HCG
Also known as Pregnyl, Novarel
Quick facts
- Researched for
- Male fertility, sperm production, testosterone support, testicular function and female ovulation
- Route or form
- Injection
- Evidence so far
- Human studies back its fertility uses; reports on sex drive are split.
- Not established
- Fertility uses are well known, but its effect on sex drive is hard to predict.
- Commonly researched
- 500 to 1,000 IU, three times weekly, then twice weeklyPrescription label (branded medicine)See every range
- Where to get it
- No product link here.See why in Next step
By the Learn Peptides editorial team · Updated · What changed: Names Ovidrel's 2000 FDA approval as an IVF trigger shot. The Pregnyl label does not cover it. · How We Research
What people are researching it for
People are researching hCG for male fertility, sperm production, testosterone support, testicular function, and female ovulation.
Supports testicular function. Fertility. Hormone balance.
- What is HCG?
- Not written out in this text version.
- How does it work?
- Not written out in this text version.
- Common research use cases
- Sections: Maintain testicular size; Fertility support; Hormone balance; Libido & sexual function; Ejaculate volume
- Helps prevent or reverse testicular atrophy (common with testosterone use)
- How it's used in research
- Route: Subcutaneous (most common)
- Route: Intramuscular
- Common dosing: 250 to 500 IU, 2 to 3x per week (maintenance style)
- Common dosing: 1,000 to 1,500 IU per week (varies by research goal)
- Common dosing: Higher doses used in fertility research settings
- Duration: Varies widely
- Duration: Often 4 to 12+ weeks in research protocols
- Duration: Ongoing use in some long-term studies
- There is no standardized dose or protocol. Research use should be thoughtful, tracked, and adjusted based on individual response.
- What users report
- Keep in mind: Increased estrogen (E2)
- Keep in mind: Water retention / bloating
- Keep in mind: Mood changes
- Keep in mind: Nipple sensitivity
- Keep in mind: Acne or gynecomastia
- Keep in mind: Not everyone responds the same
- Key takeaway
- It's not a magic solution, and it can increase estrogen for some users, but it shows real potential and is one of the most researched hormones for men's reproductive and hormonal health.
- The bottom line
- HCG is a powerful research tool for maintaining testicular function, supporting fertility, and balancing hormones, especially when natural LH signaling is suppressed. Results vary, so use only high-quality products, follow a research-focused approach, and set realistic expectations.
Reasons people look into HCG. An interest is not a promise that it works.
- Fertility & hormones
- Sexual health & libido
Men on testosterone report their testicles shrink less, but sex drive effects are split.
Community reports
Men often report changes in testicular fullness, libido, or reproductive function during or after testosterone therapy. Fertility treatment uses in men and women are also widely discussed.
Community reports
Men on TRT use HCG almost entirely to keep their testicles from shrinking and to protect fertility while testosterone shuts down their own hormone signal. Reports on that use agree strongly that it helps (12 people), but higher estrogen is a common report too, and its effect on libido and mood is genuinely split: some feel much better, some feel worse.
In people, it's an established fertility drug for both men and women.
hCG is an established fertility medicine. In men, it can replace an LH-like signal that supports testosterone and sperm production. In women, it is widely used to help trigger ovulation.
A well-established fertility hormone, used in men mainly to protect fertility and testicle size alongside testosterone therapy.
What this is based on
- Human researchStudied in people for this or a related question.
- Community reportsWhat people describe noticing. Not proof of cause.
- Learn Peptides explanationOur own plain-English summary of the sources. It is not a source itself.
Fertility uses are well known, but its effect on sex drive is hard to predict.
Its fertility uses are well established, but libido changes during testosterone therapy are less predictable.
Safety notes
Tested in people. How many took part, for how long, and who they were still matter.
- You have trouble breathing or wheezing, or your face, lips, tongue or throat swell.
- You get hives away from the injection site, or feel severely dizzy or faint.
For these signs, call 911 or your local emergency number.
- Redness spreads, or heat, swelling or pain keeps growing where you injected.
- A lump keeps growing or does not go away, or you see pus or red streaks.
- You have a fever or chills, or feel sick all over.
The most consistent complaint across every community discussing HCG is that it pushes estrogen up, often forcing people to lower their testosterone amount or add an estrogen-blocker just to tolerate it. A smaller number report acne, anxiety, or a libido crash following an initial boost.
Response looks highly individual: people report opposite estrogen and libido outcomes on similar protocols, which experienced people say makes generic advice about what to expect unreliable.
Source: r/trt / ExcelMale user reports
Shows the Pregnyl label amounts and figures people report, each labeled.
Commonly researched ranges, and how they were measured.
Commonly researched range for HCG
500 to 1,000 IU
three times weekly, then twice weekly · Injection
Prescription label (branded medicine)
This is the label amount for the branded medicine Pregnyl. It is not a dosing instruction for other products.
All 2 ranges in our record
Each one is labeled with where it comes from. They are different ways of using HCG, not steps to follow in order.
Male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, low-dose regimen
Prescription label (branded medicine)FDA label (Pregnyl)- Amount per dose
- 500 to 1,000 IU
- How often
- Three times weekly, then twice weekly
- Typical schedule
- Three times a week for three weeks, then twice a week for three weeks
- Route
- Injection
This is the label amount for the branded medicine Pregnyl. It is not a dosing instruction for other products.
Male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, high-dose regimen
Prescription label (branded medicine)FDA label (Pregnyl)- Amount per dose
- 2,000 to 4,000 IU
- How often
- Three times weekly
- Typical schedule
- 4,000 IU three times weekly for 6-9 months, then reduced to 2,000 IU three times weekly for an additional 3 months
- Route
- Injection
This is the label amount for the branded medicine Pregnyl. It is not a dosing instruction for other products.
From our visual summary
Community reports
Community reports, from the Learn Peptides visual summary. These lines sit beside the ranges above and are not merged with them.
- Common dosing
- 250 to 500 IU, 2 to 3 times per week (maintenance style)
- 1,000 to 1,500 IU per week (varies by goal)
- Higher doses used in fertility research settings
- Duration
- Varies widely
- Often 4 to 12+ weeks in research schedules
- Ongoing use in some long-term studies
There is no standard dose. Track how you respond, and change one thing at a time.
These ranges were last reviewed Sep 2026.
A fertility hormone sold as Pregnyl and Novarel, given as an injection.
HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is sold under brand names like Pregnyl and Novarel, and it's given as an injection. It mimics the natural hormone signal that tells the testes or ovaries to keep working. It's a long-established, -labeled treatment (Pregnyl label, revised March 2023) for male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. In IVF, a lab-made form of hCG, Ovidrel, is a trigger shot that helps eggs finish maturing. The FDA approved it for that use in 2000.
Next step
No partner product
We have no US Precision Peptides listing for HCG, so there is no product link. That says nothing about the research.
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