Encyclopedia entry
Peptide therapy vs hormone therapy (TRT, HRT)
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-06-04
Peptide therapy and hormone therapy get compared because clinics often market them side by side, but they are different things in UK regulatory terms. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are MHRA-licensed prescription treatments with established clinical use. The peptides marketed as "peptide therapy", such as ipamorelin, CJC-1295 and sermorelin, are sold under research-use-only wording and hold no UK marketing authorisation for human therapeutic use.
What each term means
- · TRT: testosterone replacement, a licensed prescription treatment for diagnosed low testosterone (hypogonadism).
- · HRT: hormone replacement therapy, licensed prescription treatment most associated with menopause (oestrogen, progesterone, sometimes testosterone).
- · "Peptide therapy": a clinic marketing term for research peptides, often growth-hormone secretagogues (ipamorelin, CJC-1295, sermorelin), sold research use only.
Peptide therapy vs hormone therapy at a glance
| Feature | Hormone therapy (TRT, HRT) | "Peptide therapy" peptides |
|---|---|---|
| UK regulatory status | MHRA-licensed prescription-only medicines | No UK marketing authorisation for human therapeutic use; sold research use only |
| What is given | The hormone itself (testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone) | Peptides that signal the body, for example growth-hormone secretagogues |
| Evidence base | Established clinical evidence and licensed indications | Mostly preclinical and animal-model; no human RCTs for most marketed uses |
| How accessed in the UK | On prescription, via the NHS or a regulated clinic, after diagnosis | Private clinics under research-use-only framing; not on the NHS |
| Who decides suitability | A prescriber, based on blood tests and diagnosis | No licensed therapeutic use to prescribe for |
Are they used together?
Some private clinics market peptides alongside TRT or HRT, but they are not the same category and one is not a licensed substitute for the other. TRT and HRT address a measured hormone deficiency under prescription. The research peptides marketed as peptide therapy sit outside that licensed framework. Whether any hormone treatment is appropriate is a clinical decision for a prescriber, based on testing and diagnosis.
Related: What is peptide therapy · Peptide therapy vs GLP-1 · "Research use only" framing · Research peptides.