Summary
Kisspeptin-10 is the shortest active fragment of kisspeptin, the peptide from the hypothalamus (the brain's hormone control center) that drives release of GnRH, the master switch for reproductive hormones. Small placebo-controlled physiology studies in healthy men show it raises LH, FSH (the pituitary hormones that drive the testes and ovaries), and testosterone, and a 2026 study sustained those increases for 12 days with daily infusions, but no trial has tested a clinical outcome with kisspeptin-10 itself; the randomized trial in men with low sexual desire used the longer kisspeptin-54. FDA placed kisspeptin-10 on the 503A Category 2 list (compounding ingredients flagged for significant safety risks) in September 2023 and it remains there as of April 2026, so it cannot be lawfully compounded, and it is prohibited in sport under WADA.
What is Kisspeptin-10?
Kisspeptin-10 is a ten amino acid C-terminal fragment of kisspeptin (KISS1 gene product), an agonist at the kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R, formerly GPR54). It is also known as KP-10, Metastin (45-54), Kisspeptin 10, KISS1 decapeptide, Kisspeptin, Kisspeptin peptide, Kisspeptin-10 peptide.
How does it work?
Kisspeptin binds KISS1R on hypothalamic GnRH neurons and triggers pulsatile GnRH release, which in turn stimulates pituitary LH and FSH and downstream testosterone or estradiol. Kisspeptin-10 has the same receptor activity as full length kisspeptin-54 but a much shorter circulating half-life (minutes). Continuous exposure can desensitize the response, which is why chronic protocols use intermittent infusion. Kisspeptin also acts in limbic brain regions involved in sexual and emotional processing, the basis for its study in low sexual desire.
| Cluster | Sexual health and reproductive |
|---|---|
| Routes | Intravenous bolus or infusion (research studies); Subcutaneous bolus or pump infusion (research studies); Subcutaneous injection vials (as sold, not lawful for human use) |
| Conditions studied | Sexual dysfunction; Male hypogonadism (low testosterone); Erectile dysfunction |
| Record | v3, draft, verified Sep 22, 2026 |
Kisspeptin benefits: what the evidence shows
Human data are small physiology studies from one academic group. Intravenous bolus kisspeptin-10 raised LH and FSH in healthy men at doses as low as 0.3 to 1 nmol/kg, raised gonadotropins in women only in the preovulatory phase, and had no effect in the follicular phase (n = 4 to 5 per group). A direct comparison in healthy men found kisspeptin-10, kisspeptin-54, and GnRH all stimulate gonadotropins. A 2026 randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study in 15 healthy men showed daily 8 hour subcutaneous infusions sustained LH, FSH, and testosterone increases for 12 days without receptor desensitization. No study has tested kisspeptin-10 for a clinical endpoint such as fertility, hypogonadism, or sexual function. The randomized study measured hormone levels in healthy men rather than a clinical endpoint; it is listed but does not raise the grade.
| Evidence type | Indexed studies | Participants (human) |
|---|---|---|
| Human randomized trials | 2 | 59 |
| Human observational studies | 2 | n/a |
| Animal studies | 0 | n/a |
| All indexed studies | 4 | 59 |
Human evidence
Jayasena 2011: intravenous bolus kisspeptin-10 increased serum LH and FSH in healthy men at 0.3 and 1.0 nmol/kg; in women no gonadotropin response occurred in the follicular phase at any dose or route, while LH and FSH rose in the preovulatory phase (n = 4 to 5 per group). Jayasena 2015: direct comparison of intravenous kisspeptin-10, kisspeptin-54, and GnRH in healthy men. Yeung 2026: in 15 healthy men, acute subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 infusions dose-dependently raised LH, FSH, and testosterone; continuous 5 day infusion at 180 nmol/h did not sustain gonadotropins, but daily 8 hour infusions at 150 nmol/h for 12 days did, and the receptor remained responsive afterward. The only randomized clinical trial in a patient population (Mills 2023, 32 men with hypoactive sexual desire disorder) used intravenous kisspeptin-54, not kisspeptin-10, and found increased sexual brain activation and penile tumescence.
Animal evidence
Kisspeptin-10 stimulates gonadotropin release in male and female rodents, sheep, and non-human primates through KISS1R on GnRH neurons; knockout of the receptor causes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in mice and humans. Chronic continuous exposure in animals produces desensitization and suppression of the reproductive axis.
