Peptides and Low Testosterone in Women: Symptoms, Benefits, and Modern Treatment Options | Dr. Nooshin K. Darvish, ND, ABAAHP

When most people hear the word testosterone, they automatically think of men. But testosterone is also vital for women to function well. In fact, testosterone is more abundant in a woman’s body than estrogen. When testosterone levels are too low in women, it can quietly impact energy, mood, strength, libido, and overall quality of life.

During perimenopause or menopause, when you are doing “all the right things” but still don’t feel like yourself, you probably need a functional approach to your hormone evaluation and therapy. In many cases, low testosterone and disrupted cellular signaling are part of the picture. That’s where peptide therapy and personalized hormone therapy can make a meaningful difference to a woman’s health, function and wellbeing.

Why Testosterone Matters for Women

“…strive to show in the human world that women are most capable and efficient…” – ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Although women produce testosterone in smaller amounts than men, nevertheless, testosterone plays a vital role in the health of a woman, including:

Energy and stamina: Testosterone contributes to overall metabolic energy and physical resilience.
Muscle tone and strength: Testosterone supports protein synthesis and lean muscle.
Libido and sexual health: Low testosterone is linked with reduced sexual desire in women.
Cognitive clarity and motivation: Androgens (meaning testosterone type hormones) influence mood, motivation, and mental clarity.
Bone density and metabolic health: Testosterone contributes to skeletal and metabolic well-being.

Testosterone naturally declines with age, especially during perimenopause and menopause, but low levels can also occur in younger women due to stress, chronic illness, malnourishment or lifestyle factors.

Because symptoms of low testosterone develop gradually, many women are told that feeling tired, unmotivated, or disconnected from their bodies is a “normal” part of getting old. But is it?

Common Signs of Low Testosterone in Women

Low testosterone can look different for each person. There are, however, several common symptoms that indicate low testosterone in women. These include:

Persistent fatigue or low motivation
Decreased libido or sexual satisfaction
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Loss of muscle tone or strength
Increased body fat despite healthy habits
Mood changes or low confidence

Because these symptoms often overlap with thyroid issues, adrenal imbalance, or estrogen changes, and malnutrition, appropriate comprehensive testing and personalized interpretation are crucial to balancing and optimizing hormones.

Testosterone Therapy

When it comes to treatment to balance testosterone levels, there are several options. One common one is testosterone replacement therapy, known as TRT. Vitamin D supplementation is important for proper hormone production and balance. Herbs, such as Ashwagandha, Red Clover and Maca, can support stress, libido and testosterone production. Other supportive therapies include exercise especially weight lifting, sleep, sufficient protein intake, and stress management. Another therapy that is gaining popularity for hormone support are peptides.

What Are Peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as cellular messengers in the body. Think of them as signals that tell your cells how to repair, regenerate, and function more efficiently. Insulin, for example, was the first peptide to be discovered and it has revolutionized the prognoses of diabetes.

Your body naturally produces peptides, but production declines with age, stress, malnutrition and illness. Replacing specific peptides can potentially restore these signals, supporting healing and balance at a deeper, cellular level.

In my practice at Holistique, peptides are used as part of an integrative strategy, not a one-size-fits-all solution, based on your laboratory testing, symptoms, genetics, lifestyle factors and biochemical patterns.

How Peptides Support Women with Low Testosterone

While peptides do not replace testosterone directly, they can support the systems that influence hormone balance, tissue health, and cellular function.

Depending on your unique needs, peptide therapy may:

Support cellular energy production and recovery
Improve lean body composition
Enhance libido and sexual wellness
Support immune balance and inflammation modulation
Improve sleep and metabolic resilience
Improve skin and hair quality

Peptides such as BPC-157, thymosin alpha-1, and ipamorelin are studied for their role in healing, immune modulation, and metabolic function, which support overall hormonal balance. BPC-157 together with *KPV, * for instance, help reduce low testosterone symptoms that can cause inflammation, gut impairment and weakened tendons and ligaments. BPC-157 and KPV support anti-inflammatory pathways and improve tissue healing in the gut and body during menopause.

