Updated August 2026
Kisspeptin-10 Dosage: Research Evidence, Route Mathematics, and Study Protocol
Research note: Kisspeptin-10 (KP-10, YNWNSFGLRF-NH₂, MW ~1302.44 Da) activates KISS1R upstream of GnRH. IV half-life ~3.8–4 minutes — exposure pattern matters as much as dose. Human evidence spans IV bolus (0.01–3 mcg/kg; 1 mcg/kg max LH), IV infusion, and 2026 SC pump regimens (150 nmol/h × 8 h/day × 12 days). ≠ Kisspeptin-54. Common 100–500 mcg SC boluses are not validated treatment schedules.
Kisspeptin-10 is the amidated C-terminal decapeptide shared by KISS1-derived kisspeptins. It stimulates endogenous GnRH release, which drives LH, FSH, and gonadal sex steroids.
1 nmol KP-10 ≈ 1.302 mcg. Routes and schedules are not interchangeable: IV bolus, IV infusion, SC bolus, and SC pump infusion produce different exposure profiles.
The 2026 Yeung et al. program is the most relevant repeated SC evidence: 8-hour pump infusions with 16-hour washouts preserved gonadotropin stimulation for 12 days, while continuous 5-day exposure showed attenuation.
Kisspeptin-10 dosage in 30 seconds
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Sequence | YNWNSFGLRF-NH₂ · ~1302 Da |
| IV half-life | ~3.8–4 minutes |
| Max LH IV bolus (men) | 1 mcg/kg (not 3 mcg/kg) |
| 2026 SC pump (12 d) | 150 nmol/h · 8 h on / 16 h off |
| Lowest 2026 SC rate | 1.25 nmol/kg/h × 8 h |
| Online fixed bolus | 100–500 mcg SC · anecdotal |
| Validated daily SC bolus | Not established |
| KP-54 fertility doses | Do not apply to KP-10 |
Compound identity
Research must specify the complete amidated sequence, free peptide vs salt, peptide content, concentration, delivery volume or rate, and assay confirmation.
Identity gate
KP-10 (YNWNSFGLRF-NH₂) vs KP-54 · metastin · misspelling
This page's subject — amidated C-terminal decapeptide YNWNSFGLRF-NH₂
MW ~1302.44 Da · PubChem CID 25240297 · KISS1R/GPR54 agonist upstream of GnRH. C-terminal amide is part of identity — YNWNSFGLRF without -NH₂ is incomplete.
Kisspeptin-10 is not Kisspeptin-54
Isoform comparison
Kisspeptin-10 vs Kisspeptin-54 — no dose conversion
| Feature | KP-10 | KP-54 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 10 amino acids | 54 amino acids |
| Active sequence | Entire molecule | KP-10 is C-terminal decapeptide |
| IV half-life | ~3.8–4 minutes | ~27.6–28.6 minutes |
| Major human route record | IV bolus/infusion; emerging SC pump | IV, SC, intranasal; IVF-trigger research |
| Dose conversion | None validated to KP-54 | None validated to KP-10 |
Frequently cited fertility doses (6.4 nmol/kg BID, IVF triggers) belong to KP-54 and must not be relabeled as KP-10 dosing.
Dose and unit mathematics
Four common errors: mcg vs mg; bolus vs hourly rate (/h); fixed nmol/h vs nmol/kg/h; vial mass vs administered dose.
Unit math
nmol ↔ mcg conversion (MW ~1302.44 g/mol · 1 nmol ≈ 1.302 mcg)
| nmol/kg | ≈ mcg/kg |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.13 mcg/kg |
| 0.3 | 0.39 mcg/kg |
| 1 | 1.3 mcg/kg |
| 10 | 13.02 mcg/kg |
| 32 | 41.68 mcg/kg |
| Rate | ≈ mcg/kg/h |
|---|---|
| 1.25 nmol/kg/h | 1.63 mcg/kg/h |
| 2.5 nmol/kg/h | 3.26 mcg/kg/h |
| 5.0 nmol/kg/h | 6.51 mcg/kg/h |
| 10.0 nmol/kg/h | 13.02 mcg/kg/h |
≈ mcg
1.30 mcg
Weight-based bolus calculator
Weight-based bolus
nmol/kg → total mcg for a given body weight
mcg/kg
1.3 mcg/kg
Total bolus
97.7 mcg
mg equivalent
0.098 mg
Arithmetic only — IV bolus study doses. SC bolus and pump infusion are separate evidence categories.
