HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)_Dosage, benefits & legal status
Also known as human chorionic gonadotropin, Pregnyl, Novarel, Ovidrel, HCG
A hormone shot that keeps the testicles making testosterone and sperm.
Common vial size is what vendors typically sell, not a recommendation. Enter your own vial in the calculator.
What is HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)?
Plain language first. The technical label stays, but it never stands alone.Overview
It keeps the testicles switched on. People use it alongside testosterone therapy, or for fertility.
HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone that mimics LH, the signal that tells the testicles to make testosterone and sperm.
What it's used for
A hormone shot that keeps the testicles producing testosterone and sperm, commonly used alongside testosterone therapy or for fertility.
How does HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) work?
What it does in the body, and where.HCG is a pregnancy hormone that happens to be shaped closely enough to LH to activate the same receptor, and it lasts far longer.
- 01It acts on the LH receptorTelling the testes to make testosterone, or triggering ovulation.
- 02It works below the pituitaryWhich is why it keeps the testes active during testosterone therapy, when the brain has stopped sending its own signal.
- 03It lasts far longer than LHRoughly a day and a half versus under an hour, which is what makes it practical to inject.
- 04Prolonged use can desensitise the receptorContinuous stimulation reduces the response over time, which is why it is usually given intermittently.
Where this compound is thought to act.
What else is it used for?
Each use below carries its own evidence level. Approved means regulators have cleared it for that purpose. Investigational means it is in trials. Early research means it is being studied and is not established.
- Treating low testosterone and low sperm production caused by a pituitary problem in menFDA-approved
- Bringing down undescended testicles in some young boysFDA-approved
- Triggering the release of an egg during fertility treatmentFDA-approved
- Keeping the testicles working during testosterone therapy, which is the most common off-label useClinical use
- Weight loss, which is not approved. The FDA states there is no substantial evidence it helps you lose more weight than dieting aloneResearch only
The published record
17,767
Records indexed for HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)400 papers and 100 trials indexed in detail.
274 in humans, 141 of them original studies.
407 registered trials, 12 with posted results among the 100 indexed.
Counted from Europe PMC indexing, not read by a person. Human means indexed under humans, which includes reviews and work on human cells. Original studies exclude reviews and lab work on human cells.Last updated 12 September 2026.
At a glance
Four things to know about HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)
Evidence
Clinical use
Category
Sexual and hormonal
Common vial
5000 IU
Half-life
5.6 to 11 hours, then a longer tail
How much, and do you cycle it?
The range, and whether you take breaks.250 up to 500 IU per dose (alongside testosterone therapy), 2-3x per week. Continuous alongside testosterone therapy; a defined cycle in fertility useFDA label
Two quite different patterns depending on why it is used. In fertility it is given at set points in a stimulation cycle. Alongside testosterone therapy it is taken continuously two or three times a week to keep the testicles working, which is off-label and has no controlled schedule behind it.
How long does it stay in the body?
The half-life, and where the figure comes from.5.6 to 11 hours, then a longer tailFDA label
HCG clears in two phases. The Pregnyl labelling gives an initial phase of 5.6 to 11 hours and a longer terminal phase, commonly reported around 23 to 37 hours. Detectable levels persist for roughly 3 days after a dose, which is why it shows on a pregnancy test long after injection.
Not yet traced to a primary source.
You can compare this against the whole library to see where it sits.
How do I dose and price it?
Enter your vial and your dose. Pick a mix. We show the draw and the cost.The vial holds a fixed amount of drug. Adding more water does not make more drug, it just spreads it thinner, so you draw a bigger number on the syringe for the same dose.
Choose your mix
Measuring the water1 mL = one full 100-unit syringe.
Your draw
10 / 100 unitsHCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) starts at $28.99 across 12 vendors.
18 listings, last read Sep 12, 2026. Shipping and card fees are not included.
How do you store it?
Before mixing, and after.Dry powder in the freezer or fridge. Once mixed, fridge, and use within about a month.
Unmixed lyophilized HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) keeps for a long time cold. Once you add water the clock starts: most reconstituted vials hold up for roughly 28 to 30 days at fridge temperature. Keep it out of light, and do not freeze it after mixing.
What are the side effects and cautions?
Known cautions and warnings for this compound.Who should avoid it
- Hormone-sensitive cancers, including some prostate and breast cancers
- Early (precocious) puberty
- Pregnancy
- Not approved or supported for weight loss
Stop and get help
- Severe pelvic pain or bloating with rapid weight gain, which can signal ovarian overstimulation in fertility use
- Chest pain, leg swelling, or trouble breathing
- Signs of an allergic reaction
Common effects
- Injection-site pain or swelling
- Headache and mood changes
- Breast tenderness, and breast tissue growth in men
- Fluid retention
Where this page says nothing is established, that means nobody has studied it, not that a compound is safe.
Is HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) approved?
And where the numbers on this page come from.Not approved, but legal to obtain. HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) has no FDA approval, and it can be prescribed or prepared by a compounding pharmacy in the United States.
- Approval statusClinical use
- RouteUnder the skin or into muscle
- CheckedJuly 2026
What has happened recently
We have not yet written a full regulatory note for this compound. The status above is current as of the date shown.
You can compare this against the whole library, or read how to check a seller.
- DoseFrom product labeling and clinical guidelines.
- Vial sizeFrom what vendors typically list; not a recommendation.
- Sources
- Reviewed22 July 2026
What else is like HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)?
Others in Sexual and hormonal, side by side.If you're weighing HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), it's worth reading HMG (Menotropin), Oxytocin, and Testagen in the same class.
A hormone shot that keeps the testicles making testosterone and sperm.
- Dose
- 250 up to 500 IU per dose (alongside testosterone therapy)
- How often
- 2-3x per week
A fertility hormone shot that drives sperm or egg production.
- Dose
- 75 up to 150 IU per dose (start low, increase slowly)
- How often
- Several per week
The bonding hormone, used for connection, mood, and sometimes libido.
- Dose
- 18 up to 40 IU per dose
- How often
- As needed
A lab-made 4 amino acid peptide aimed at the testes.
- Dose
- Research only
- How often
- Daily, in 10-20 day courses
Guides for this compound
- How to Reconstitute a Peptide
Mix peptide powder with bacteriostatic water, step by step.
- How to Read an Insulin Syringe
Read the units, convert to millilitres, and draw the exact dose.
- mcg vs mg: The Peptide Dosing Mistake to Avoid
Your vial says mg and your protocol says mcg. Here is the conversion and how to check it.
Sources
- FDA prescribing information, Pregnyl(2011)FDA label, including the statement that it is not effective for weight loss.
- Drugs.com, HCG injectable(2026)Current prescribing summary.
Last reviewed 22 July 2026
Beyond these, 500 records are indexed. Browse the records