditions. They are GLP-1 medicines for obesity, tesamorelin for HIV-related belly fat, and hCG for low testosterone caused by the pituitary. For the growth-hormone and recovery peptides marketed to men in their 40s, I found no trial of the outcomes they are sold for in healthy men of that age. The longest MK-677 trial enrolled adults aged 60 to 81.

Are peptides good for males?

Some are well tested in men. Tesamorelin's pivotal trials were 84-86% men, and the semaglutide heart-outcomes trial was 72% men. Most research peptides sold to men have no outcome trials in men or anyone else, so whether they help is unknown. The word peptides covers both groups, so the answer depends on which one.

What are the top 5 peptides for men?

Ranked by strength of human evidence: the GLP-1 medicines semaglutide and tirzepatide, tesamorelin, hCG, PT-141 and gonadorelin. The first three are prescription drugs for specific conditions, PT-141 is approved for women only, and gonadorelin has no approved product on the US market. A high rank means better trials, not that a compound suits a particular man.

What is the downside of taking peptides?

For approved drugs the downsides are on the label. The GLP-1 medicines most often cause gastrointestinal side effects, and tesamorelin raises IGF-1, which the label says to monitor. For research peptides the main downside is the unknown: no regulator checks what is in the vial, and I found no long-term human safety data. In its 2-year trial, MK-677 raised fasting blood sugar and lowered insulin sensitivity.

What peptides does Joe Rogan take?

Joe Rogan said on his podcast in July 2021 (episode 1683) that elbow tendonitis he could not fix was gone within two weeks of starting BPC-157. The Associated Press reported the same account in November 2025. In September 2021, CBS News and Variety reported, he said he had taken an NAD drip while ill with COVID-19; NAD is not a peptide. That is one person's account, not evidence of what BPC-157 does.

Which peptides raise testosterone?

hCG and kisspeptin both raised testosterone in studies of men. hCG acts like LH on the testes and raised testosterone inside them in men on testosterone therapy. Kisspeptin triggers the body's own LH release and raised blood testosterone in healthy men. Gonadorelin acts in between, on the pituitary. The kisspeptin studies lasted hours, not months. Growth-hormone secretagogues, BPC-157 and TB-500 act on other systems.

Is PT-141 approved for men?

No. The Vyleesi label limits bremelanotide to premenopausal women with acquired, generalised hypoactive sexual desire disorder. It states that it is not indicated in men or to enhance sexual performance. Its developer ran small trials in men, and the largest trial in men carries a 2023 expression of concern from its journal.

References (31 sources)

Bibliographic detail is fetched from PubMed, not written by me - so a citation here cannot drift from the paper it names. Study design comes from PubMed's own tags rather than my judgement.

