Kisspeptin matured eggs for IVF without dangerous ovary over-stimulation
In 60 women at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, one kisspeptin-54 injection triggered egg maturation in 95%, and none developed moderate or severe OHSS.
The study at a glance
- Who took part
- 60 women at high risk of OHSS having IVF in London, 2013–2014
- How it was tested
- One kisspeptin-54 injection at one of four dose levels; open-label, no hCG comparison
- Egg maturation
- In 95% of women
- Per embryo transfer (51)
- 53% clinical pregnancy, 45% live birth
- Safety
- No moderate, severe or critical OHSS
The research, explained
In IVF, fertility hormones such as FSH grow several eggs at once. A final “trigger”, usually hCG, then makes them mature. hCG keeps acting for days, and in some women it over-stimulates the ovaries. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) can be life-threatening.
Kisspeptin is the brain hormone that switches on the reproductive system. It makes the body release its own egg-maturing hormones in a shorter burst. A 2014 study had shown that one injection of kisspeptin-54 could trigger egg maturation in 53 women having IVF.
This 2015 phase 2 study at Hammersmith Hospital in London focused on women at high risk of OHSS. Sixty women were randomly assigned to one of four kisspeptin-54 dose levels. Eggs were collected 36 hours later and fertilized.
Eggs matured in 95% of women. Of the 51 women who had an embryo transfer, 53% had a clinical pregnancy and 45% had a live birth. No woman developed moderate, severe or critical OHSS.
The study was open-label and had no hCG comparison group, so it shows that kisspeptin can work in a high-risk group rather than proving it is better than standard triggers.
Kisspeptin research material, where listed, is in the research shop, separate from the clinical preparations used in these studies.
What does this mean?
Kisspeptin could become a gentler trigger for the women most at risk of OHSS. It is still experimental and not approved for this use.
What don’t we know yet?
Larger trials comparing kisspeptin directly with standard triggers are needed to confirm pregnancy rates and safety.
Watch and learn
Videos discussing the compounds in this article, plus background on the biology or the research methods. Each card explains its connection; recordings may predate the findings described here.
Imperial College London
Kisspeptin and sexual and emotional brain processing
Researchers describe an exploratory kisspeptin study. Brain responses in a study are different from an established treatment benefit.
University research team · Professor Waljit Dhillo
Discusses the compound
The researchers describe an exploratory kisspeptin brain-imaging study. This is not proof of a general treatment benefit.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA compounding meeting: ipamorelin and kisspeptin-10
Full advisory meeting covering ipamorelin and kisspeptin-10 among other substances. This is a historical regulatory discussion, not an approval.
Official FDA recording · October 29, 2024
Official regulatory recording
Historical FDA discussion from October 2024. Kisspeptin-10 and ipamorelin are covered; other forms and later decisions may differ.
khanacademymedicine
The hypothalamus and pituitary gland
How the hypothalamus and pituitary coordinate hormone release, including growth and reproductive hormones.
Khan Academy · endocrine physiology
Related biology
Background on hypothalamus and pituitary signalling for understanding Kisspeptin, hCG, FSH. It does not demonstrate benefits of this compound or formulation.
Sources and references
- Efficacy of Kisspeptin-54 to Trigger Oocyte Maturation in Women at High Risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) During In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) TherapyAbbara et al. · Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2015
- Kisspeptin-54 triggers egg maturation in women undergoing in vitro fertilizationJayasena et al. · Journal of Clinical Investigation · 2014
VETUD Learn explains published research in plain language. It is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.
In the research shop
Check the catalog for related laboratory research materials. These products are separate from the approved medicines and clinical trial formulations discussed here.
Checking regional availability…
