Kisspeptin
Neuropeptide encoded by the KISS1 gene. Master regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis — stimulates GnRH release and downstream LH/FSH/sex-hormone production. Studied as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent for hypogonadism, infertility, and sexual function. Not FDA-approved.
Educational only — not medical advice. SmartPeptide does not prescribe, diagnose, or treat. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any peptide, supplement, medication, or protocol.
What the research shows
Multiple small academic clinical trials (mostly Imperial College London) demonstrate kisspeptin restores LH pulsatility in hypothalamic amenorrhea, modulates sexual brain activity, and shows promise as a diagnostic for reproductive disorders. Therapeutic dosing protocols and approved formulations do not yet exist.
What's still experimental
Optimal therapeutic dosing, route, and chronic-use safety. Use in male hypogonadism, female fertility, and sexual function outside research settings.
Anecdotal / community reports
Limited grey-market presence; mostly academic-research interest. Anecdotal claims for libido / sexual function exist but are unsupported by approved labeling.
Anecdotal reports are NOT scientific evidence. They reflect personal experience and may not generalize.
FDA approval status
Source: openFDA + DailyMed (NIH/NLM)Doses studied in research
No established dose rangeWhat published trials tested or FDA-approved labels specify. Reporting research facts — not a SmartPeptide recommendation.
This is the honest answer for peptides like BPC-157, IGF-1 LR3, MOTS-c, Epitalon and similar research compounds — robust human dose- ranging studies have not been published. Always work with a licensed clinician familiar with experimental peptides if you are considering any use.
How clinicians typically protocol this
Third-party reference · not our recommendationDosing phases, cycle lengths, and administration timing as listed in a compounding-pharmacy clinician reference guide. Shown so you can see what a real protocol looks like — and bring informed questions to a licensed clinician.
Dose numbers, frequencies, and cycle lengths in this panel are extracted from a clinician-facing reference protocol distributed by a US-based compounding pharmacy in November 2025. SmartPeptide has paraphrased all descriptive text and adds no endorsement. Always consult a licensed clinician.
Kisspeptin protocols are used only in supervised reproductive-endocrinology settings. Do not self-administer.
Decapeptide that stimulates GnRH release via GPR54 — used in reproductive endocrinology research.
Protocol phases
Protocol notes: Regular monitoring of LH, FSH, estradiol, testosterone is expected in clinical use. Not self-administered.
FDA enforcement & recalls
Live · openFDA Drug Enforcement APIMechanism & targets
ChEMBL · UniProt · Open TargetsMolecule (ChEMBL)
View on ChEMBLProtein targets (UniProt)
- Metastasis-suppressor KiSS-1Q15726gene: KISS1Homo sapiens· 138 aaReviewed
Kisspeptins are ligands for the G protein-coupled receptor KISS1R/GPR54 (PubMed:11385580, PubMed:11457843, PubMed:11527393, PubMed:12879005, PubMed:15020672, PubMed:15596153). The hypothalamic KISS1/KISS1R signaling system plays a central role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal reproductive axis by modulating the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from GnRH neurons (PubMed:15219839, PubMed:15598687, PubMed:22335740). In these neurons, kisspeptin binding to it…
- Metastasis-suppressor KiSS-1Q6Y4S4gene: Kiss1Mus musculus· 130 aaReviewed
Kisspeptins are ligands for the G protein-coupled receptor KISS1R/GPR54 (By similarity). The hypothalamic KISS1/KISS1R signaling system plays a central role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal reproductive axis by modulating the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from GnRH neurons (PubMed:15217982, PubMed:15486019, PubMed:15375028, PubMed:15665093, PubMed:17563351). In these neurons, kisspeptin binding to its receptor activates G(q)-dependent signaling, leadin…
- Metastasis-suppressor KiSS-1Q7TSB7gene: Kiss1Rattus norvegicus· 130 aaReviewed
Kisspeptins are ligands for the G protein-coupled receptor KISS1R/GPR54 (By similarity). The hypothalamic KISS1/KISS1R signaling system plays a central role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal reproductive axis by modulating the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from GnRH neurons (PubMed:15219839, PubMed:15242985, PubMed:15500545, PubMed:15637288, PubMed:17698953). In these neurons, kisspeptin binding to its receptor activates G(q)-dependent signaling, leadin…
Live research
PubMed · ClinicalTrials.gov · Europe PMC · OpenAlexRecent PubMed studies
- Positive actions of fibroblast growth factor 21 on female zebrafish reproductive axis.Uju CN, Unniappan S · Theriogenology · 2026 Nov
- Comparison of the effects of atypical antipsychotics on decreased libido in zebrafish and their mechanisms.Shinokawa K, Hattori S, Miyauchi M, et al. · Behavioural brain research · 2026 Oct 2
- Maternal-Neonatal Metabolic Continuity and Early Postnatal HPG Axis Activity in Healthy Term Neonates.Koca M, Karaoglan M, Tepe NB, et al. · Clinical endocrinology · 2026 Oct
- The endogenous ghrelin antagonist, LEAP2, accelerates puberty onset in conditions of early obesity.Torres-Granados C, Morris PG, Ruiz-Cruz M, et al. · Metabolism: clinical and experimental · 2026 Oct
- The kisspeptin analog C6 elicits greater tachyphylaxis and transcriptional activation than kisspeptin-10 and -54.Robert V, Lomet D, Dardente H, et al. · Molecular and cellular endocrinology · 2026 Oct
- Kisspeptin System: A Modulator of Neuroinflammation and Behaviour in Temporal Lobe Epileptic Rats.Jaldhi, Kumar S, Shanker OR, et al. · Molecular neurobiology · 2026 Sep 1
Clinical trials (ClinicalTrials.gov)
- Evaluation of Kisspeptin Stimulated Insulin Secretion With Hyperglycemic ClampWITHDRAWNNCT05456854 · PHASE1 · 2022-06-03
- Effects of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonist in Neuro-reproductive Function in Obese Adolescent Females With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)RECRUITINGNCT07169136 · N/A · n=20 · 2025-09-11
- Kisspeptin Levels in Early PregnancyCOMPLETEDNCT04371991 · N/A · n=88 · 2019-01-05
- KP-10 and Insulin Secretion in MenCOMPLETEDNCT03771326 · PHASE3 · n=14 · 2013-10-29
- Serum Kisspeptin: a Predictive Marker of Miscarriage or Not?COMPLETEDNCT03940495 · N/A · n=182 · 2019-05-01
Europe PMC — 7,634 additional records
Includes EU/UK studies and PubMed Central full-text articles. Often surfaces research weeks before PubMed indexes it.