Peptides and Hormone Optimization: Better Together

For women with low testosterone, peptide therapy in the form of oral capsules, sprays, or injectables may be combined with topical or pellet forms of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) when appropriate.

When a woman enters my practice at Holistique, my team and I start with a comprehensive evaluation which may include:

Comprehensive hormone testing (blood, urine, and saliva)
Evaluation of the gut, inflammation markers, biomarkers of health, nutrients and nutrition
Heavy metal testing and environmental testing
Identifying why testosterone is low vs treating symptoms only
Using precise, personalized physiologic dosing whether it be topical creams or pellets
Supporting the body with peptides, nutrition, IV therapy, and lifestyle medicine

This integrative approach supports hormone balance without overstimulation or causing imbalance. It reduces risks of side effects and supports the body in its natural production and detoxification of hormones. Research shows that combining targeted interventions often leads to greater symptom improvement than single therapies, while reducing risks of aging-related diseases and conditions.

A word of caution: there are many peptides sold on the internet that have not been approved or studied for safety in humans. I caution you not to self-prescribe and to seek a physician knowledgeable in peptide therapy for a personalized evaluation and peptide prescription from a compounded pharmacy.

Is Testosterone Therapy Safe for Women?

Testosterone therapy is not yet approved by the FDA specifically for women even though perimenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal women often benefit from its support and/or replacement. When properly prescribed and monitored, testosterone therapy can be safe and beneficial for women. Bioidentical hormones are structurally identical to what the body produces, and careful dosing minimizes unwanted negative effects of high testosterone like head hair loss, acne, and excessive unwanted body hair growth.

The goal is to help your body return to balance and function the way it was designed to, even in the midst of stress. And we do that through personalized evaluation and treatment.

A Personalized, Whole-Body Approach

Low testosterone in women rarely exists in isolation. It often overlaps with:

Adrenal imbalance or chronic stress
Thyroid dysfunction
Metabolic changes
Inflammation or immune challenges
Other hormone deficiencies and imbalances

That’s why a whole-body, longevity-focused approach, combining advanced functional medical diagnostics with regenerative and restorative therapies, optimize health, hormones and longevity.

Every treatment plan must always be tailored and personalized because your biology, genetics, stress, history, and goals are unique.

The Takeaway

If you are a woman experiencing fatigue, low libido, brain fog, or a sense that something just isn’t right, low testosterone may be part of the story. Peptide therapy, combined with personalized hormone optimization, offers a modern, science-backed option to restore balance, vitality, and confidence.

Reach out for a consult – Text or call 425-451-0404 Holistique Medical Center

References

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Braunstein, G. D. (2002). Management of female sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women by testosterone administration. New England Journal of Medicine, 343(10), 682–688. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17627735/
Glaser, R., & Dimitrakakis, C. (2013). Testosterone therapy in women: Myths and misconceptions. Maturitas, 74(3), 230–234. https://www.maturitas.org/article/S0378-5122(13)00012-1/fulltext
Panay, N., et al. (2019). The safety and efficacy of testosterone therapy in women. Climacteric, 22(5), 429–434. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2019.1637079#d1e695
Ross, Cindy. The role of BPC-157 in modulating inflammation:A comprehensive review. Aug 2025 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/394424135_The_Role_of_BPC-157_in_Modulating_Inflammation_A_Comprehensive_Review
Wensheng Yan et al, Testosterone ameliorates age-related brain mitochondrial dysfunction. Aging. June* 2021. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8266321/*
Santoro et al. The Menopause Transition: Signs, Symptoms, and Management Options. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jan 1;106(1):1-15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33095879/
World Health Organization. (2024). Menopause. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause

Disclaimer: References are provided for educational purposes and reflect current scientific understanding. Treatments discussed are individualized and prescribed based on clinical evaluation.