Arithmetic conversions only — not route recommendations. IV bolus results cannot be converted to SC bolus or infusion rates by simple division.
Regulatory context
No U.S. prescribing label. FDA 2024 PCAC voted 0-11-0 against 503A inclusion for secondary hypogonadism. As of May 2026, KP-10 is in 503A Category 2 (potential significant safety risks). The 2026 SC pump study expands the human route record but does not establish treatment effectiveness.
Dosage in human clinical research
> Doses describe study exposure — not a universal clinical schedule. Route, population, endocrine state, and sampling design are integral to each result.
Human clinical research
IV bolus to SC pump · route and population-specific
| Study | Dose | Route | Duration | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George 2011 bolusn = 6 men | 0.01–3.0 mcg/kg | IV bolus | Single | 1 mcg/kg maximally effective; 3 mcg/kg smaller LH response |
| George 2011 pulsen = 4 men | 1.5 mcg/kg/h | IV infusion | 9 h | Increased LH pulse frequency and secretory mass |
| George 2011 prolongedn = 4 men | 3 mcg/kg bolus + 4 mcg/kg/h | IV infusion | 22.5 h | Sustained LH elevation; increased testosterone |
| Jayasena 2011 menn = 4–5/dose | 0.3–10 nmol/kg | IV bolus | Single | LH at 0.3 nmol/kg; FSH at 1 nmol/kg |
| Jayasena 2011 womenn = Cycle-phase | Up to 32 nmol/kg SC | IV/SC bolus; infusion | Single/90 min | No follicular-phase response at max SC; preovulatory IV response |
| George 2013n = 4 T2DM men | 4 mcg/kg/h | IV infusion | 11 h | LH 3.9→20.7 IU/L; testosterone rose acutely |
| Jayasena 2015n = 5/dose | 0.1–1.0 nmol/kg/h | IV infusion | 3 h | KP-10 ≈ KP-54 potency; peak LH at 0.3 nmol/kg/h |
| Naveed 2026n = 3 men | 12.5 mcg/kg/h | IV infusion | 24 h | LH 5–8× rise then 13–47% decline from peak |
| Yeung 2026 acuten = 7 men | 1.25–10 nmol/kg/h | SC pump | 8 h | Dose-dependent LH, FSH, testosterone increases |
| Yeung 2026 continuousn = 4 men | 180 nmol/h | SC pump | 5 days | LH/FSH attenuated by day 5; testosterone remained elevated |
| Yeung 2026 intermittentn = 7 men | 150 nmol/h | SC pump 8 h/day | 12 days | Gonadotropin stimulation persisted; IV challenge still responsive |
The dose response was not monotonic
George et al., 2011: 1 mcg/kg IV was maximally effective for LH stimulation; 3 mcg/kg produced a smaller response. Higher dose does not reliably mean greater endocrine output.
