HCG
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin / Pregnyl / Ovidrel
A glycoprotein hormone that mimics LH, maintaining testicular function and fertility during TRT. Prevents testicular atrophy and preserves intratesticular testosterone production. Essential adjunct to exogenous testosterone.
Half-life
24–36 hours
Typical Dose
250–500 IU 2–3x/week
300/500Route
subcutaneous
Category
sexual_health
Evidence Overview
Strength of evidence across clinical, expert, and experimental lanes.
How HCG is dosed in practice
Usually taken by subcutaneous (SubQ) injection. Typical range: 250–500 IU 2–3x/week. Half-life: 24–36 hours. Each card gives the dose, frequency and duration from one evidence lane: Clinical (human trials), Expert (practitioner protocols) or Experimental (early or animal data). These ranges describe what has been studied or used; they are not a prescription.
Work out the units to draw with the reconstitution calculator, how long a vial lasts with the vial duration calculator, and how levels fall between doses with the half-life calculator.
Approved for hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as IM regimens. With testosterone enanthate 200 mg/week, 250 IU hCG every other day kept intratesticular testosterone 7% below baseline and 500 IU kept it 26% above, versus a 94% fall without hCG (randomized trial, 3 weeks, 2005). A 2013 retrospective series used 500 IU IM every other day.
- Drug label (Novarel)
- Randomized trial with testosterone (2005)
- Retrospective series with TRT (2013)
Standard TRT adjunct at 250–500 IU EOD or 3x/week. Prevents the 'flat' feeling from testicular shutdown on TRT. Some practitioners prefer lower, more frequent dosing (150 IU daily) for stable levels.
- Defy Medical HCG protocols
- Leading practitioners — TRT adjunct protocols
- Male fertility preservation consensus 2023
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Upgrade to ProSafety & Contraindications
- Hormone-sensitive cancers (prostate, breast)
- Precocious puberty
- Ovarian hyperstimulation risk in females
HCG: common questions
What is HCG?
A glycoprotein hormone that mimics LH, maintaining testicular function and fertility during TRT. Prevents testicular atrophy and preserves intratesticular testosterone production. Essential adjunct to exogenous testosterone.
How is HCG dosed?
HCG is usually taken by subcutaneous (SubQ) injection. Typical range in DoseCraft's library: 250–500 IU 2–3x/week. Clinical (human trials), by intramuscular injection: Label: 500–4,000 USP units IM; with TRT in studies: 125–500 IU every other day; Label: 2–3x weekly; studies with TRT: every other day; Label: 6 weeks to 12 months; 3-week trial and about 6-month series with TRT. Expert (practitioner protocols): 250 IU EOD or 500 IU 2x/week; Every other day or 2–3x per week; Continuous with TRT. These ranges describe what has been studied or used; they are not a prescription.
Is HCG FDA-approved?
Yes. HCG is an FDA-approved prescription medicine; uses outside its approved indication are off-label.
What is the half-life of HCG?
DoseCraft's library lists a half-life of 24–36 hours. Half-life sets how often a compound is dosed and how long it takes to clear: about five half-lives.
Who should not use HCG?
Listed contraindications: Hormone-sensitive cancers (prostate, breast); Precocious puberty; Ovarian hyperstimulation risk in females.
Information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any peptide regimen.
Page updated . How we grade evidence: methodology.