1. Why bother telling your doctor
Many researchers avoid telling their GP about peptide use — often to avoid dismissal, judgment, or unhelpful responses. This is understandable but has real costs:
- Your doctor cannot flag contraindications with other medications or conditions they know about.
- Bloodwork results are interpreted out of context — elevated IGF-1 might prompt unnecessary investigation if your doctor doesn't know you're on a GH secretagogue.
- If side effects occur, your doctor treats symptoms without knowing the cause.
- You may miss the opportunity for appropriate monitoring that actually improves your safety outcomes.
2. What to expect from GPs
Most GPs will fall into one of these categories:
Dismissive
Not familiar with research peptides, defaults to “don't use unapproved substances,” won't engage meaningfully. Common in general practice.
Cautiously open
Will not prescribe or endorse but will agree to monitor bloodwork if you sign a “patient-initiated” consent. The most common and useful category.
Informed and engaged
Aware of the research landscape, can discuss mechanisms, will help you design appropriate monitoring. Rare but increasingly common — particularly functional medicine practitioners.
Actively supportive
Some integrative medicine GPs will prescribe compounded versions via s70 TGA authority. Requires finding the right practitioner.
3. How to frame the conversation
Language and framing significantly affect how the conversation goes:
Avoid saying:
- “I'm using peptides to build muscle.”
- “I found this on a forum and I'm self-injecting.”
- “I bought this online, is it safe?”
More effective framing:
- “I've been researching peptide compounds for [injury recovery / body composition / cognitive function]. I've read the published studies. I'd like to be monitored properly — can we establish a baseline panel and repeat it in 8 weeks?”
- “I'm using a GH secretagogue. I know it elevates IGF-1 — I'd like to track that and my fasting glucose while I'm on it.”
- “I'd like to discuss the research on BPC-157 for my [injury]. Are there any concerns you'd have given my other health history?”
4. What to ask for
The concrete things you want from a doctor visit:
- A referral for baseline bloodwork (see the bloodwork guide for what to request)
- A review of your medical history for any contraindications you may not be aware of
- Agreement to repeat relevant panels at 6–8 weeks into the cycle
- If relevant: blood pressure monitoring, thyroid assessment, or PSA for older males
You don't need a GP to “approve” your research. You need them to provide appropriate healthcare monitoring. Most GPs will do this even if they are uncomfortable with the underlying activity.
5. Finding receptive practitioners
If your current GP is dismissive and won't even agree to monitor bloodwork:
- Functional medicine or integrative medicine GPs are significantly more likely to engage constructively with peptide research.
- Anti-ageing medicine practitioners often work with peptides directly and can provide medically supervised access to compounded versions.
- Private health clinics focusing on longevity, performance, or men's/women's health are more likely to have practitioners familiar with the space.
- Private pathology (no GP required): If finding a cooperative GP proves difficult, private pathology services allow direct ordering of bloodwork without a referral — at your own cost, but completely within your control.