Reclaiming Vitality: How Peptides Can Turn Back the Clock (Part 2)

Introduction: Carol’s Turning Point

At 48, Carol had reached a point where she simply didn’t feel like herself anymore.

✔ Her sleep was inconsistent.
✔ She experienced mood swings and forgetfulness.
✔ Her libido had vanished, and energy was at an all-time low.

After being told for years that “this is just part of aging,” she finally discovered the truth: It wasn’t just age—it was hormone imbalance.

Like thousands of women and men in midlife, Carol found her vitality again through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

In this post, we’ll explore the most effective hormone therapies for restoring physical, emotional, and sexual wellness in midlife and beyond.

Why Hormones Matter More Than Ever After 40

Hormones are the messengers that regulate nearly every function in your body: mood, metabolism, energy, sleep, libido, and mental sharpness.

After 40, the production of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and pregnenolone declines—causing the cascade of symptoms we often associate with “just getting older.”

✔ But hormone decline is not inevitable.
✔ And with bioidentical therapies, balance is not only possible—it's sustainable.

Key Hormonal Players in Wellness

1. Estradiol

✅ Class: Primary Estrogen
✅ What It Does:

• Regulates mood, memory, and temperature

• Supports bone density and skin health

• Improves vaginal lubrication and elasticity

✅ How It’s Used:

• As a topical cream, patch, or vaginal suppository

✅ Best For: Women with perimenopausal symptoms, low libido, or bone loss

2. Estriol and Estradiol/Estriol Combinations

✅ Class: Weaker (yet beneficial) estrogens
✅ What They Do:

• Provide gentle estrogen support with lower risk

• Used in urogenital atrophy, dryness, and skin support

• Often combined in vaginal and topical applications

✅ Best For: Women seeking milder estrogen therapy or using vaginal-focused treatments

3. Progesterone

✅ Class: Natural progestogen
✅ What It Does:

• Balances estrogen, preventing overstimulation

• Promotes calm, deep sleep

• Reduces anxiety, irritability, and mood swings

✅ How It’s Used:

• As a cream, oral capsule, or vaginal suppository

✅ Best For: Women with insomnia, anxiety, or estrogen dominance

4. Estradiol/Progesterone Combinations

✅ Purpose: Provides a synergistic effect to treat full-spectrum menopausal symptoms while protecting the uterus
✅ Benefits:

• Combats hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness

• Promotes emotional stability and cognitive function

✅ How It’s Used:

• Available in bioidentical cream or troche form

5. Testosterone (for Women & Men)

✅ Class: Androgen
✅ What It Does:

• Enhances libido, motivation, strength, and mood

• Builds lean muscle and supports bone density

• Boosts mental clarity and endurance

✅ How It’s Used:

• Men: Cypionate injections, creams, or troches

• Women: Low-dose troches or compounded creams

✅ Best For: Men with low energy or erectile dysfunction, women with libido loss or fatigue

6. DHEA and DHEA/Estradiol Combinations

✅ Class: Hormone precursor (converted into testosterone and estrogen)
✅ What It Does:

• Supports adrenal function and sexual health

• Enhances skin vitality and bone strength

• Often used in vaginal formulas to restore elasticity

✅ How It’s Used:

• Topically or in vaginal suppositories

• Occasionally used in oral supplements

7. Estradiol/Estriol/Progesterone/Testosterone Cream or Troche

✅ Purpose: A comprehensive hormone blend for full symptom coverage
✅ What It Does:

• Addresses libido, mood, sleep, skin, energy, and cognition

• Provides balanced hormone restoration

✅ Best For: Women with complex or intense menopausal symptoms

8. Estriol/Progesterone/Testosterone and Variants

✅ Purpose: Slightly gentler than estradiol-based formulations
✅ Benefits:

• Improves sexual function, energy, and sleep

• Reduces vaginal discomfort and dryness

✅ How It’s Used:

• Topical creams or troches, customized for daily use

9. Pregnenolone

✅ Class: Hormone precursor
✅ What It Does:

• Converts into progesterone, DHEA, and cortisol

• Supports brain function, memory, and mood

• Enhances resilience to stress

✅ How It’s Used:

• Oral capsules or compounded creams

10. Biestrogen (Biest)

✅ Class: Combination of estradiol and estriol
✅ What It Does:

• Mimics natural estrogen balance

• Used in skin, sexual, and mood-related therapies

✅ Best For: Women who require gentle but effective estrogen therapy

11. Anastrozole

✅ Class: Aromatase Inhibitor
✅ What It Does:

• Prevents excess testosterone from converting into estrogen

• Used in men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)

✅ How It’s Used:

• Low-dose oral tablets, typically 0.5 mg every other day

✅ Best For: Men on TRT with estrogen-related side effects (water retention, mood swings)

Carol’s Comeback Story

After a comprehensive hormone panel, Carol’s provider recommended a custom cream containing estradiol, progesterone, and low-dose testosterone. Within 8 weeks, she reported:
✅ Deeper, uninterrupted sleep
✅ Improved concentration and emotional balance
✅ Renewed intimacy and physical strength

"I didn’t realize how far I had drifted from myself—until I found my way back," she said.

Key Takeaways

✅ Hormones affect nearly every part of wellness: energy, cognition, libido, sleep, skin, and strength
✅ Bioidentical hormone therapy restores natural balance safely and effectively
✅ Customized blends allow for targeted symptom relief
✅ Combining peptide and hormone therapy creates a foundation for graceful, healthy aging

Author

Sean Bannister, PA-C Sean is a Physician Assistant and a retired US Army officer with over 30 years of clinical medicine and leadership experience. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from The George Washington University and a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center with an emphasis on Family, Cardiovascular, and Thoracic medicine. He also has over 15-years experience as a cardiovascular surgery PA and certifications as a health coach and personal fitness trainer. While in the military Sean served as the senior healthcare provider and administrator for multiple medical and urgent care clinics and was the director of a military Physician Assistant Training Program. He has performed duties as an Emergency Medicine and Trauma Physician Assistant in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Sean has also served as the director of workplace wellness programs, weight loss programs, and preventive health initiatives to keep people healthier, happier, and more productive.