What it is

Kisspeptins are a family of naturally occurring peptides, kisspeptin-10, -13, -14 and -54, named for their number of amino acids; all share the same C-terminal ten-amino-acid sequence, kisspeptin-10, which is required for biological activity [2]. In humans, inactivating mutations of the kisspeptin receptor cause pubertal failure and activating mutations can cause precocious puberty [2]. Kisspeptin-54 is the major circulating form in humans [11]. Kisspeptin-10 is the shortest active fragment; it is simpler to synthesize, which is why it is the form nominated for compounding [2][3]. Most human research comes from Waljit Dhillo’s group at Imperial College London, which has given kisspeptin-10 and kisspeptin-54 intravenously and subcutaneously to healthy volunteers and patients since 2005 [9][13]. It is not an approved drug; compounded drugs are not FDA-approved [14].

How it works

Kisspeptin-10 acts upstream of the pituitary: it stimulates release of GnRH from the hypothalamus, which in turn releases LH and FSH, and the effect disappears if a GnRH antagonist is given first [2]. In healthy men an intravenous bolus raised LH and FSH at doses as low as 0.3 and 1.0 nmol/kg, and a 3 h infusion produced LH and FSH responses similar to kisspeptin-54 but roughly one-third of those from GnRH itself [1][10]. Women respond differently: in the follicular phase, neither intravenous bolus, subcutaneous bolus nor intravenous infusion changed gonadotropins, while in the preovulatory phase an intravenous bolus raised LH and FSH [1]. The longer isoform, kisspeptin-54, is more potent, which the authors attribute partly to the rapid breakdown of kisspeptin-10 in the circulation [2].

What the evidence shows

Human studies are small physiological experiments, typically four to five volunteers per dosing group [1][10]. A 2026 Imperial study in 15 healthy men found that 8 h daily subcutaneous infusions of kisspeptin-10 for 12 days sustained higher LH and FSH, while continuous infusion for 5 days left gonadotropins no different from vehicle even though testosterone stayed elevated [13]. The clinical trials that reached patients used kisspeptin-54, not kisspeptin-10: a single subcutaneous injection triggered egg maturation in 53 women undergoing IVF, with a 23% clinical pregnancy rate [11], and in 60 women at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, maturation occurred in 95% and no woman developed moderate or severe OHSS [12]. FDA’s 2024 review found no published trials assessing safety of kisspeptin-10 given for more than a day, no intramuscular studies, and noted that approved products already exist for secondary hypogonadism [3].

Regulatory status

Kisspeptin-10 is not an FDA-approved drug [14]. It was nominated for the 503A bulks list for treatment of secondary hypogonadism in men [3][5]. On Sep 29 2023 FDA placed it in 503A Category 2, citing possible immunogenicity by injection, peptide-related impurities and no or only limited safety information for the proposed routes [6]. For Category 2 substances FDA says it “would consider taking action against a compounder” under its general enforcement policies [8]. It remains in Category 2 on the list updated May 14 2026 [7]. At the Oct 29 2024 advisory committee meeting FDA proposed that kisspeptin-10 not be included; the vote was Yes 0, No 11, Abstain 0, and the committee “unanimously agreed” it should not be listed given the lack of convincing safety and efficacy data [4]. As of Sep 24 2026 we found no final rule.

Half-life and what it means for a level curve

The reference half-life in STACK is 0.063 hours, which is 3.8 minutes. Jayasena et al. sampled blood every one to two minutes after stopping an intravenous infusion of 360 pmol/kg/min and calculated plasma half-lives of 3.8 ± 0.3 min in men and 4.1 ± 0.4 min in women in both the follicular and preovulatory phases, with no significant difference between groups [2]. FDA’s briefing cites the same 3.8 min figure [3]. That is about seven-fold shorter than kisspeptin-54, whose plasma half-life was 27.6 ± 1.1 min in men [2][9]. No subcutaneous half-life has been published, and FDA notes that subcutaneous concentration-time profiles differ from intravenous ones [3]. With a 4 min half-life, a level reaches about 97% of steady state after roughly five half-lives, around 20 minutes, and falls back to near zero just as fast; the hormone response outlasts the peptide. STACK’s curve is an estimate from this published half-life, not a blood level.

Reported side effects

The Imperial studies recorded heart rate, blood pressure and adverse symptoms at regular intervals [2]. FDA’s summary of the published studies found no serious adverse events, but stressed that the studies were short, small and often did not report adverse events at all [3]. FDA’s adverse event database contained one report through Oct 25 2023: a 17-year-old male with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism given a compounded kisspeptin-10 product subcutaneously daily for six weeks gained weight and had a rise in estrone, which were not the intended effects; the report lacked medical history and concomitant medications [3]. FDA’s stated concerns are immunogenicity, which is higher for subcutaneous than intravenous peptides, and aggregation or impurities in an under-characterized bulk substance [3]. Call your prescriber about any reaction, including unexpected weight change or breast tenderness.

Storage and handling

FDA’s chemistry review quotes the nominator’s certificate of analysis: lyophilized kisspeptin-10 should be stored at 2–8°C for less than six months and at −20°C for longer, kept sealed with desiccant and protected from light because the peptide is hygroscopic and light-sensitive; the reconstituted preparation is reported to be stable when stored at 2–8°C [3]. There is no approved label, so the compounding pharmacy’s label governs your refrigeration instructions and beyond-use date. FDA does not verify the safety, effectiveness or quality of compounded drugs before they are marketed [14]. If your product is a powder, STACK’s reconstitution calculator does the concentration math; it never suggests what to take.

What STACK tracks for it

STACK logs each kisspeptin-10 dose as your prescriber wrote it, in mcg, with the route, time of day and injection site. The estimated-level curve uses the 3.8 min intravenous half-life, so it will show a brief spike and a return to baseline within about 20 minutes; that is a property of the peptide, not a sign a dose was missed. If your prescriber orders hormone labs, you can record LH, FSH, testosterone or estradiol results on the same timeline to see them against dosing days. Side-effect entries, weight, and vial inventory with the pharmacy lot number and beyond-use date are kept alongside any other compounds in your plan.

The reference half-life in STACK

STACK's simulator and the app use 3.8 min for Kisspeptin-10: ~4 min (3.8 ± 0.3 min in men; 4.1 ± 0.4 min in women), intravenous. Measured in: healthy men and healthy women (follicular and preovulatory phases), after intravenous infusion.

Kisspeptin-10

3.8 min · measured intravenous

Reference half-life of about 4 minutes (0.063 h) is the intravenous value; no subcutaneous half-life is published. Editable. Educational only — not medical or dosing advice.

“Plasma half-life of 3.8 ± 0.3 min in men and 4.1 ± 0.4 min in women after intravenous infusion.” — Jayasena CN, Nijher GM, Comninos AN, et al. The effects of kisspeptin-10 on reproductive hormone release show sexual dimorphism in humans (2011). Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · PMC3232613. View source

Simulate Kisspeptin-10 Plan with Kisspeptin-10

Estimate only. Modelled from the published half-life you selected and the doses you logged — not a measured blood level. Do not use it to make medication decisions.

Free tools for Kisspeptin-10

Sources

Every URL below was fetched and checked on 2026-09-24. Bracketed numbers in the text link here.

Kisspeptin-10

What it is

How it works

What the evidence shows

Regulatory status

Half-life and what it means for a level curve

Reported side effects

Storage and handling

What STACK tracks for it

The reference half-life in STACK

Kisspeptin-10

Free tools for Kisspeptin-10

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