Kisspeptin-10 vs PT-141
Both have been studied for sexual desire, but they act at different points. PT-141 (bremelanotide) works on brain melanocortin receptors and is approved as Vyleesi for low desire in premenopausal women; kisspeptin-10 switches on the reproductive hormone system, and kisspeptin’s desire studies used a longer form, kisspeptin-54, given by IV.
- Kisspeptin-10
- Human studiesOnce daily
- PT-141
- Approved drugAs needed (max 8 a month)
- Head-to-head trials
- None published
The short answer
Kisspeptin-10 is the 10-amino-acid active end of kisspeptin, a brain signal that triggers GnRH, the hormone that makes the pituitary release LH and FSH, which in turn drive the testes and ovaries. It raises LH within 30 minutes and, in men, testosterone. PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a seven-amino-acid ring-shaped peptide that activates melanocortin receptors, the receptors for alpha-MSH (a skin-pigment hormone) and its relatives, mainly MC4R on brain nerve cells and MC1R on pigment cells. Its label says how it improves desire is unknown.
PT-141 has the trial record: two 24-week trials in 1,267 premenopausal women with low sexual desire led to its 2019 approval as a 1.75 mg injection taken as needed, with average gains over placebo of about a third of a point on desire and distress scores. Kisspeptin’s sexual-function data come from small single-visit studies of kisspeptin-54, a longer form, infused by IV: in 32 men with low desire it changed brain responses to sexual videos, and erection response was up to 56% greater than on placebo. Kisspeptin-10 itself has been studied only for its hormone effects, and neither is approved for men.
At a glance
| Field | Kisspeptin-10KP-10, metastin 45–54 | PT-141Bremelanotide (Vyleesi) |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence | Human studies | Approved drug |
| Class | Reproductive-axis stimulator | Melanocortin-receptor agonist |
| Approval | Not approved as a drug in the US or EU. | Approved in the US in 2019 as Vyleesi, a 1.75 mg autoinjector for acquired, generalized low sexual desire (HSDD) in premenopausal women. |
| Sport (WADA 2026) | Restricted in sport | Not banned in sport |
| Common dose | 100 mcg daily | 1.75 mg as needed |
| Frequency | Once daily | As needed (max 8 a month) |
| Cycle | 6 weeks on, 4 off | As needed |
| Route | Subcutaneous injection (community); IV in most studies | Subcutaneous injection (abdomen or thigh) |
| Half-life | about 4 minutes Trial | about 2.7 hours Label |
| Typical draw | 5 units5 mg with 2.5 mL, 100 mcg | 35 units10 mg with 2 mL, 1.75 mg |
| Vial sizes or form | 5, 10 mg | 10 mg |
| Human studies | 5 listedLargest: 24 people (2012) | 3 listedLargest: 1,267 people (2019) |
| Main cautions |
|
|
| Open Kisspeptin-10 | Open PT-141 |
Doses shown are what labels, trials or community reports reference, not recommendations. Each compound’s page has the full detail and sources.
Key differences
What they are
Kisspeptin-10: YNWNSFGLRF-NH2, the last 10 amino acids of the kisspeptin hormone. PT-141: Ac-Nle-cyclo(Asp-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-Lys)-OH, a seven-amino-acid ring built as an analog of alpha-MSH.
How they work
Kisspeptin-10 binds the kisspeptin receptor (KISS1R) on brain cells that release GnRH, so LH and FSH rise, and testosterone follows in men; people born without a working receptor don’t go through puberty. PT-141 activates melanocortin receptors, MC4R in the brain and MC1R on pigment cells, which is why it can darken skin.
Sexual-desire evidence
TrialPT-141: two 24-week trials in 1,267 premenopausal women with acquired low desire; desire scores rose 0.35 points and distress fell 0.33 points more than on placebo. Kisspeptin: single IV infusions of kisspeptin-54, about 75 minutes long, changed brain responses to sexual images in 29 healthy men and in 32 men and 32 women with low desire. No such study has used kisspeptin-10.
Doses
PT-141: 1.75 mg under the skin at least 45 minutes before sex, no more than once in 24 hours or 8 times a month (Vyleesi label). Kisspeptin-10: single IV doses in studies were 0.01–3 mcg/kg; users inject 50–200 mcg once a day, most often 100 mcg, a schedule no study has tested (community).