Key studies
| Study | Design and population | Outcome | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| The effects of kisspeptin-10 on reproductive hormone release show sexual dimorphism in humans2011 PMID 21976724 | Physiology study of intravenous and subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 versus vehicleHealthy men and women (n = 4 to 5 per group) | LH and FSH rose in men at 0.3 to 1.0 nmol/kg intravenous bolus; no response in women in the follicular phase; response in the preovulatory phase | Evidence: Human observational evidence |
| Direct comparison of the effects of intravenous kisspeptin-10, kisspeptin-54 and GnRH on gonadotrophin secretion in healthy men2015 PMID 26089302 | Crossover physiology studyHealthy men | All three peptides stimulated LH and FSH; profiles of response differed by peptide | Evidence: Human observational evidence |
| Chronic subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 stimulates gonadotropin secretion for 12 days in healthy men2026 PMID 42549827 | Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled physiology study in three partsn = 27 15 healthy men receiving kisspeptin-10 and 12 controls | Acute infusions dose-dependently raised LH, FSH, and testosterone; daily 8 hour infusions at 150 nmol/h sustained increases for 12 days; continuous infusion did not sustain gonadotropins | Evidence: Human RCT evidence |
| Effects of kisspeptin on sexual brain processing and penile tumescence in men with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized clinical trial2023 PMID 36735255 | Double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover randomized trial of intravenous kisspeptin-54 (not kisspeptin-10)n = 32 Heterosexual men with hypoactive sexual desire disorder | Kisspeptin-54 modulated sexual processing brain activity (Cohen d 0.81) and increased penile tumescence by up to 56% more than placebo | Evidence: Human RCT evidence |
Conditions studied
| Condition | Grade | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual dysfunction | Evidence: Human observational evidence | Small mechanistic human studies of sexual brain processing; not approved. |
| Male hypogonadism (low testosterone) | Evidence: Human observational evidence | Daily infusions raised LH, FSH, and testosterone for 12 days in 27 healthy men; experimental and not approved. |
| Erectile dysfunction | Evidence: Human observational evidence | Kisspeptin increased penile tumescence and sexual brain processing in a small study of men with low sexual desire; experimental. |
Is Kisspeptin-10 legal in the United States?
FDA and compounding status
FDA placed kisspeptin-10 on the 503A Category 2 list (substances that may present significant safety risks) on September 29, 2023, citing immunogenicity risk, peptide impurities, and no or limited safety information. As of the FDA page current to April 22, 2026, kisspeptin-10 remains in Category 2 and was not among the peptides withdrawn in April 2026 or taken up by the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee in July 2026. It is not an FDA approved drug and a 503A pharmacy may not compound it.
WADA status
WADA prohibited. Athletes subject to anti-doping testing should treat this as prohibited at all times unless the current prohibited list says otherwise.
Regulatory timeline
- WADA
WADA publishes the 2027 Prohibited List
WADA published the 2027 Prohibited List on September 21, 2026, and it takes effect January 1, 2027. The S2 peptide hormone and growth factor classes are unchanged. BPC-157 is still named under S0, and MOTS-c is still named under S4.4 as an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase. WADA added a note that many peptides without approval for human use fall under S0 or another section, and that a peptide not named on the list may still be prohibited. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are still not on the list.
- WADA
WADA 2026 Prohibited List takes effect
The 2026 WADA Prohibited List took effect on January 1, 2026 and continues to prohibit the S2 peptide hormone and growth factor classes (GHRH analogs, growth hormone secretagogues, GH fragments, IGF-1 and analogs, MGF, thymosin beta-4 and derivatives, hCG and GnRH-class releasing factors in males), myostatin inhibitors, insulin and the AMPK activator MOTS-c under S4, desmopressin under S5, and BPC-157 under S0. GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and tirzepatide are not on the list.
- WADA
WADA 2025 Prohibited List keeps peptide hormones and growth factors banned at all times
The 2025 WADA Prohibited List took effect on January 1, 2025. Section S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics) covers GHRH analogs such as CJC-1295, sermorelin, and tesamorelin, growth hormone secretagogues such as ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, and ibutamoren (MK-677), growth hormone fragments such as AOD-9604, growth factors including IGF-1 and its analogs, MGF, and thymosin beta-4 (TB-500), and chorionic gonadotropin and releasing factors such as gonadorelin and kisspeptin (prohibited in males). Myostatin inhibitors such as ACE-031 fall under S4, insulin under S4 metabolic modulators, desmopressin under S5, and BPC-157 remains an S0 non-approved substance.
- FDA
FDA places a batch of nominated peptides in 503A Category 2
In September 2023 FDA updated its 503A bulk drug substances category lists to place a group of nominated peptides in Category 2, which means FDA identified significant safety risks and the substances may not be used in 503A compounding while the evaluation continues. Kisspeptin-10 and ibutamoren (MK-677) were added on September 29, 2023 and remain in Category 2 on the FDA page current as of April 22, 2026. BPC-157, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, AOD-9604, dihexa, DSIP, epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, selank, semax, melanotan II, LL-37, thymosin alpha-1, and thymosin beta-4 fragment (TB-500) were also placed in Category 2 under the 503A interim policy; that same page now lists them as nominated but withdrawn (see the April 2026 event). Hexarelin, PNC-27, and 5-amino-1MQ have never appeared on the FDA category lists.
