HCG
Clinical evidenceA pregnancy hormone with rock-solid fertility uses, a debunked diet afterlife, and a big off-label TRT role.
What it is
HCG is a glycoprotein hormone the placenta makes during pregnancy. Its alpha piece is identical to hormones like LH, and its unique tail stretches its life in the body to about 36 hours — far longer than the LH it mimics. Brands include Pregnyl, Novarel, and Ovidrel.
How it works
It binds the LH receptor. In ovaries it triggers the final maturation and release of an egg; in testes it tells Leydig cells to make testosterone, the very job LH normally does. That long half-life is why it is useful where plain LH is not.
What people report
- ✦On-label fertility treatment, including IVF trigger shots
- ✦Off-label support for testicular function in men on TRT
- ✦Decades of real-world fertility practice behind it
- ✦Well-understood, predictable receptor biology
Typical use
Fertility use is short and timed to a cycle. In the TRT world it's often a small weekly or twice-weekly add-on to keep natural testosterone production alive.
Dosing reference
Dosing depends entirely on the use. Fertility dosing is tightly timed; the off-label TRT-adjunct dose is small and protocol-based.
Reference only — not a recommendation. Verify via primary sources.
Watch for
The infamous 'HCG diet' is contradicted by every controlled study since the 1970s — the tiny 500-calorie diet is what causes the weight loss, not the hormone. Homeopathic 'drops' contain no meaningful HCG.
Notes
The TRT-adjunct use is off-label, but the receptor logic is plain and the practice is decades old.
Educational content — not medical advice.