A to Z / Sexual health
hCG
Also known as human chorionic gonadotropin, Pregnyl, Ovidrel.
What it is
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced in pregnancy: the one home pregnancy tests detect. As a medicine it is approved for fertility treatment and for certain forms of hypogonadism, with decades of clinical use.
It appears in this book for two reasons: it is used in testosterone replacement protocols to preserve testicular function, and it was the basis of a well-known weight-loss diet that has since been thoroughly tested and disproven.
What the full entry covers
The book carries the rest of this entry:
- Where the research stands, with every claim cited
- What people commonly ask, and what the research shows so far
- Dosing in four labelled bands, described and not recommended
- Side effects, serious risks, cautions and interactions
- Questions to discuss with your doctor
- How it compares with Gonadorelin, Kisspeptin-10, Semaglutide, Tirzepatide
Related entries
A certificate of analysis tells you what is in a vial. The evidence rating above tells you whether the compound has been shown to work in humans. Neither answers the other's question. How to read a certificate of analysis.
This page describes what is known and not known about hCG. It is not medical advice and not a recommendation to use it.