- A comprehensive review of small molecule drugs approved by the FDA in 2025: advance and prospectBai YR, Li R, Zhang XH, et al. · 2026Open access
- Novel male contraceptivesQuinn J, Reynolds-Wright JJ. · 2026Open access
- Molecular mechanisms of folliculogenesis and oogenesisEzz MA, Balboula AZ. · 2026Open access· cited 2×
- Positive actions of fibroblast growth factor 21 on female zebrafish reproductive axisUju CN, Unniappan S. · 2026
Research volume (OpenAlex topic graph)
Human clinical evidence
Semantic Scholar · AI TLDRs · influence-rankedHuman-study summaries for “kisspeptin” are available on Semantic Scholar but the shared free-tier API quota is exhausted right now. Try refreshing in a few minutes, or check the PubMed and Europe PMC panels above for the same literature.
Research funding & verification
NIH RePORTER · CrossRef DOI registryNIH-funded research
U.S. National Institutes of Health- 1ZIANS002824-31$3.4MDevelopment And Regulation Of The Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone SystemSUSAN WRAY · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE · FY2021
- 1Z01NS002824-17$2.5MDevelopment And Regulation Of The Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone SystemSUSAN WRAY · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE · FY2007
- 1Z01NS002824-18$2.3MDevelopment And Regulation Of The Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone SystemSUSAN WRAY · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE · FY2008
- 1ZIANS002824-19$2.1MDevelopment And Regulation Of The Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone SystemSUSAN WRAY · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE · FY2009
Publication landscape
CrossRef · DOI registry- National Institutes of Health60 works
- National Natural Science Foundation of China48 works
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science30 works
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council25 works
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development22 works
- Health Research Council of New Zealand21 works
Funder diversity is a credibility signal. Research concentrated in a single drug company's funding warrants more scrutiny than research funded across NIH, charities, and academic grants.
Preprints — cutting edge
bioRxiv · medRxiv · via Europe PMCPreprints have NOT been peer-reviewed. They are early research shared by authors before formal validation. Treat findings as preliminary.
- PreprintHypothermic Conditions Impair GnRH Pulse Generator Activity and GametogenesisHagihara M, Suzuki D, Hara J, et al. · 2026-09-01
- PreprintInactivating PLEKHA6 Mutations Cause Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Through Impaired Kisspeptin SecretionTopaloglu AK, Plummer L, Su C, et al. · 2026-04-10
- PreprintDeficiency of the membrane androgen receptor ZIP9 alters brain zinc distribution, reproductive endocrinology, and female fertilityWang R, Boseley RE, Geraki K, et al. · 2026-06-02
- PreprintCardiac FGF21 acts as an endocrine suppressor of female fertility in mitochondrial cardiomyopathyVerdin E, Bielska O, Jara W, et al. · 2026-06-01
- PreprintHigh-Fat Diet Induces Epigenetic and Metabolic Changes in Kisspeptin Neurons in Association with Obesity and Male Secondary HypogonadismFang R, Carroll RS, Kaiser UB., et al. · 2025-12-02
- PreprintIntegrating Models to Decode the GnRH Pulse GeneratorNechyporenko K, Ivanova D, Li XF, et al. · 2026-01-05
Known risks
Most studied as short-duration infusions in controlled clinical settings. Long-term safety with chronic dosing is unestablished. Theoretical concerns about reproductive-axis dysregulation. Pregnancy and breast/prostate cancer interactions need careful consideration.
Reported side effects
Generally well-tolerated in short clinical-trial settings: mild headache, transient flushing. Long-term tolerability poorly characterized.
FDA adverse event reports (FAERS)
Updated quarterly by FDA- US1
Most-reported reactions
- Oestrone Increased1
- Weight Increased1
Counts from FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Voluntary reports — they show what was reported, not whether the drug caused the event. Many reports lack confirmation. FAERS docs
What requires medical supervision
Restricted to clinical research. Patients with reproductive endocrine concerns should work with reproductive endocrinologists using established FDA-approved options.
Questions for your clinician
- Is there a clinical trial appropriate for my situation?
- What FDA-approved options should we exhaust first?
- What's the evidence base for the specific outcome I'm hoping for?