Full tracker for Kisspeptin-10 or the category-wide tracker.
What published studies of Kisspeptin-10 used
Ranges below are reported from published studies and labeling only. PeptideAgent does not recommend doses or protocols.
Human physiology studies used intravenous bolus doses of 0.3 to 10 nmol/kg, subcutaneous bolus up to 32 nmol/kg, and intravenous infusion up to 720 pmol/kg/min (Jayasena 2011); subcutaneous infusions of 150 to 180 nmol/h for 8 hours daily or continuously (Yeung 2026). These were research protocols in healthy volunteers, not treatment regimens.
Routes reported
| # | Route |
|---|---|
| 1 | Intravenous bolus or infusion (research studies) |
| 2 | Subcutaneous bolus or pump infusion (research studies) |
| 3 | Subcutaneous injection vials (as sold, not lawful for human use) |
Kisspeptin side effects
Side effects
| # | Reported side effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | No adverse effects reported in short research protocols in healthy volunteers |
| 2 | Continuous exposure can suppress gonadotropin release (desensitization) |
| 3 | No long-term human safety data |
| 4 | FDA cites limited safety information and immunogenicity concerns for compounded product |
Interactions
| # | Interaction |
|---|---|
| 1 | No formal interaction studies exist |
| 2 | Theoretical interaction with GnRH agonists and antagonists, testosterone, and other agents acting on the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis |
Contraindications
| # | Contraindication |
|---|---|
| 1 | No approved indication; not for use outside research |
| 2 | Pregnancy (kisspeptin is elevated in pregnancy but exogenous dosing has not been studied) |
| 3 | Hormone sensitive cancers (theoretical, via sex steroid stimulation) |
| 4 | Competitive athletes subject to WADA testing |
How do people access Kisspeptin-10 legally?
Typical cost: Not available through licensed channels. Research chemical sellers list it, but those products are not lawful for human use and are not verified for purity.
Verified access options
Step 1
Not legally available for human use in the United States outside a clinical trial.
Step 2
Not an FDA approved drug; on the FDA 503A Category 2 list.
Step 3
Products labeled research use only are not lawful for human use and are not verified for purity.
Access paths are verified against public regulatory records and prescriber licensing. We never list unlicensed vendors.
Compare Kisspeptin-10
What's actually offered, and what that means for you
Licensed compounding pharmacies, clinics, and telehealth prescribers openly offer many unapproved peptides, and prescribers write prescriptions for them. That does not make Kisspeptin-10 lawful. Kisspeptin-10 is not FDA approved and not on the 503A bulks list, so a pharmacy has no lawful basis to compound it. [5] [8]
Enforcement is uneven. FDA mostly acts through warning letters to compounders and online sellers, Category 2 safety listings, and import alerts that let it detain shipments, rather than stopping every pharmacy. State pharmacy boards oversee pharmacies day to day, and their rules differ. [5] [6] [9] [10] [11]
What changes for you
- No FDA review of the product: FDA does not check a compounded drug's safety, effectiveness, or quality before it is sold. [6]
- Identity, purity, sterility, and dose accuracy can vary from batch to batch. [5]
- Insurance rarely covers it, so you usually pay cash.
- For tested athletes, Kisspeptin-10 is prohibited at all times on the WADA list, whatever the source. [7]
What to check
These checks lower some risks, but they do not make an unlawfully compounded product lawful or safe. Check for:
- A 503A pharmacy licensed in your state (your state board of pharmacy publishes license lookups). [6]
- A real evaluation by a licensed prescriber, not just an online form.
- A certificate of analysis for the specific batch.
Frequently asked questions
What is kisspeptin?
Kisspeptin is a natural hormone made in the hypothalamus, the brain's hormone control center, that switches on GnRH release, which in turn drives LH, FSH (the pituitary signals to the testes and ovaries), and sex hormone production. Kisspeptin-10 is its shortest active fragment and kisspeptin-54 is the longer circulating form; both are used in research studies. Neither is FDA approved, and kisspeptin-10 is on the FDA 503A Category 2 list (compounding ingredients flagged for significant safety risks), so it cannot be lawfully compounded. [1] [2] [5]
Is kisspeptin-10 legal in the United States?
No lawful route exists for human use. Kisspeptin-10 is not an approved drug, and FDA placed it on the 503A Category 2 list in September 2023, which means compounding pharmacies may not use it. As of April 2026 it is still in Category 2. Products sold as research chemicals are not lawful for human use. [5] [6]
Does kisspeptin-10 increase testosterone?
