What does Kisspeptin do?

Kisspeptin refers to a peptide family produced from the KISS1 gene, including kisspeptin-54 and shorter active fragments such as KP-14, KP-13, and KP-10. The supplied evidence places it upstream of the reproductive hormone axis and notes human research in fertility, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and male hypogonadism. It is investigational rather than an FDA-approved drug.

Is Kisspeptin FDA approved?

No. The supplied source lists Kisspeptin as Not FDA Approved and describes its clinical status as investigational with clinical trials ongoing.

What side effects are reported for Kisspeptin?

Reported effects in the source include generally good short-term tolerability, no serious adverse events in the cited trials, temporary flushing, mild headache, and nausea. The source also flags that long-term hormonal effects are unknown.

What dose information was extracted for Kisspeptin?

The extracted community-reported typical dose is 100-200 mcg subcutaneously once daily, with a reported range of 50-500 mcg per day and frequency of once daily or every other day. The research row separately lists Kisspeptin-10 at 1-10 nmol/kg IV, with IV described as a research route and subcutaneous use described as investigational.

Hormonal Clinical Trials - human trials under way

Kisspeptin-54

Also known as: KP-54, Metastin

At a glance

PeptiGuide dataset · reviewed Aug 2026

What it is

KISS1-derived peptide signal studied for reproductive hormone regulation.

Status

Clinical Trials

Evidence level: human studies

Typical dose

100–200mcg

Researched for

Fertility, testosterone, reproductive hormone optimization

Trial progress

PrePreclinical
IPhase I
IIPhase II
IIIPhase III
IVPhase IV
FDAFDA approved

Phase II - Emerging human evidence with important limitations

Use the tools

In plain language

KISS1-derived family that includes kisspeptin-54 and shorter active fragments KP-14, KP-13, and KP-10.
Source status: investigational, not FDA approved, with human-trial evidence reported.
Extracted typical dose: 100-200 mcg subcutaneously once daily; source also lists IV research use and investigational use.
Researched for fertility, testosterone, and reproductive hormone optimization.

How it's thought to work

Kisspeptin is described as acting through KISS1R/GPR54 receptors on GnRH neurons in the hypothalamus. The reported intracellular pathway includes phospholipase C activation with IP3 and DAG second messengers, followed by increased GnRH release. GnRH then drives pituitary gonadotropin output, including LH and FSH, linking kisspeptin signaling to ovarian and testicular hormone regulation. The source also notes genetic evidence: inactivating KISS1 or KISS1R mutations are associated with pubertal failure and infertility, while activating mutations are associated with precocious puberty.

What the research shows

Where the research stands

The supplied evidence reports several human research contexts. In women with hypothalamic amenorrhea, kisspeptin-54 was reported to raise LH about 10-fold and FSH about 2.5-fold into the normal range, and infusion protocols were reported to restore LH pulse frequency. In an IVF setting, kisspeptin-54 was used to trigger oocyte maturation, with a live term birth reported, and the source says it has been explored as a potentially gentler trigger with possible ovarian hyperstimulation risk reduction. In hypogonadal men, kisspeptin-10 infusion reportedly increased LH roughly 5-fold and moved testosterone into the normal range. The same source cautions that these data mainly come from small academic studies and specialist infusion protocols, not large multi-center phase 3 trials, and that short-term hormone changes do not establish long-term safety.

What it shows

✓ Human studies

Emerging human evidence with important limitations

△ Limitations

Study protocols describe research and are not dosing recommendations.

Bottom line: Investigational - Clinical trials ongoing Not FDA Approved

Typical dosing

CommunityCommunity dataset

100–200 mcg

subcutaneously once daily

50 mcg/dayfull range seen500 mcg/day

Community-reported entry describes subcutaneous injection to the abdomen or thigh, morning use for hormone-rhythm alignment, 4-6 week cycles, and starting at 50-100 mcg with adjustment based on response. It also reports use alongside TRT to support fertility through hypothalamic GnRH signaling.

Research dosing

Study-specific protocolsHuman trials under way - protocols are study-specific

Doses observed in studies

Kisspeptin-10: 1-10 nmol/kg IV

Research Literature - Observed in studies

Study protocols describe research and are not dosing recommendations.

Duration: Variable by protocol
Administration: IV (research), subcutaneous (investigational)

Timing & administration

Best time to take

Morning or as directed

As clinically directed

Food recommendation

With or without food

Why this timing?

Because kisspeptin is reported to influence reproductive hormone signaling, the source notes that timing may depend on the specific research or clinical goal.

Possible side effects

Not everyone experiences these. Individual responses vary with dose, duration, and personal factors.

Generally very well-tolerated
No serious adverse events in trials
Temporary flushing
Mild headache
Nausea
Long-term hormonal effects unknown

Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity can vary by context, purity, route, and individual health factors.

Sources

PubMed ClinicalTrials.gov FDA.gov

Frequently asked questions

The source evidence says kisspeptin signals through KISS1R, also known as GPR54, on hypothalamic GnRH neurons. That signaling involves phospholipase C with IP3 and DAG messengers, increases GnRH release, and can raise pituitary LH and FSH output. The same source notes that loss-of-function changes in KISS1 or KISS1R are linked with absent puberty and infertility, while activating changes are linked with early puberty.

Sequence

H-Gly-Thr-Ser-Leu-Ser-Pro-Pro-Pro-Glu-Ser-Ser-Gly-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Pro-Gly-Leu-Ser-Ala-Pro-His-Ser-Arg-Gln-Ile-Pro-Ala-Pro-Gln-Gly-Ala-Val-Leu-Val-Gln-Arg-Glu-Lys-Asp-Leu-Pro-Asn-Tyr-Asn-Trp-Asn-Ser-Phe-Gly-Leu-Arg-Phe-NH2

One open dataset

Every fact on this page - doses, side effects, references - comes from the same PeptiGuide dataset that powers the Tracker, Compare, and the Lab.

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Educational resource, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician before acting on anything here.

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Kisspeptin-54

In plain languageIn plain language

How it's thought to workHow it's thought to work

What the research showsWhat the research shows

Typical dosing

Research dosing

Timing & administrationTiming & administration

Possible side effectsPossible side effects

SourcesSources

Frequently asked questionsFrequently asked questions