Only hCG has trial data for raising testosterone in men with hypogonadism (medically low testosterone), and it’s a prescription drug. Kisspeptin raises testosterone in short human studies, but it isn’t an approved treatment. The growth hormone peptides raise GH and IGF-1. Nothing shows they raise testosterone.
How many men have low testosterone?
Between 5% and 12%, depending on age. A study of 27,687 Korean men aged 40 and over found low testosterone on a blood test (under 2.5 ng/mL, or 250 ng/dL) in 5.5% of men aged 40 to 49 and 11.6% of men 70 and over. Higher BMI, blood sugar and triglycerides went with lower testosterone (Kim et al., 2026).
A survey of 5,078 Chinese men aged 40 to 79 found 7.8% had both low free testosterone and at least three sexual symptoms (Liu et al.).
Which peptides raise testosterone in men?
| Peptide | Raises testosterone? | Best human evidence |
|---|---|---|
| hCG | Yes, in men with hypogonadism | A randomized trial of 282 men |
| Kisspeptin-10 | Yes, for hours to days, in healthy men | Infusion studies in small groups |
| Gonadorelin | Studied only in a rare congenital condition, with a pump | Pump studies in men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism |
| Sermorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, tesamorelin | No trial shows it | They raise GH and IGF-1 |
| PT-141 | No | It acts on desire and arousal in the brain |
Does hCG raise testosterone?
Yes, in men with hypogonadism. The FDA label lists hCG for selected cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males. That means low testosterone caused by a pituitary problem.
A randomized trial gave 282 men with hypogonadism who wanted to keep their fertility hCG, clomiphene or both. Testosterone rose in all three groups. The average went from 2.31 to 5.17 nmol/L in 3 months (about 67 to 149 ng/dL). That’s about 2.2 times the starting level, but the men started very low. Clomiphene alone did as well as hCG (Habous et al., 2018).
hCG also protects sperm production in men on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). TRT lowers LH and FSH, the pituitary signals that drive sperm production, and it can leave 40% of men with no sperm in their semen. A chart review of 26 men on TRT who also took low-dose hCG found none lost all their sperm, and 9 contributed to a pregnancy. There was no control group (Hsieh et al., 2013).
Does kisspeptin raise testosterone?
In healthy men, yes. A 22.5-hour kisspeptin-10 infusion raised testosterone from 16.6 to 24.0 nmol/L (about 480 to 690 ng/dL) in 4 men (George et al., 2011). In 7 healthy men, daily 8-hour subcutaneous infusions kept LH elevated for 12 days (Yeung et al., 2026).
Those are infusions given in a clinic, so they say little about shots you give yourself. Only small early studies have tried kisspeptin in men with low testosterone, none shows it works as a treatment, and a 2026 review calls it investigational (Vasylieva et al., 2026).
Does gonadorelin work?
It works in one setting. Pulsatile GnRH therapy and combined gonadotropin therapy induce sperm production in 75% to 80% of men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a rare condition (Dwyer et al., 2024). Those studies use a pump that delivers small pulses.
They don’t test gonadorelin shots in men on TRT or in men with ordinary low testosterone. Gonadorelin was FDA approved but is no longer manufactured (Vasylieva et al., 2026).
Do growth hormone peptides raise testosterone?
No trial shows it. So don’t buy a GH peptide expecting a testosterone boost.
- CJC-1295 raised GH 2 to 10 fold and IGF-1 1.5 to 3 fold in healthy adults (Teichman et al.).
- GHRH injections in 10 older men restored GH and IGF-1. Their testosterone was lower than in young men at the start, and the abstract doesn’t say whether treatment changed it (Corpas et al., 1992).
- MK-677, a GH secretagogue, lowered total testosterone compared with placebo in a trial of 24 obese men, though an index of free testosterone didn’t change (Svensson et al., 1999).
- Tesamorelin cut visceral fat in 806 people with HIV and excess belly fat. The trial measured fat, lipids and IGF-1 (Falutz et al., 2010).
A 2026 review says these peptides reliably raise GH and IGF-1, but evidence for better sexual function, performance or quality of life is limited (Vasylieva et al., 2026). See our guide to CJC-1295 and ipamorelin.
Is PT-141 a testosterone treatment?
No. FDA approved Vyleesi (bremelanotide) in June 2019 for premenopausal women with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder. The label says it isn’t indicated for men. It acts on desire and arousal in the brain (Vasylieva et al., 2026).
Are these peptides legal and allowed in sport?
None is approved to raise testosterone. FDA’s compounding page lists:
- Kisspeptin-10 in Category 2, with a risk of immunogenicity
- Ibutamoren in Category 2, with a risk of congestive heart failure
- Ipamorelin acetate in Category 2 under the 503B policy
- CJC-1295 among nominated substances that were withdrawn; FDA notes serious adverse events
A withdrawn nomination isn’t an approval. See FDA’s list.
The WADA Prohibited List bans all of them at all times. Section S2.2.1 covers hCG, LH, gonadorelin and kisspeptin in males. Section S2.2.4 covers CJC-1295, sermorelin, tesamorelin, ibutamoren and ipamorelin.
What should you do if you think your testosterone is low?
See a doctor and ask for morning blood tests. Low energy and low libido can have causes other than testosterone.
Tell the doctor if you want children. TRT suppresses sperm production, and the trials above show options for men who want to keep fertility, such as clomiphene or hCG alongside TRT. For more on how peptides compare, see our guide to peptides for men.
Questions
Which peptides increase testosterone?
hCG has the best trial data in men with hypogonadism. Kisspeptin-10 raises it in short infusion studies in healthy men. Growth hormone peptides have not been shown to.
Do CJC-1295 and ipamorelin raise testosterone?
No trial shows it. They raise GH and IGF-1.
Can peptides replace TRT?
The trials above tested hCG for raising testosterone and for protecting sperm count during TRT. None tested a peptide as a TRT replacement.
Is PT-141 good for low libido in men?
FDA approved it for premenopausal women only, and the label says it isn’t indicated for men.
Are testosterone peptides banned in sport?
Yes. WADA prohibits hCG, gonadorelin, kisspeptin and the growth hormone peptides at all times.