Human chorionic gonadotropin (Novarel, Pregnyl)
A hormone that acts on the same receptor as LH. In men it stimulates the testes to make testosterone and supports sperm production.
Sport status follows the WADA Prohibited List in force since January 1, 2026; athletes should confirm with their anti-doping organization. Checked October 5, 2026.
Male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism
500–1,000 IU 3× per week for 3 weeks, then 2× per week for 3 weeks. Or 4,000 IU 3× per week for 6–9 months, then 2,000 IU 3× per week for 3 months.
Coviello 2005; Hsieh 2013
With testosterone therapy: in a 3-week study, 250 IU every other day kept testicular testosterone within 7% of baseline. A 26-man records review found 500 IU every other day preserved sperm production.
Continuous, shown over 26 weeks
The ways hCG is most often run, each tagged with where it comes from.
Short: 500–1,000 IU 3× a week for 3 weeks, then 2× a week for 3 weeks. Long: 4,000 IU 3× a week for 6–9 months, then 2,000 IU for 3 months.
Clinician-run, only when not caused by a blockage. For example, 4,000 IU 3× a week for 3 weeks, or 500 IU 3× a week for 4–6 weeks.
Off-label. 250 IU kept testicular testosterone near baseline over 3 weeks (Coviello 2005); sperm data exist only for 500 IU, from a 26-man records review (Hsieh 2013).
Label: intramuscular only (Novarel). Off-label, many inject it under the skin instead. Once mixed, refrigerate and use within 30 days (label).
The Novarel label has no missed-dose rule. Don’t double up; take the next scheduled dose and tell the prescriber if several are missed.
250–500 IU every other day kept testicular testosterone and sperm production going in small studies.
TrialThe goal is descent of the testes. Signs of early puberty mean treatment should stop (label).
LabelMen may notice breast tenderness or growth and fluid retention; the label lists both.
LabelHeadache, irritability, restlessness, low mood, tiredness (label; no rates given)
Tell the prescriber; the dose or schedule may need changing.
Breast growth or tenderness and fluid retention (label)
Report it to the prescriber.
Early puberty in boys (label)
The label says to stop treatment if signs appear.
Injection-site pain; allergic reactions including anaphylaxis (label)
Hives, swelling or trouble breathing is an emergency.
Women: ovarian overstimulation, cyst rupture, multiple births, blood clots (label)
Severe belly pain, bloating or fast weight gain after hCG needs urgent care.
Get help for hives, swelling or trouble breathing; chest pain or sudden weakness (possible clot); or, in women, severe belly pain or bloating. In boys, early-puberty signs mean stop (label).
Keeps the testes producing testosterone and sperm while TRT suppresses them (Coviello 2005; Hsieh 2013).
4 key published human studies, with how many people took part. Animal studies aren’t listed here.
Gonadotropin therapy started sperm production in 75% of men; success was higher when hCG was combined with FSH.
Rastrelli et al., Andrology 2014, PMID 25271205
No evidence that hCG causes weight loss or fat redistribution, or reduces hunger; most studies were of poor quality.
Lijesen et al., Br J Clin Pharmacol 1995, PMID 8527285
Testosterone alone cut intratesticular testosterone by 94%; with 250 IU hCG it ended 7% below baseline, and with 500 IU 26% above.
Coviello et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005, PMID 15713727
No man became azoospermic and semen measures did not change; 9 of 26 men contributed to a pregnancy.
Hsieh et al., J Urol 2013, PMID 23260550
| Vial | Water | Common dose | Draw | Strength | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 IU | 2 mL | 250 IU | 10 units (0.10 mL) | 2,500 IU/mL |
Label kits come with bacteriostatic water. At 2 mL, a 5,000 IU vial is 2,500 IU/mL, so 250 IU is 10 units and 500 IU is 20 units.
Syringe units for common doses at different water volumes. Select a cell to open it in the calculator.
| Dose | Water added | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 2 mL | 3 mL | |
| 250 IU | |||
| 400 IU | |||
| 600 IU | |||
| 1,000 IU | |||
| 1,500 IU | |||
| 2,500 IU | |||
| 4,000 IU | |||
U-100 insulin syringe: 100 units is 1 mL. Draws over 100 units show in mL. Faded values are under 2 units, which is hard to measure. Check that your vial holds the larger volumes.
A hormone that acts on the same receptor as LH. In men it stimulates the testes to make testosterone and supports sperm production.
Approved in the US as Novarel and Pregnyl (urinary hCG) and Ovidrel (recombinant hCG), now licensed as biologics.
From the label (Male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism): 500–1,000 IU 3× per week for 3 weeks, then 2× per week for 3 weeks. Or 4,000 IU 3× per week for 6–9 months, then 2,000 IU 3× per week for 3 months. From human studies (Coviello 2005; Hsieh 2013): With testosterone therapy: in a 3-week study, 250 IU every other day kept testicular testosterone within 7% of baseline. A 26-man records review found 500 IU every other day preserved sperm production. These are the amounts sources reference, not recommendations.
There’s no single right amount, because the water only sets the strength. With 2 mL of bacteriostatic water in a 5,000 IU vial, the strength is 2,500 IU/mL, so 250 IU is 10 units on a U-100 insulin syringe. More water makes small doses easier to measure. The dose chart above shows other volumes.
About 29 hours, according to the prescribing information. Terminal half-life after 250 mcg subcutaneous recombinant hCG (Ovidrel) in healthy women. The urinary hCG labels (Novarel, Pregnyl) give no value.
Room temperature, 20–25 °C, before mixing (Novarel; Pregnyl allows 15–25 °C). After mixing: Refrigerate at 2–8 °C and do not freeze. Use within 30 days (Novarel) or 60 days (Pregnyl, generic hCG).
In some cases. S2.2.1 testosterone-stimulating peptides in males: chorionic gonadotrophin is banned at all times for male athletes. Not prohibited for female athletes.
Yes. The human studies section lists 4 published studies. Among them, from 2014: Gonadotropin therapy started sperm production in 75% of men; success was higher when hCG was combined with FSH.