Peptides / Sexual health and hormones

Natural peptide

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)

ApprovedBanned in sport

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone used in approved medicines such as Pregnyl, including treatments for men. Studies in people measured sex hormones and fertility, and it is banned in sport. PepBank shows 95 results on hCG from 27 studies in people. The strongest evidence is a randomized trial in people. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Also known as hCG, Human chorionic gonadotrophin, Human chorionic gonadotropin, Novarel, Pregnyl

Evidence level: Some studies in people95 of 95 results come from studies in people.

Results in people

100% of 95 results

Results in animals

0% of 95 results

Results in lab cells

0% of 95 results

From computer models

0% of 95 results

Overview

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) at a glance

What it is	Natural peptide
Approval	Approved in the US (Pregnyl)
In sport	Banned in sport (WADA S2.2.1)
Studies	49 studies with results. 27 of them gave hCG, with 95 results. 95 in people
Best study in people	Randomized controlled trial with 33 people (1986)
Clinical trials	123 registered: 9 active or planned, 27 with posted results
Community use	Community adjunct to testosterone therapy

The science

What is hCG?

Two-subunit glycoprotein hormone with approved gonadotropin medicines and male reproductive treatment uses.

Study results in PepBank

The history of hCG

1963
The oldest paper on hCG in PepBank is from 1963.
2004September
A registered trial of hCG started (NCT00249834).

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) structure and chemistry

The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.

Structure

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a natural peptide, with no ring, no changed amino acids.

Target

Luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (gene LHCGR): agonistEvidence: known

Development

Pregnyl: Organon (current labeler). Highest phase: past the trial stage (see status).

Identifiers

UniProt P01215

See charge, composition and 3D structure on the Scientific page

The evidence

What hCG studies show

Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.

Some studies in people95 of 95 results come from studies in people.

Sex hormones and fertility

92 results · 92 in people

In boys with cryptorchidism, testicular descent did not differ significantly between hCG and GnRH treatment. The New England journal of medicine, 1986

Key hCG studies

Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.

People
Hormonal therapy of cryptorchidism. A randomized, double-blind study comparing human chorionic gonadotropin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Rajfer et al. 1986 · The New England journal of medicine · 33 people · cited by 73
3 results
People
Low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin maintains intratesticular testosterone in normal men with testosterone-induced gonadotropin suppression
Coviello et al. 2005 · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 29 people · cited by 96
4 results
People
Dose-dependent increase in intratesticular testosterone by very low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin in normal men with experimental gonadotropin deficiency
Roth et al. 2010 · The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · cited by 49
3 results
People
A combined analysis of data to identify predictive factors for spermatogenesis in men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism treated with recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin
Warne et al. 2009 · Fertility and sterility · 100 people · cited by 82
1 result
People
The importance of mini-puberty for fertility in cryptorchidism
Hadziselimovic et al. 2005 · The Journal of urology · 65 people · cited by 93
4 results

All 49 hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) studies

hCG clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 123 trials of hCG. 9 are active or planned, and 27 have posted results. PepBank does not show trial results.

Solid bars are dates that happened. Hatched bars are planned dates. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

A Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of a Single Injection of Corifollitropin Alfa (Organon 36286) for Ovarian Stimulation Using Daily Recombinant Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) as Reference (P05787)

Phase 3completed1,509 people

Phase 3 Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pergoveris® in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ESPART)

Phase 3completed939 people

Triggering of Final Oocyte Maturation With GnRHa (Buserelin) in GnRH Antagonist Cycles

Phase 4completed384 people

All 31 hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) trials

Status and safety

Is hCG approved?

FDA

United States

Approved

Pregnyl.

EMA

European Union

Status unknown

Status unknown.

WADA

Sport

Banned

On the 2026 Prohibited List, section S2.2.1.

Yes. Approved in the US (Pregnyl). The FDA label for Pregnyl says: “Selected male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, prepubertal cryptorchidism without anatomical obstruction and selected female ovulation induction” Banned in sport (WADA S2.2.1).

Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

hCG side effects and safety

PepBank has 4 safety results from studies of hCG. 4 of them come from studies in people.

Safety results from studies (4)

In men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, 7 of 22 developed above-normal estradiol levels during hCG treatment. (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 1988)
In boys with cryptorchidism, HCG and gonadotropin releasing hormone had equal effects on germ cells. (The Journal of urology, 2000)
In men with cryptorchidism, prior hCG treatment was linked to more dying sperm precursor cells than no hCG. (The Journal of clinical investigation, 1997)
In men with cryptorchidism, prior hCG treatment was linked to more fragmented DNA than in non-hCG-treated scrotal testes. (The Journal of clinical investigation, 1997)

See every safety result on the Scientific page

Doses studied (14 shown)

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

Dose as reported	Class	Species	Route	Duration	Design	Source
3300 IU per week	Human	human	parenteral	four weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 33	Rajfer 1986
125, 250, or 500 IU every other day	Human	human	Not reported	3 wk	Randomized trial in people · n = 29	Coviello 2005
125 IU every other day	Human	human	Not reported	3 wk	Randomized trial in people	Coviello 2005
250 IU every other day	Human	human	Not reported	3 wk	Randomized trial in people	Coviello 2005
500 IU every other day	Human	human	Not reported	3 wk	Randomized trial in people	Coviello 2005
125 IU every other day	Human	human	sc	10 d	Randomized trial in people	Roth 2010
0, 15, 60, or 125 IU every other day	Human	human	sc	10 d	Randomized trial in people	Roth 2010
1500 IU/twice weekly	Human	human	Not reported	6 months	Trial in people without random groups · n = 18	Young 1999
5000 IU twice weekly	Human	human	intramuscular	7 months	Trial in people without random groups · n = 8	Matsumoto 1986
1500 UI twice a week	Human	human	im	2 months	Trial in people without random groups · n = 7	Young 2005
5,000 IU three times weekly	Human	human	intramuscular	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups · n = 5	Bremner 1981
500-1500 U twice weekly	Human	human	Not reported	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups	Eiholzer 2006
0--6000 IU single injection	Human	human	intramuscular	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups	Padrón 1980
6000 IU single injection	Human	human	intramuscular	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups	Padrón 1980

From the community

How people use it

What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.

