Kisspeptin
The upstream switch of the reproductive axis
Experimental material. Read before using anything from here.
Nothing on this page is a medical recommendation, prescription or treatment plan. It is an organized translation of protocols circulating in research communities and, where it exists, of what published trials tested. The two are marked differently — and they are not equivalent.
Most of the compounds here have no FDA approval for human use. Several are sold labeled "research use only", which means they have not gone through purity, sterility or dosage controls for human consumption. A community-reported dose is not a validated dose: it is what someone reported having done.
Talk to a licensed health professional before considering any of these compounds. If you already use one and feel anything unexpected, seek care — do not wait for the next routine test.
Summary
Signaling peptide that activates the reproductive hormonal pathway. It tells the brain to release GnRH, which in turn makes the pituitary release LH and FSH. In men, LH signals the testes to produce testosterone. It acts above the axis, not within it.
Quick reference
- Route
- Subcutaneous in research protocols. IV infusion is clinical-trial only.
- Choice of form
- Kisspeptin-10 is shorter-acting; kisspeptin-54 is the one used in human trials.
- Testosterone pathway
- It can raise testosterone indirectly, by first raising LH. It does not act like testosterone.
- Cycle
- Pulses or short cycles. Continuous exposure makes the signal disappear — desensitization.
Kisspeptin Protocol Formats
| Approach | Typical range | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-dose pulse | 50-100 mcg | 1×/day SC | SC means under the skin. Often timed before sleep in research-use planning. |
| Standard pulse | 100-200 mcg | 1×/day SC | Common community research range, based partly on kisspeptin-54 trial data. |
| Split dose | 100 mcg | 2×/day SC | Used when the research plan calls for more frequent LH pulses. |
Tachyphylaxis with chronic dosing
| Trial Context | Dose Studied | Route | Source/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IVF oocyte maturation trigger (high OHSS risk) | 3.2-12.8 nmol/kg single bolus | SubQ | Phase 2 trial in 60 women, Hammersmith Hospital, 2013-2014 |
| IVF oocyte maturation trigger (proof-of-concept) | 1.6-12.8 nmol/kg single bolus | SubQ | 53-women trial; LH peaked at ~5 hours and returned to pre-trigger by 12-14 hours |
| Hypothalamic amenorrhea (chronic subcutaneous, 2×/week) | 6.4 nmol/kg | Subcutaneous, 2×/week | Reduced response over time consistent with desensitization |
| HSDD modulation (women, men) | 1 nmol/kg/h IV infusion | Intravenous, 75-minute infusion | Imperial College / Hammersmith trials, 2021-2023 |
Cycle structure and desensitization
| Approach | Active Length | Off period | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short pulse cycle | 2–4 weeks | 2–4 weeks | Limits desensitization; aligned with most acute research data |
| Standard cycle | 4-6 weeks | 4 weeks | Most-cited community window; longer cycles risk fading LH response |
| Diagnostic single use | Single dose | N/A | Mirrors clinical use as an LH/FSH stimulation test or IVF trigger |
Kisspeptin Reconstitution Guide
| BAC Water Added | Final concentration | Volume for 100 mcg | U-100 units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 mL | 10 mg/mL | 0.01 mL | 1 unit |
| 1.5 mL | 6.67 mg/mL | 0.015 mL | 1.5 units |
| 2.0 mL | 5 mg/mL | 0.02 mL | 2 units |
| 2.5 mL | 4 mg/mL | 0.025 mL | 2.5 units |
Kisspeptin Timeline & What to Monitor
| Form | Onset | Peak | Return to baseline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kisspeptin-10 (IV bolus) | Minutes | ~10-30 min | <1 hour |
| Kisspeptin-10 (SC bolus) | <30 min | ~30-60 min | Several hours |
| Kisspeptin-54 (SC bolus) | ~30 minutes | ~5 hours (LH) | 12-14 hours |
| Kisspeptin-54 (IV infusion) | Minutes | Varies with rate | Within ~4 hours of stopping |
Kisspeptin vs hCG vs Clomiphene vs GnRH
| Compound | Site of Action | Use Context | Key Difference vs Kisspeptin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kisspeptin-10 / -54 | Brain signal before GnRH | Research; IVF trigger; HSDD trials | Starts high in the pathway; not FDA-approved |
| GnRH / GnRH analogs | Pituitary LH/FSH release | Some FDA-approved; fertility, prostate cancer | One step lower in the pathway; longer clinical track record |
| Clomiphene / SERMs | Estrogen feedback signal | FDA-approved for ovulation induction; off-label male hypogonadism | Oral drug; different mechanism |
| hCG | Testes/ovaries (LH receptor) | FDA-approved IVF trigger; off-label TRT support | Bypasses hypothalamus entirely; OHSS risk in IVF |
| Exogenous testosterone (TRT) | Direct testosterone replacement | FDA-approved hypogonadism | Replaces testosterone directly; kisspeptin does not |
Storage and handling
The rules below apply to practically every lyophilized peptide in this reference. Where a compound has its own requirement, it appears in the table in the previous section.
- Lyophilized powder, sealed: refrigerator, between 2 and 8 °C, protected from light. Many tolerate room temperature for short transport periods, but that is tolerance, not a recommendation.
- After reconstitution: always refrigerated, between 2 and 8 °C. The stability window drops to days or a few weeks, depending on the compound.
- Never freeze after reconstituting. The freeze–thaw cycle degrades the peptide.
- Do not shake. Swirl the vial slowly. Shaking breaks the peptide chain.
- Bacteriostatic water down the wall of the vial, in a slow stream, not squirted directly onto the powder.
- Cloudy solution, with particles or a color change: discard. There is no recovery.
Lab tests and monitoring
This list is the one that appears recurrently in the source, with small variations by compound. It serves as a starting point for a conversation with a professional — not as a substitute for that conversation.
- Before starting: complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, fasting glucose and HbA1c, TSH and free T4, blood pressure and resting heart rate.
- Depending on the compound: IGF-1 (GH axis), lipase and amylase (VIP and the incretin agonists), serum copper and ceruloplasmin (GHK-Cu and blends containing it), CRP.
- Reassessment: most protocols review between week 4 and week 8, and then every 8–12 weeks.
- Do not wait for the routine lab test in the face of abdominal pain, visual changes, a change in a mole, shortness of breath, asymmetric swelling or any new and persistent symptom. That is a reason to seek care, not a spreadsheet item.
Evidence limits
Data source: peptidedosingprotocols.com, accessed on September 3, 2026. Translation and organization in Portuguese are original work. No primary source (PubMed, trial registry, package insert) was checked in building this page — the check was against the secondary source, and that alone.