Do peptides help with sexual dysfunction?
4 peptides are graded for sexual dysfunction on this page. The strongest grade is human RCT evidence, for PT-141 (bremelanotide), melanotan II, and oxytocin. Each one is weighed against the standard of care below, and the evidence table gives the grade and a note for every peptide.
What is the standard of care for sexual dysfunction?
Address underlying causes (medications, hormones, relationship and mental health factors); PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction; flibanserin or bremelanotide for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women; counseling.
Any peptide below should be judged against this baseline, not against doing nothing. Talk to a licensed provider before replacing or adding to an established treatment.
Which peptides have been studied for sexual dysfunction?
Ordered by strength of evidence for this use. Grades follow the methodology; each peptide page lists the individual studies.
| Peptide | Evidence for this use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PT-141 (bremelanotide) | Evidence: Human RCT evidence | FDA approved as Vyleesi (2019) for premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder; modest effect sizes in the RECONNECT trials. [1] [2] |
| Melanotan II | Evidence: Human RCT evidence | Small randomized placebo-controlled crossover studies of erectile response in the 1990s (short-term, surrogate endpoints); not approved; sold illegally as a tanning injectable. [3] |
| Oxytocin | Evidence: Human RCT evidence | FDA approved for labor; small mixed trials for sexual function. [5] |
| Kisspeptin-10 | Evidence: Human observational evidence | Small mechanistic human studies of sexual brain processing; not approved. [4] |
Head-to-head comparisons
Cost and access
Price ranges, lawful channels, and insurance notes for peptides graded here. State rules are in the legal guides by state.
Frequently asked questions
Which peptide has the strongest evidence for sexual dysfunction?
PT-141 (bremelanotide), Melanotan II, and oxytocin have the strongest evidence among the peptides graded here, at human RCT evidence. PT-141 (bremelanotide): FDA approved as Vyleesi (2019) for premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder; modest effect sizes in the RECONNECT trials. Melanotan II: Small randomized placebo-controlled crossover studies of erectile response in the 1990s (short-term, surrogate endpoints); not approved; sold illegally as a tanning injectable. Oxytocin: FDA approved for labor; small mixed trials for sexual function. [1] [2] [3] [5]
Is any peptide FDA approved for sexual dysfunction?
PT-141 (bremelanotide) and oxytocin are FDA approved drugs, but an approval covers only the indications on that label, so check the label before assuming it applies to sexual dysfunction. The other peptides graded here are not FDA approved. [1] [2] [5] [6]
Has any peptide been tested in a randomized trial for sexual dysfunction?
Yes, for PT-141 (bremelanotide), Melanotan II, and oxytocin. Check each note for the population and endpoints: a randomized trial in a related group or on a surrogate marker is weaker than one on the outcome you care about. [1] [2] [3] [5]
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- Melanotan 2 before and after: what trials and case reports show
Melanotan 2 before and after photos show a tan. Early trials measured it in a few men; case reports since document new moles, melanoma, priapism and FDA safety concerns.
- Peptides for women, ranked by human evidence
GLP-1 drugs, teriparatide, abaloparatide, and Vyleesi (PT-141) have real trials in women. Kisspeptin is research-only and GHK-Cu rests on small skin studies. The ranking and legal status.
Sources
- [1]Bremelanotide for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder: two randomized phase 3 trials (Obstet Gynecol 2019)PubMed 31599840, 2019
- [2]FDA prescribing information for Vyleesi (bremelanotide), via DailyMedFDA, 2019
- [3]Synthetic melanotropic peptide initiates erections in men with psychogenic erectile dysfunction: double-blind, placebo controlled crossover studyPubMed 9679884, 1998
- [4]The effects of kisspeptin-10 on reproductive hormone release show sexual dimorphism in humansPubMed 21976724, 2011
- [5]FDA prescribing information for Pitocin (oxytocin injection), via DailyMedFDA, 2025
- [6]Drugs@FDA: FDA-approved drugs databaseFDA