Claimed effect · Kisspeptin

Does Kisspeptin help with sexual desire?

C
Grade C — weak human evidence1 crossover RCT (n=32) · effect size: small
Short answerWeak human evidence. 1 crossover RCT (n=32): enough to be interesting, not enough to count on. Where an effect is seen it is a small effect. Two-visit double-blind crossover in 32 premenopausal women: kisspeptin infusion increased activation in sexual-processing brain regions on fMRI and reduced sexual aversion scores. A mechanism study, not a treatment trial.

What the studies show

Two-visit double-blind crossover in 32 premenopausal women: kisspeptin infusion increased activation in sexual-processing brain regions on fMRI and reduced sexual aversion scores. A mechanism study, not a treatment trial.

“Kisspeptin administration resulted in modulations in sexual and facial attraction brain processing (deactivation of the left inferior frontal gyrus: Z max, 3.76; P = .01; activation of the right postcentral and supramarginal gyrus: Z max, 3.73; P < .001; deactivation of the right temporoparietal junction: Z max 4.08; P = .02).”

Verbatim, from the abstractThurston L, et al. Effects of kisspeptin administration in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open, 2022; DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.36131

A few small or poorly-controlled human studies. Enough to be interesting; not enough to count on. Most of what gets called “clinically proven” online lives here.

  1. 1
    Thurston L, et al. Effects of kisspeptin administration in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized clinical trial.JAMA Netw Open, 2022; DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.3613132 premenopausal women, double-blind crossover.

In context

Kisspeptin is the hormone that switches on the reproductive axis: it makes the hypothalamus release GnRH, which drives LH, FSH and the sex hormones. In people it reliably raises LH within minutes, has been used as an egg-maturation trigger in IVF in phase 2 trials, and in two small randomised crossover trials at Imperial College London (32 women, 32 men) increased sexual-brain activation and reduced sexual aversion in people with low sexual desire. All of that is research-scale. It is not an approved medicine anywhere and is prohibited for male athletes.

Kisspeptin is not approved. Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is Kisspeptin proven to help with sexual desire?
No. The human evidence is weak (1 crossover RCT (n=32)); LYO grades it C.
What studies are behind the grade?
Two-visit double-blind crossover in 32 premenopausal women: kisspeptin infusion increased activation in sexual-processing brain regions on fMRI and reduced sexual aversion scores. A mechanism study, not a treatment trial.
Is Kisspeptin approved for this?
No. Kisspeptin is not approved; it is not an approved medicine for any indication in the jurisdictions LYO covers.

Other outcomes for Kisspeptin

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 3 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →