hCG 5,000 IU vial
How much bacteriostatic water to add to a 5,000 IU vial of hCG, the syringe units for each common dose, and how many doses the vial holds.
- Water
- 2 mL
- Strength
- 2,500 IU/mL
- Common dose
- 250 IU
- Draw
- 10 units0.10 mL
- Doses per vial
- 20
The short answer
Mixed with 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, a 5,000 IU vial of hCG holds 2,500 IU/mL. A 250 IU dose is then 10 units (0.10 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe, and the vial holds about 20 doses of that size. Taken every other day, it lasts about 5.7 weeks.
How much water
The water only sets the strength; the dose and the number of doses in the vial stay the same. Draws are on a U-100 insulin syringe, where 1 unit is 0.01 mL.
| Water added | Strength | Per syringe unit | Draw for 250 IU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mL | 5,000 IU/mL | 50 IU | 5 units (0.05 mL) |
| 2 mL | 2,500 IU/mL | 25 IU | 10 units (0.10 mL) |
| 3 mL | 1,667 IU/mL | 17 IU | 15 units (0.15 mL) |
Dose chart
Syringe units for each common dose at each water volume. 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 | |||
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.
Where the doses come from
- Label 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.
- Trial 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.
Doses are what labels, trials or community reports reference, not recommendations. hCG’s page has the cycle, side effects, cautions and sources.
Mixing and storage
- PrepareLet a refrigerated vial come to room temperature, and wipe both stoppers with an alcohol swab.
- Add 2 mLDraw 2 mL of bacteriostatic water and let it run slowly down the inside wall of the vial.
- Swirl, don’t shakeSwirl gently until the powder dissolves and the liquid is clear.
- Label itWrite the date and the strength, 2,500 IU/mL, on the vial.
Storage: Mixed: 2–8 °C. Labels allow 30–60 days after mixing.
The reconstitution guide covers each step, and the units page explains syringe markings.
Questions
How much water do I add to a 5,000 IU vial of hCG?
There’s no single right amount: the water only sets the strength. With 2 mL of bacteriostatic water, a 5,000 IU vial holds 2,500 IU/mL. With 1 mL it’s 5,000 IU/mL; with 3 mL it’s 1,667 IU/mL. Less liquid makes each dose a smaller draw; more makes small doses easier to measure.
How many units is 250 IU of hCG?
With 2 mL in a 5,000 IU vial, 250 IU is 10 units (0.10 mL) on a U-100 insulin syringe. With 1 mL, 5 units (0.05 mL); with 3 mL, 15 units (0.15 mL).
How many doses are in a 5,000 IU vial of hCG?
About 20 doses of 250 IU, or 2 of 2,500 IU or 1 of 4,000 IU. Taken every other day at 250 IU, it lasts about 5.7 weeks.
How long does a mixed vial of hCG keep?
Mixed: 2–8 °C. Labels allow 30–60 days after mixing.
Sources
- Novarel (chorionic gonadotropin) label (DailyMed)
- Coviello et al., low-dose hCG with testosterone (JCEM 2005) PMID 15713727
- Hsieh et al., hCG preserves spermatogenesis on TRT (J Urol 2013) PMID 23260550
The math on this page uses the doses and storage on hCG’s page.