HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)

What is it?

A glycoprotein hormone originally isolated from the placenta. HCG mimics LH at the testicular Leydig-cell receptor — it’s the LH analog that stimulates testosterone production directly at the testes, bypassing the hypothalamus and pituitary entirely. Long historical clinical use including pediatric undescended-testis treatment, fertility, and as a “rescue” for TRT users to keep testicular volume and intratesticular testosterone (which is critical for spermatogenesis) online.

What does it do in my body?

• Binds the LH receptor on Leydig cells.
• Activates the cAMP / steroidogenesis pathway → testosterone production.
• Maintains testicular volume and intratesticular testosterone — which is why TRT users add HCG to preserve fertility and prevent the testicular atrophy that comes with full HPG suppression.

How can it help me?

• Best fit: Keeping testicular function online despite upstream suppression (e.g., on TRT) or preventing testicular atrophy
• Where the science stands: Long clinical use, well-characterized mechanism and outcomes; TRT-adjuvant use is the most common modern indication

The full evidence — every human, animal, and lab study, graded — is one tap away: use the See the deeper science → toggle at the top.

Is it dangerous? What are the side effects?

• Generally well-tolerated at TRT-adjuvant doses.
• Higher-dose HCG can drive significant estradiol via Leydig-cell-localized aromatase — monitoring estradiol is part of the protocol.
• Gynecomastia risk if estradiol rises uncontrolled.

Regulatory status: HCG sits on a real prescription/clinical pathway, not the typical research-chem lane most peptides on this site occupy. It is FDA-approved historically for several indications, and licensed clinicians prescribe it routinely. What has cycled repeatedly is compounding-pharmacy access specifically — regulatory pressure has targeted compounding pharmacies producing HCG multiple times, with the access landscape moving back and forth between brand-name-only and compounded availability. Per clinical experience relayed in the source material: brand-name and compounding-pharmacy HCG are made the same way, with no meaningful quality difference between them — the repeated access restrictions read as a commercial/market-protection dynamic rather than a safety-driven one.

That framing matters for how to read “is compounded HCG legitimate” honestly: verified compounders (with third-party COAs) produce a product that is clinically equivalent to brand-name; unverified gray-market compounders are a separate and real risk category. Collapsing both into one “compounded is scary” bucket is inaccurate.

Banned by WADA for sport (S2 — peptide hormones, growth factors). Historical precedent suggests compounded access cycles back over time, though the exact current status should be verified before any customer-facing claim.

Part 1 — How to reconstitute it

What you'll need: bacteriostatic water (sterile, preserved water you mix the powder with) and a separate, larger reconstitution syringe just for mixing — not the small syringe you inject with.

The exact bacteriostatic-water volume and resulting concentration for HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) are covered in the dosing notes and the deeper-science view. Confirm the right volume for your vial before mixing.

How to mix it

• Tilt the vial and let the bacteriostatic water run slowly down the inside glass wall — never squirt it straight onto the powder.
• Swirl gently to dissolve. Never shake — shaking can damage the peptide.
• Store the reconstituted vial refrigerated and out of light.
• Use it within the beyond-use window your source specifies — reconstituted peptides are commonly used within a few weeks; confirm the window for your specific peptide.

Use the free reconstitution calculator to turn any vial size + water volume into exact units on an insulin syringe.

Part 2 — Typical dosing

Talk to your medical provider before starting any protocol. That said, here are the doses most people commonly use — shared for educational purposes so you can have an informed conversation. These peptides are sold for research use only and are not FDA-approved drugs, and this isn't medical advice.

The syringe. Use a 0.3 mL U-100 insulin syringe — it's sized for these small subcutaneous doses. Inject subcutaneously (into the fat just under the skin) and rotate injection sites.

• TRT-adjuvant dose (community-typical): 250–500 IU SubQ, 2–3×/week.
• Reconstitution: HCG vials are dosed in international units (IU), not mg — reconstitution depends on vial strength (commonly 5,000 or 10,000 IU per vial) and the amount of bacteriostatic water used. Verify with the specific product.
• Route: subcutaneous injection.
• Cycle: continuous co-administration with TRT is the most common pattern; standalone HCG monotherapy is used less often.

Turning milligrams into syringe units. On a U-100 syringe, 100 units = 1 mL, so 1 unit = 0.01 mL. At a concentration of C mg/mL, a dose of D mg = D ÷ C mL = (D ÷ C) × 100 units. Example: at 5 mg/mL, a 0.5 mg dose = 0.1 mL = 10 units. Your exact units depend on your own vial's mg and how much bacteriostatic water you added — use the same concentration you mixed above.

What should I avoid combining — and what's synergistic?

HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) doesn't have a dedicated stacking protocol in our notes — the interactions that matter most are in the safety section above. For how people combine it with other peptides, the deeper-science view has the full detail.

How can I buy this?