Pearls & Perspectives: Understanding the Peptide Movement in Men’s Health, with Larry I. Lipshultz, MD

Welcome back to Pearls & Perspectives!

In this episode of Pearls & Perspectives, host Amy Pearlman, MD, sits down with renowned men’s health and fertility expert Larry I. Lipshultz, MD, for a candid conversation recorded live at the 2026 American Urological Association Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Blending humor, clinical insight, and real-world perspective, Pearlman and Lipshultz explore one of the most rapidly evolving and controversial topics in men’s health today: peptides.

Building off a standing-room-only AUA session on innovations in men’s health, the discussion dives into the growing public and professional interest surrounding peptide therapies. Pearlman notes that even clinicians outside the hormone replacement therapy space are increasingly fielding patient questions about peptides, while Lipshultz reflects on the field’s explosive growth and the relative lack of stigma compared with anabolic steroids or testosterone therapy. Together, they unpack why peptides have captured so much attention, from their broad therapeutic potential to their accessibility and expanding use in the wellness and longevity markets.

The conversation also examines the regulatory and political landscape shaping the future of peptide therapy. Lipshultz discusses anticipated FDA actions regarding compounded peptides and highlights how evolving federal perspectives may influence clinical adoption and patient access in the coming years. Rather than dismissing patient interest, Pearlman emphasizes the importance of physician engagement and education, arguing that urologists and other specialists must be prepared to guide evidence-based conversations as demand continues to rise.

Throughout the episode, Pearlman and Lipshultz acknowledge the promise and the controversy surrounding peptide use. They discuss the limited adverse effects observed thus far in clinical practice, the diversity of peptide compounds and mechanisms, and the possibility of future peptide development targeting areas such as male fertility and sperm production. Framed through the lens of both clinical innovation and patient-driven demand, this lively exchange offers listeners an accessible but nuanced look at a rapidly emerging development in men’s health.