Community-reported. Not tested in trials.

The source reports this use pattern. It does not establish safety or efficacy.

Reported routines and cautions

What people use it for

Community adjunct to testosterone therapyS1

Reported regimens

Regimens that community sources report for hCG. Community-reported, not tested in trials.
Context	Route	Amount	How often	How long	Agreement	Sources
Community adjunct to testosterone therapy	subcutaneous injection	250 to 500 IU per dose	2-3 times weekly	Ongoing (concurrent with TRT)	Single automated secondary source. No direct community report was checked.	S1
Label selected male hypogonadotropic hypogonadismOfficial label dosing of an approved product	intramuscular injection	500 to 1000 USP units per dose	3 times a week for 3 weeks, followed by the same dose twice a week for 3 weeks	3 weeks, followed by the same dose twice a week for 3 weeks	single source	S2

Community sources

S1hCG community protocols (opens in a new tab)www.peptideprotocolwiki.com
S2Pregnyl current US prescribing information (opens in a new tab)dailymed.nlm.nih.gov

Gaps

Only one approved male label regimen is represented. Other label regimens remain uncollected. Community use has no checked direct report. Community route differs from the Pregnyl label route.

Questions and more

Ask a question about hCG

The answer links to every study it uses.

What does the evidence say about hCG?Is hCG tested in people?Compare with Triptorelin (Trelstar, Decapeptyl)Compare with Cetrorelix

Sources

Database: PepBank data for hCG (data version 308560)
Regulator: FDA status record
Regulator: EMA status record
Regulator: WADA status record
Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov
Community: community sources (forums and guides), as summarized in the PepBank community file

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Ask your AI about hCG

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)

ApprovedBanned in sport

Also known as hCG, Human chorionic gonadotrophin, Human chorionic gonadotropin, Novarel, Pregnyl

What it is

Natural peptide

Approval

Approved in the US (Pregnyl)

In sport

Banned in sport (WADA S2.2.1)

Studies

49 studies with results. 27 of them gave hCG, with 95 results.
95 in people

Best study in people

Randomized controlled trial with 33 people (1986)

Clinical trials

123 registered: 9 active or planned, 27 with posted results

Community use

Community adjunct to testosterone therapy

Dose as reported

Class

Species

Route

Duration

Design

Source

3300 IU per week

Human

human

parenteral

four weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 33

Rajfer 1986

125, 250, or 500 IU every other day

Human

human

Not reported

3 wk

Randomized trial in people · n = 29

Coviello 2005

125 IU every other day

Human

human

Not reported

3 wk

Randomized trial in people

Coviello 2005

250 IU every other day

Human

human

Not reported

3 wk

Randomized trial in people

Coviello 2005

500 IU every other day

Human

human

Not reported

3 wk

Randomized trial in people

Coviello 2005

125 IU every other day

Human

human

10 d

Randomized trial in people

Roth 2010

0, 15, 60, or 125 IU every other day

Human

human

10 d

Randomized trial in people

Roth 2010

1500 IU/twice weekly

Human

human

Not reported

6 months

Trial in people without random groups · n = 18

Young 1999

5000 IU twice weekly

Human

human

intramuscular

7 months

Trial in people without random groups · n = 8

Matsumoto 1986

1500 UI twice a week

Human

human

2 months

Trial in people without random groups · n = 7

Young 2005

5,000 IU three times weekly

Human

human

intramuscular

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups · n = 5

Bremner 1981

500-1500 U twice weekly

Human

human

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups

Eiholzer 2006

0--6000 IU single injection

Human

human

intramuscular

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups

Padrón 1980

6000 IU single injection

Human

human

intramuscular

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups

Padrón 1980

Context

Route

Amount

How often

How long

Agreement

Sources

Community adjunct to testosterone therapy

subcutaneous injection

250 to 500 IU per dose

2-3 times weekly

Ongoing (concurrent with TRT)

Single automated secondary source. No direct community report was checked.

Label selected male hypogonadotropic hypogonadismOfficial label dosing of an approved product

intramuscular injection

500 to 1000 USP units per dose

3 times a week for 3 weeks, followed by the same dose twice a week for 3 weeks

3 weeks, followed by the same dose twice a week for 3 weeks

single source

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) at a glance

What is hCG?

The history of hCG

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) structure and chemistry

What hCG studies show

Sex hormones and fertility

Key hCG studies

hCG clinical trials

Is hCG approved?

hCG side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Community sources

Ask a question about hCG

Related peptides

hCG vs enclomiphene

Sources

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) at a glance

What is hCG?

The history of hCG

hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) structure and chemistry

What hCG studies show

Sex hormones and fertility

Key hCG studies

hCG clinical trials

Is hCG approved?

hCG side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Community sources

Ask a question about hCG

Related peptides

hCG vs enclomiphene

Sources