Hormonal & reproductive

Kisspeptin-10

Also called KP-10, metastin 45-54, kisspeptin

Kisspeptin-10 is the shortest active piece of kisspeptin, a natural hormone that acts as the 'on switch' for the brain's reproductive hormone system. It is studied in fertility and hormone research because it triggers release of GnRH and then LH. It is not an approved drug, and FDA lists it as a safety concern for compounding.

Early human dataSome small human studies exist; evidence is limited.

All printable flashcards

Drawn from its published sequence: 10 residues, one bead each.

Overview

How it works

Established in physiology: kisspeptin activates the KISS1R (GPR54) receptor on GnRH neurons, causing GnRH release, which then drives the pituitary to release LH and FSH and, downstream, testosterone or estrogen. Using it as a treatment is investigational.

What research shows

Kisspeptin peptides have been given to human volunteers in small research studies of reproductive hormone release; specific trials and doses were not verified in this review.

Doses studied in people

Doses from human research studies were not verified in this review; no approved dose exists.

Read this first: these are the amounts given to participants in published studies or written on official prescribing labels, reported for reference. They are not recommendations. Trial doses were chosen for specific patients under medical supervision, and a dose that is safe in one person can be harmful in another.

Weekly protocol

How the schedule looks week by week. Each chart says where it comes from: a prescribing label, a clinical trial, or a protocol commonly reported online.

PeptideDosages.com daily protocol

Commonly reported, not studied

One week

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7

Once daily · Subcutaneous injection

Syringe units (U-100)

Vial Water added

Dose by week

100 mcgwk 1–2

200 mcgwk 3–12

Supplies for one course (estimate)

Counts only. This site does not sell or link to supplies.

Course: 8–12 weeks
Note: The page advises against long continuous use because of possible loss of response.
Source: PeptideDosages.com: Kisspeptin (10 mg vial) dosage protocol

Community-reported weekly protocol

Commonly reported, not studied

One week

D1D2D3D4D5D6D7

One to three times weekly · Subcutaneous injection

Syringe units (U-100)

Vial Water added

Dose by week

100–200 mcgwk 1–8

Supplies for one course (estimate)

Counts only. This site does not sell or link to supplies.

Course: 4–8 weeks
Note: Days shown are for the 3-times-weekly version. Human studies used single or short-term bolus injections; peak LH response is cited at about 1 mcg/kg.
Source: Peptide Protocol Wiki: Kisspeptin community protocols

Reference only, not a recommendation. Charts marked "commonly reported" describe what public sources say people use. They have not been tested in trials, and their safety and effect are unknown. Label and trial schedules were set for specific patients under medical supervision. Use the calculator only to understand the arithmetic.

Vial math

Many research vials hold 5 or 10 mg of powder. This table shows how much ends up in each mark on a U-100 insulin syringe for common amounts of added liquid. It is arithmetic only, not a dose.

Vial	Liquid added	Concentration	Per unit (0.01 mL)
5 mg	1 mL	5 mg/mL	50 mcg	Open in calculator
5 mg	2 mL	2.5 mg/mL	25 mcg	Open in calculator
5 mg	3 mL	1.67 mg/mL	16.7 mcg	Open in calculator
10 mg	1 mL	10 mg/mL	100 mcg	Open in calculator
10 mg	2 mL	5 mg/mL	50 mcg	Open in calculator
10 mg	3 mL	3.33 mg/mL	33.3 mcg	Open in calculator

More sizes: all vial sizes · How this works: Syringes and units · Reconstitution guide.

Safety

FDA classifies kisspeptin-10 as raising significant safety risks for compounding (Category 2) ¹.
Long-term safety is unknown.

Report side effects of any drug or product to the FDA through MedWatch. For a possible poisoning in the US, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Legal status

FDA: Not FDA-approved.
Compounding: 503A Category 2 (significant safety risks) since September 29, 2023; still listed on FDA's Category 2 page (current as of 04/22/2026) and the May 14, 2026 nominations list. It was not among the 12 peptides removed in April 2026 ¹²³.
Sports (WADA): Prohibited at all times under S2.2.1 (testosterone-stimulating peptides in males), which names kisspeptin and its agonist analogues ⁴.

Rules change often. See Legal status of peptides for how these categories work.

History

The KISS1 gene was first studied as a cancer metastasis suppressor ('metastin'); its role in puberty and reproduction emerged in 2003. FDA placed kisspeptin-10 in 503A Category 2 (significant safety risks) on September 29, 2023, and it remained there as of April and May 2026.

Common questions

Is kisspeptin-10 FDA-approved?

No. It is not an approved drug, and since September 29, 2023 FDA has listed it in Category 2, meaning it may present significant safety risks if compounded ¹².

Was kisspeptin-10 among the peptides FDA cleared in April 2026?

No. It was not one of the 12 peptides removed from Category 2 in April 2026, and it was still on FDA's Category 2 page and May 14, 2026 nominations list ¹²³.

Is kisspeptin-10 banned in sport?

Yes. WADA prohibits it at all times under S2.2.1, which covers peptides that raise testosterone in males and names kisspeptin and its look-alike (agonist) compounds ⁴.

Is kisspeptin-10 safe?

Its long-term safety is unknown, and FDA classes it as raising significant safety risks for compounding ¹.

Related compounds

Hormonal & reproductiveFDA-approvedFlashcard

Gonadorelin

GnRH · LHRH

Gonadorelin is a synthetic copy of GnRH, the brain hormone that tells the pituitary to release LH and FSH.

Hormonal & reproductiveFDA-approvedFlashcard

Oxytocin

Pitocin · OT

Oxytocin is a natural hormone made in the brain that triggers labor contractions and milk let-down, and it also plays a role in social bonding.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-25 · How we research · Found an error? See our corrections policy.