Studied route and pattern ranges
Route patterns
IV bolus · IV infusion · SC bolus · SC pump — not interchangeable
| Pattern | Studied range | Schedule | Research use |
|---|---|---|---|
| IV bolus | 0.01–13 mcg/kg | Single; some repeated within day | Acute pathway probe |
| IV infusion | 0.1 nmol/kg/h – 12.5 mcg/kg/h | Up to 24 h | Pulsatility, sustained LH, tolerance |
| SC bolus | 2–32 nmol/kg | Single | 2011 women — no follicular response at max |
| SC pump acute | 1.25–10 nmol/kg/h | 8 h | 2026 dose-response in healthy men |
| SC pump continuous | 180 nmol/h | 5 days | Gonadotropin attenuation by day 5 |
| SC pump intermittent | 150 nmol/h | 8 h on / 16 h off × 12 d | Preserved stimulation through day 12 |
The 2026 subcutaneous pump program
Yeung et al. 2026
Three SC pump studies — acute, continuous, intermittent
| Study arm | Rate | Schedule | n | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study 1 — acute SC | 1.25–10 nmol/kg/h | 8-h pump · crossover | 7 | Dose-dependent LH, FSH, testosterone |
| Study 2 — continuous | 180 nmol/h | 24 h/day × 5 days | 4 | LH/FSH ↓57%/33% by day 5; testosterone elevated |
| Study 3 — intermittent | 150 nmol/h | 8 h/day + 16 h off × 12 days | 7 | Stimulation persisted; post-course IV bolus still responsive |
Intermittent 8 h on / 16 h off (~1.56 mg per infusion day at 150 nmol/h) maintained stimulation for 12 days in healthy eugonadal men — not hypogonadal treatment validation.
Intermittent 8 h on / 16 h off maintained stimulation for 12 days. Continuous 5-day exposure showed gonadotropin attenuation — washout interval is a central design variable.
KP-54 fertility schedules misapplied to KP-10
Isoform confusion
KP-54 fertility schedules that must not be assigned to KP-10
| Cited schedule | Actual peptide | Context | KP-10 note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.4 nmol/kg SC BID × 2 weeks | KP-54 | Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea | Marked tachyphylaxis — not a KP-10 schedule |
| 3.2–12.8 nmol/kg SC once | KP-54 | IVF oocyte-maturation trigger | Cannot convert to KP-10 trigger dose |
| 9.6 nmol/kg SC + second dose 10 h later | KP-54 | Double-trigger IVF | KP-54-specific reproductive protocol |
| 12.8 nmol/kg intranasal once | KP-54 | 2025 acute human study | Intranasal KP-54 — not intranasal KP-10 |
Evidence hierarchy for dose selection
Evidence hierarchy
Acute IV strong · fixed SC bolus weak · fertility unestablished
| Category | KP-10 evidence | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. approved dosing | None | No prescribing schedule |
| Controlled human IV studies | Multiple small bolus/infusion trials | Strong acute endocrine activity; not long-term treatment |
| Controlled human SC studies | 2011 SC bolus (women); 2026 SC pump (men) | Route documented; bolus ≠ pump infusion |
| Hypogonadal population | Small IV mechanistic studies | Insufficient treatment dose definition |
| Fertility outcomes | No adequate KP-10 sperm/pregnancy trial | Fertility dosing unestablished |
| Commercial schedules | 100–1,000 mcg SC common | Low confidence; often poorly sourced |
| Long-term safety | Inadequate | No chronic maximum or maintenance schedule |
Commonly reported online protocols
Reported protocols
Commercial fixed boluses · Yeung 2026 pump · proposed trial arms
- Amount
- 100–300 mcg SC
- Frequency
- QD or 2–3× weekly
- Duration
- 4–12 weeks
- Evidence basis
- Commercial/community — route/schedule not validated
Cumulative exposure examples
Cumulative exposure
Fixed bolus courses vs pump infusion totals
Daily (if applicable)
100 mcg
Course total
4.20 mg
Total mcg
4,200 mcg
Cumulative mass alone does not predict endocrine effect — peak concentration, washout, and receptor state all matter.
