HCG at a glance
A fast read for beginners, with evidence strength, route context, safety depth, and community activity surfaced before the deeper sections.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy by the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta. Structurally, it shares the α-subunit with LH, FSH, and TSH, while its unique β-subunit provides receptor specificity. HCG acts as an LH mimic at LH receptors (LHCGR) on Leydig cells in the testes, directly stimulating testosterone and estradiol production independently of the pituitary HPG axis.
HCG is FDA approved for multiple indications: ovulation induction in anovulatory women, treatment of prepubertal cryptorchidism (undescended testes) in boys, and treatment of male hypogonadism (selected hypogonadotropic cases). In fertility medicine, it is used as a trigger shot for oocyte maturation and in men undergoing fertility treatment with gonadotropin therapy.
In the peptide and TRT community, HCG serves two primary off-label purposes. First, adjunctive use alongside TRT: exogenous testosterone suppresses LH, causing testicular atrophy and cessation of endogenous testosterone production. Low-dose HCG (250 - 500 IU every other day or twice weekly) maintains intratesticular testosterone production, preserves testicular volume, and sustains spermatogenesis during TRT. Second, post-cycle therapy: after anabolic steroid cycles, HCG is used to rapidly restore testicular function before the HPG axis reactivates, typically followed by SERMs such as clomiphene or tamoxifen.
Recombinant HCG (r-hCG, choriogonadotropin alfa/Ovidrel) has identical efficacy to urinary HCG (u-hCG) with standardized potency. Both formulations are subject to WADA prohibition in competitive sports as endogenous androgens promoters.
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