  1. 1.Aronne LJ, Horn DB, le Roux CW et al. Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2025;393(1):26-36.Clinical trialPMID 40353578
  2. 2.Falutz J, Potvin D, Mamputu JC et al. Effects of tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing factor, in HIV-infected patients with abdominal fat accumulation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a safety extension. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2010;53(3):311-22.Randomised trialPMID 20101189
  3. 3.Coviello AD, Matsumoto AM, Bremner WJ et al. Low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin maintains intratesticular testosterone in normal men with testosterone-induced gonadotropin suppression. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90(5):2595-602.Randomised trialPMID 15713727
  4. 4.Hsieh TC, Pastuszak AW, Hwang K et al. Concomitant intramuscular human chorionic gonadotropin preserves spermatogenesis in men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy. J Urol. 2013;189(2):647-50.StudyPMID 23260550
  5. 5.Diamond LE, Earle DC, Rosen RC et al. Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the safety, pharmacokinetic properties and pharmacodynamic effects of intranasal PT-141, a melanocortin receptor agonist, in healthy males and patients with mild-to-moderate erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 2004;16(1):51-9.Randomised trialPMID 14963471
  6. 6.Rosen RC, Diamond LE, Earle DC et al. Evaluation of the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic effects of subcutaneously administered PT-141, a melanocortin receptor agonist, in healthy male subjects and in patients with an inadequate response to Viagra. Int J Impot Res. 2004;16(2):135-42.Randomised trialPMID 14999221
  7. 7.Safarinejad MR, Hosseini SY. Salvage of sildenafil failures with bremelanotide: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study. J Urol. 2008;179(3):1066-71.Randomised trialPMID 18206919
  8. 8.Safarinejad MR, Hosseini SY. Expression of Concern: Salvage of Sildenafil Failures With Bremelanotide: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study. J Urol. 2023.StudyPMID 36626345
  9. 9.Kingsberg SA, Clayton AH, Portman D et al. Bremelanotide for the Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: Two Randomized Phase 3 Trials. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(5):899-908.Randomised trialPMID 31599840full text
  10. 10.Zhang L, Cai K, Wang Y et al. The Pulsatile Gonadorelin Pump Induces Earlier Spermatogenesis Than Cyclical Gonadotropin Therapy in Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Men. Am J Mens Health. 2019;13(1):1557988318818280.StudyPMID 30569789full text
  11. 11.Dhillo WS, Chaudhri OB, Patterson M et al. Kisspeptin-54 stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis in human males. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90(12):6609-15.Randomised trialPMID 16174713
  12. 12.George JT, Veldhuis JD, Roseweir AK et al. Kisspeptin-10 is a potent stimulator of LH and increases pulse frequency in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96(8):E1228-36.Clinical trialPMID 21632807full text
  13. 13.Nass R, Pezzoli SS, Oliveri MC et al. Effects of an oral ghrelin mimetic on body composition and clinical outcomes in healthy older adults: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2008;149(9):601-11.Randomised trialPMID 18981485full text
  14. 14.Teichman SL, Neale A, Lawrence B et al. Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor I secretion by CJC-1295, a long-acting analog of GH-releasing hormone, in healthy adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006;91(3):799-805.Randomised trialPMID 16352683
  15. 15.Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW, Allison A et al. Growth Hormone Secretagogue Treatment in Hypogonadal Men Raises Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels. Am J Mens Health. 2017;11(6):1752-1757.StudyPMID 28830317full text
  16. 16.Beck DE, Sweeney WB, McCarter MD. Prospective, randomized, controlled, proof-of-concept study of the Ghrelin mimetic ipamorelin for the management of postoperative ileus in bowel resection patients. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2014;29(12):1527-34.Randomised trialPMID 25331030
  17. 17.WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets label (revised June 2026), Clinical Studies: weight trial of 1,961 adults without diabetes, 74% female; cardiovascular outcomes trial of 17,604 adults, 72% male, hazard ratio 0.80 for major cardiovascular events.- DailyMed, National Library of Medicinelabel
  18. 18.ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) label (revised August 2026), Clinical Studies: weight trial of 2,539 adults without diabetes, 68% female; obstructive sleep apnoea trials of 234 and 235 adults, 67% and 72% male.- DailyMed, National Library of Medicinelabel
  19. 19.EGRIFTA WR (tesamorelin) label (revised July 2026): indication, limitations of use (not for weight loss), IGF-1 monitoring, and pivotal trial demographics (86% and 84% male).- DailyMed, National Library of Medicinelabel
  20. 20.NOVAREL (chorionic gonadotropin) label: indicated for selected cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males, prepubertal cryptorchidism and ovulation induction; not shown to be effective for weight loss.- DailyMed, National Library of Medicinelabel
  21. 21.VYLEESI (bremelanotide) label: indicated for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder; not indicated in postmenopausal women, in men, or to enhance sexual performance.- DailyMed, National Library of Medicinelabel
  22. 22.openFDA Drugs@FDA query for gonadorelin (checked 3 October 2026): Factrel (NDA 018123) and Lutrepulse Kit (NDA 019687), every product listed as Discontinued.- US Food and Drug Administrationdatabase
  23. 23.openFDA Drugs@FDA query for sermorelin (checked 3 October 2026): Geref (NDA 019863 and NDA 020443), every product listed as Discontinued.- US Food and Drug Administrationdatabase
  24. 24.FDA - Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding That May Present Significant Safety Risks (content current as of 22 April 2026). Ibutamoren mesylate (MK-677) and kisspeptin-10 are in Category 2; ibutamoren for potential congestive heart failure.- US Food and Drug Administrationregulatory
  25. 25.FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss (content current as of 1 October 2026): compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, and unapproved drugs are illegally sold labelled 'for research purposes'.- US Food and Drug Administrationregulatory
  26. 26.FDA briefing document for the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, 23-24 July 2026: evaluation of BPC-157 bulk drug substances, listing the five published human studies.- US Food and Drug Administrationregulatory
  27. 27.FDA briefing document for the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, July 2026: evaluation of TB-500 bulk drug substances. FDA has not identified any clinical studies or human exposure data using TB-500 via any route.- US Food and Drug Administrationregulatory
  28. 28.The Joe Rogan Experience #1683 (with Andrew Huberman), 14 July 2021, episode transcript: Rogan describes elbow tendonitis cleared after starting BPC-157.- Podscripts (episode transcript)other
  29. 29.Associated Press (Matthew Perrone), via ABC11, 14 November 2025: Americans are injecting themselves with unproven peptides. Quotes Rogan telling his podcast audience BPC-157 cleared his elbow tendonitis in two weeks.- Associated Press, via ABC11news
  30. 30.CBS News report (first published 1 September 2021, republished by News 9, KWTV): Rogan says he took an NAD drip and a vitamin D drip after his COVID-19 diagnosis.- CBS News, via News 9 (KWTV, Oklahoma City)news
  31. 31.Variety (William Earl), 8 September 2021: quotes the treatments Rogan listed in his 1 September Instagram video, including an NAD drip and a vitamin drip.- Varietynews