Anecdotal versus clinically studied dosing
Evidence split
Human study record vs online fixed-bolus conventions
Human study record
Route- and pattern-specific · often small samples
- IV bolus (men)
- 0.01–3 mcg/kg · 1 mcg/kg max LH
- IV infusion
- 1.5–4 mcg/kg/h · up to 24 h
- SC pump acute
- 1.25–10 nmol/kg/h × 8 h
- SC pump intermittent
- 150 nmol/h · 8 h on / 16 h off × 12 d
- Fixed SC bolus treatment
- Not established for hypogonadism
Online / commercial conventions
Fixed boluses — pharmacokinetically unlike pump regimens
- Typical per dose
- 100–500 mcg SC
- Frequency
- Daily, EOD, or 2–3× weekly
- Duration
- 4–12 weeks common
- KP-54 fertility doses
- Must not be relabeled as KP-10
- Bolus ≠ 8-h infusion
- Equal mcg ≠ equal exposure
Preclinical research dosage
Preclinical anchors
Primate desensitization · intermittent pulses · not human conversion
| Model | Dose | Route | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenile male rhesus | 10 mcg bolus + 100 mcg/h × 98 h | IV | Initial LH rise then desensitization |
| Juvenile male rhesus | 2 mcg/h × 48 h | IV hourly pulses | Sustained pulsatile LH secretion |
| Adult male rhesus | 200–400 mcg/h | IV continuous | LH rose then returned; bolus attenuated during infusion |
| Male rat | 3 nmol/kg | IV bolus | KP-52 slightly greater LH than equimolar KP-10 |
| Male rat | 1 or 50 nmol | SC bolus | KP-54 substantially greater LH than equimolar KP-10 |
| Mouse dermis | 0.3–10 nmol/site | Intradermal | Edema and reduced blood flow at higher exposure |
Primate continuous exposure shows desensitization; intermittent pulses sustain LH — informs washout design, not human dose conversion.
Mechanism relevant to dosage
KP-10 → KISS1R → GnRH → LH/FSH → gonadal steroids → feedback. Each layer has different response times. LH changes within minutes; testosterone follows later; semen outcomes require months.
Safety, side effects, and monitoring
Safety monitoring
Human record · FAERS signal · endocrine domains · FDA compounding
- Human study record
- ~300 people in short IV/SC studies per FDA 2024 review; no SAEs in those studies but small samples and brief exposure
- FAERS signal
- 17-year-old male · 100 mcg SC daily × 6 weeks · weight gain and increased estrone — causality not established
- Endocrine risks
- Supraphysiologic LH/FSH/testosterone/estradiol; tachyphylaxis; gynecomastia; hematocrit rise
- FDA compounding (2024)
- PCAC voted 0-11-0 against 503A inclusion · Category 2 interim status (May 2026) — immunogenicity, aggregation, impurities
Dose escalation
No validated week-by-week clinical titration. Human research used randomized dose-response visits, sentinel exposure, dense hormone sampling, and predefined washout. Consumer 'start low and add 50–100 mcg' plans are not evidence-based.
Complete proposed research dosing protocol
Part A: 24 men · 4-period crossover · placebo, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 nmol/kg/h SC pump × 8 h · ≥7-day washout.
Part B: 90 men · 28 days · placebo vs 1.25 or 2.5 nmol/kg/h · 8 h/day + 16 h off · functional secondary hypogonadism.
Part C (conditional): 84-day extension with semen endpoints if Part B meets safety and response criteria.
Proposed staged trial
Part A crossover → Part B 28-day parallel (1.25 / 2.5 nmol/kg/h)
Part A — 24 men · 4-period crossover · 8-h SC pump · ≥7-day washout
| Period | Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Placebo | Placebo (saline) |
| 2 | 0.625 nmol/kg/h | Exploratory below Yeung minimum |
| 3 | 1.25 nmol/kg/h | Anchored to Yeung 2026 acute low |
| 4 | 2.5 nmol/kg/h | Anchored to Yeung 2026 acute mid |
Part B — 90 men · 28 days · 8 h on / 16 h off · functional secondary hypogonadism
| Arm | nmol/kg/h | mcg/kg/day (8 h) | Ref. 75 kg/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo | 0 | — | — |
| Low | 1.25 | 13.02 mcg/kg | 0.98 mg/infusion day |
| Mid | 2.5 | 26.05 mcg/kg | 1.95 mg/infusion day |
Low arm: 0.98 mg/8 h · Mid arm: 1.95 mg/8 h
Part C (conditional): 84-day extension with semen endpoints if Part B meets safety and response criteria. Requires DSMB approval — not a personal dosing plan.
