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HCG
Also known as: Human chorionic gonadotropin
A hormone that acts like the brain's signal to the testicles, which is why it comes up alongside testosterone therapy.
- Full name
- Human chorionic gonadotropin
- Acts like
- Luteinizing hormone
- Category
- TRT for men
- FDA status
- FDA-approved (certain uses)
Overview
What it is
HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. In the body it acts much like luteinizing hormone, the pituitary signal that tells the testicles to make testosterone and sperm.
HCG is the hormone a pregnancy test looks for. The placenta produces it, and it happens to be shaped closely enough to luteinizing hormone that it activates the same receptor.
That shape overlap is the whole reason it appears in men's hormone care. It can stand in for the brain signal that testosterone therapy quiets.
It also has a long history of misuse in weight-loss programs. The FDA has stated plainly that it does not work for weight loss and requires that labeling say so.
Benefits
What it supports
- Supports the testicles' own testosterone signal, which testosterone therapy can quiet
- Supports fertility goals for men on or considering testosterone therapy
- Helps limit the shrinking of the testicles that testosterone therapy can cause
- Fits into a broader hormone plan rather than replacing testosterone therapy
Mechanism
How it works
1
Normally the pituitary gland releases luteinizing hormone. It travels to the testicles and tells certain cells there to make testosterone and support sperm production.
2
Adding testosterone from outside makes the brain think there is plenty, so it stops sending that signal. The testicles go quiet and can shrink.
3
HCG activates the same receptor that luteinizing hormone does, so it substitutes for the missing signal and keeps the testicles working.
4
That is why it comes up around fertility and testicular size, and why it works alongside testosterone therapy rather than replacing it.
Context
Who it's for
Men on testosterone therapy, or considering it, who also want to protect fertility
Men concerned about testicular shrinking during hormone therapy
Adults comparing HCG with kisspeptin, which acts further upstream
Men who want to understand how the whole signal chain fits together
Landscape
In the landscape
How this compound compares to related options in the wellness landscape.
- Testosterone Therapy (TRT)
The therapy HCG is usually paired with. HCG keeps the natural signal going rather than replacing hormone.
- Kisspeptin
Acts a step higher, on the brain signal that starts the chain. HCG acts at the bottom, on the testicles.
In this area
Related therapies
Other compounds that support overlapping wellness goals.
Questions
HCG FAQ
Good to know
Regulatory & considerations
HCG is FDA-approved as a prescription medicine for certain uses, including some causes of low testosterone in men and fertility care. It is not approved for weight loss, and the FDA has said it does not work for that. Using it alongside testosterone therapy is off-label and is decided by a licensed provider.
HCG is FDA-approved for certain uses, including some causes of low testosterone and fertility care. Using it alongside testosterone therapy is off-label.
It is not approved for weight loss. The FDA has said it does not work for that purpose and requires labeling to state so.
Fertility questions are easier to handle before starting testosterone therapy than after, so raise them early.
Shop HCG
See current pricing and availability for HCG in our shop. If a medical evaluation is needed, a licensed provider guides you through it.
Individual results vary. General information on this site is not a substitute for professional medical advice.