Side effects
PT-141: nausea in 40% vs 1.3% on placebo, flushing in 20%, a brief rise in blood pressure, and dark skin patches, seen in 38% after 8 daily doses (label). Kisspeptin-10: none reported in small IV studies, and its hormone effect fades with nonstop dosing: in men, LH and FSH were back to placebo levels by day 5.
Who shouldn’t use them
PT-141’s label rules out uncontrolled high blood pressure and known heart disease, and warns that it sharply lowers blood levels of oral naltrexone, a drug for alcohol or opioid addiction. Kisspeptin-10 has no label: it hasn’t been studied in pregnancy, and because it raises testosterone in men, it’s a theoretical concern with prostate or other hormone-sensitive cancers.
Status
PT-141 has been FDA-approved since 2019, but only for premenopausal women; the label says it isn’t for men, for women after menopause, or to enhance sexual performance. Kisspeptin-10 isn’t approved anywhere; FDA reviewed it for compounding as a treatment for low testosterone from brain or pituitary causes, and its advisory committee voted 0 to 11 against in October 2024. WADA bans kisspeptin in male athletes (S2.2.1); PT-141 isn’t banned.
Head-to-head studies
Taking them together
Open them in the stack check for sport status and one combined tracking checklist.
Questions
What is the difference between kisspeptin-10 and PT-141?
Kisspeptin-10 is the 10-amino-acid active end of kisspeptin, a brain signal that triggers GnRH, the hormone that makes the pituitary release LH and FSH, which in turn drive the testes and ovaries. It raises LH within 30 minutes and, in men, testosterone. PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a seven-amino-acid ring-shaped peptide that activates melanocortin receptors, the receptors for alpha-MSH (a skin-pigment hormone) and its relatives, mainly MC4R on brain nerve cells and MC1R on pigment cells. Its label says how it improves desire is unknown.
Has kisspeptin-10 been tested for sexual desire?
Not in a published human study. The kisspeptin trials on desire and arousal gave kisspeptin-54, a longer form of the hormone, as a single IV infusion in a research unit. Kisspeptin-10’s human studies measured hormones such as LH and testosterone, mostly after IV doses, and the longest lasted 12 days.
Is either approved for men?
No. Vyleesi’s label says it isn’t indicated for men, although bremelanotide’s early small studies in men produced erections. Kisspeptin-10 isn’t approved for anyone. It raises LH and testosterone in men in short studies, and kisspeptin-54 improved erection responses in one 32-man trial, but only as a single dose in a research setting.
Can kisspeptin-10 and PT-141 be taken together?
No overlap between them is documented. No published study has tested them together.
Which has more evidence in people, kisspeptin-10 or PT-141?
Kisspeptin-10 isn’t approved anywhere; its page lists 5 key human studies. PT-141 is approved in the US; its page lists 3 key human studies. They haven’t been compared directly in a published trial.
Are kisspeptin-10 and PT-141 banned in sport?
Kisspeptin-10 is restricted in some cases. PT-141 isn’t banned. This follows the WADA 2026 Prohibited List; athletes should confirm with their anti-doping organization.
Sources
- Vyleesi (bremelanotide) prescribing information (DailyMed, November 2025)
- Kingsberg et al., RECONNECT phase 3 trials of bremelanotide (Obstet Gynecol 2019) PMID 31599840
- Mills et al., kisspeptin in men with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (JAMA Netw Open 2023) PMID 36735255
- Thurston et al., kisspeptin in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (JAMA Netw Open 2022) PMID 36287566
- Comninos et al., kisspeptin and sexual and emotional brain processing in healthy men (J Clin Invest 2017) PMID 28112678
- George et al., kisspeptin-10 stimulates LH and increases pulse frequency in men (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011) PMID 21632807
- Yeung et al., 12 days of subcutaneous kisspeptin-10 in men (Eur J Endocrinol 2026) PMID 42549827
- Rosen et al., subcutaneous PT-141 in healthy men and men with erectile dysfunction (Int J Impot Res 2004) PMID 14999221
Each compound’s page lists its full sources: Kisspeptin-10, PT-141.