Claims versus evidence
Claim checker
Common KP-10 claims vs the evidence record
100 mcg daily is the standard dose
Not established
One FAERS case reported 100 mcg SC × 6 weeks — exposure report, not efficacy validation.
Dosage evidence ladder
Dosage evidence ladder
Acute IV moderate · intermittent SC promising · fixed bolus unvalidated
| Dosage information | Evidence | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Acute IV endocrine response | Several small human studies | Moderate |
| IV infusion 9–24 h | Small mechanistic samples | Moderate mechanistic |
| Acute SC pump response | 7 healthy men (2026) | Early controlled |
| Continuous SC 5 days | 4 healthy men (2026) | Very early |
| Intermittent SC pump 12 days | 7 healthy men (2026) | Promising · very small |
| Secondary hypogonadism treatment | Acute IV proof of concept only | Insufficient |
| Fixed SC bolus for weeks | Commercial/anecdotal | Not validated |
| Fertility restoration | No adequate KP-10 trial | Insufficient |
| KP-54 schedules on KP-10 | None valid | Invalid extrapolation |
Bottom line
KP-10 has meaningful human mechanistic dose literature and, since 2026, direct repeated SC pump evidence. It still lacks a validated treatment dose for hypogonadism or fertility.
The best-supported development path is weight-normalized, monitored, intermittent infusion — not the assumption that a commonly sold 5 mg or 10 mg vial implies a standard fixed injection.
Pattern > mass · 1 mcg/kg max LH IV · 150 nmol/h pump 8 h on/16 h off · KP-54 ≠ KP-10.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard Kisspeptin-10 dose?
There is no single standard treatment dose. Human research ranges from microgram-per-kilogram IV boluses to multi-hour IV or SC infusions depending on the scientific question.
What dose produced the largest LH response in healthy men?
In George 2011 IV bolus study, 1 mcg/kg was maximally effective and 3 mcg/kg produced a smaller response. This applies to acute IV, not SC dosing.
What is the best-supported subcutaneous schedule?
The most informative repeated schedule is 150 nmol/h by SC pump for 8 hours/day followed by 16 hours off for 12 days in seven healthy men — a research precedent, not established treatment.
Is 100–200 mcg once daily evidence based?
It is a common online fixed-bolus convention, but no adequate controlled trial has established it for hypogonadism, fertility, libido, or post-cycle recovery.
Why not convert the pump study into one daily injection?
Absorption rate, peak concentration, and time above active concentration would change. Equal daily mass does not make a bolus equivalent to an eight-hour infusion.
How long does Kisspeptin-10 last?
Measured IV plasma half-life is approximately 3.8–4 minutes. SC absorption during infusion can sustain exposure, but the profile depends on formulation and delivery.
Can Kisspeptin-10 replace hCG?
They act at different levels. KP-10 stimulates GnRH upstream; hCG directly activates the LH receptor. No head-to-head trial supports substitution.
Can KP-54 doses be used for KP-10?
No validated conversion exists. The peptides differ in half-life and route behavior.
Does continuous exposure cause desensitization?
It can. The 2026 five-day continuous SC study showed substantial LH/FSH decline from day 1. Intermittent daily washout preserved more response over 12 days.
Does a 10 mg vial mean a 10 mg dose?
No. Vial mass is inventory. A complete research dose states identity, concentration, route, rate, duration, frequency, and cumulative exposure.
References
PubChem
Kisspeptin-10CID 25240297.
FDA
Kisspeptin-10 PCAC briefing2024 · 0-11-0 vote against 503A inclusion.
George JT et al.
Kisspeptin-10 LH stimulation 2011IV bolus 0.01–3 mcg/kg · non-monotonic response.
Yeung AC et al.
Chronic SC KP-10 2026SC pump acute, continuous, intermittent arms.
Jayasena CN et al.
KP-10 vs KP-54 comparison 2015Equimolar IV infusion in healthy men.
Naveed A et al.
Continuous IV KP-10 202612.5 mcg/kg/h × 24 h.