In healthy men, yes, at least in the short term. Intravenous bolus doses raised LH and FSH within hours, and a 2026 study of 15 healthy men found daily 8 hour subcutaneous infusions sustained increases in LH, FSH, and testosterone for 12 days. Whether that translates to any clinical benefit in men with low testosterone has not been tested, and continuous exposure suppressed the response. [1] [3]
Does kisspeptin work for low libido?
The randomized trial that made headlines used kisspeptin-54, not kisspeptin-10. In 32 men with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a 75 minute intravenous kisspeptin-54 infusion increased activation of sexual processing brain regions and penile tumescence compared with placebo. That was a single dose mechanistic study, not a treatment trial, and no study has tested kisspeptin-10 for sexual desire. [4]
What are the side effects of kisspeptin-10?
In short research protocols in healthy volunteers no adverse effects were reported, but those studies were tiny and lasted hours to days. There are no long-term safety data. FDA lists immunogenicity risk and peptide impurities as concerns for compounded product, and continuous exposure can suppress rather than stimulate reproductive hormones. [3] [5]
How is kisspeptin-10 taken?
Only by intravenous or subcutaneous infusion or bolus in research settings. Because its half-life is minutes, studies that wanted a sustained effect used pump infusions for 8 hours a day. There is no established treatment dose or schedule, and injection vials sold online have not been studied. [1] [3]
How much does kisspeptin-10 cost?
There is no licensed price because it cannot be lawfully dispensed. Research chemical listings exist but those products are not lawful for human use and are not tested for purity, so PeptideAgent does not report them as a cost of treatment. [5]
Is kisspeptin-10 banned by WADA?
Yes. It is not approved for human use anywhere, which places it in section S0 of the WADA Prohibited List, and as a releasing factor for LH it also falls under section S2 (peptide hormones and their releasing factors) in males. It is prohibited at all times. [7]
Kisspeptin-10 vs gonadorelin: which is better for keeping testosterone up on TRT?
Neither has a trial for that use. Gonadorelin is GnRH itself, which works only when delivered in pulses by a pump; kisspeptin-10 acts one step upstream and also needs intermittent dosing. Gonadorelin was the active ingredient of approved products and can be compounded; kisspeptin-10 is on the FDA Category 2 list and cannot. Both are prohibited for male athletes under WADA. [3] [5] [7]
Decisions about starting, stopping, or combining any treatment belong with a licensed clinician who knows your history.
From the blog
- Peptides for men, ranked by human evidence
hCG, GLP-1 drugs, teriparatide, and tesamorelin have human trials and a lawful route. PT-141 is off-label for men, and kisspeptin and melanotan II have no lawful path. Ranking, legality, and WADA.
- 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
Numbered citations above point to these primary sources. PubMed entries link to the indexed abstract.
- [1]Jayasena CN et al. The effects of kisspeptin-10 on reproductive hormone release show sexual dimorphism in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011PubMed 21976724, 2011
- [2]Jayasena CN et al. Direct comparison of the effects of intravenous kisspeptin-10, kisspeptin-54 and GnRH on gonadotrophin secretion in healthy men. Hum Reprod 2015PubMed 26089302, 2015
- [3]Yeung AC et al. Chronic subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 stimulates gonadotropin secretion for 12 days in healthy men. Eur J Endocrinol 2026PubMed 42549827, 2026
- [4]Mills EG et al. Effects of kisspeptin on sexual brain processing and penile tumescence in men with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open 2023PubMed 36735255, 2023
- [5]FDA: Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (Category 2 list and withdrawn nominations, current as of April 22, 2026)FDA, 2026
- [6]FDA: Compounding and the FDA, questions and answersFDA, 2026
- [7]WADA Prohibited List, sections S0 and S2WADA, 2026
- [8]FDA: Bulk drug substances used in compounding under section 503A of the FD&C ActFDA
- [9]FDA: Compounding inspections, recalls, and other actions (warning letters to compounders)FDA
- [10]FDA warning letters database: July 30, 2019 letter to a 503A pharmacy that compounded BPC-157 acetate outside section 503AFDA, 2019
- [11]FDA Import Alert 66-41: Detention without physical examination of unapproved new drugs promoted in the U.S. (includes peptide entries)FDA
Cite this page
Free to cite and quote with a link. Data is licensed CC BY 4.0 with attribution to PeptideAgent.
- APA style
PeptideAgent. (2026, September 22). Kisspeptin-10: evidence, legality, and access. https://peptideagent.ai/peptides/kisspeptin-10- HTML link
<a href="https://peptideagent.ai/peptides/kisspeptin-10">Kisspeptin-10: evidence, legality, and access</a>, PeptideAgent, updated September 22, 2026.