hCG
aka Human Chorionic Gonadotropin · Chorionic Gonadotropin · Pregnyl · Novarel · Ovidrel
Mechanism
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a placental glycoprotein hormone composed of a 92-amino-acid alpha subunit (shared with LH, FSH, and TSH) and a distinct 145-amino-acid beta subunit, joined non-covalently and heavily glycosylated. It acts as an agonist at the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR), mimicking the LH surge. In females it sustains the corpus luteum and progesterone production in early pregnancy and triggers final oocyte maturation and ovulation; in males it stimulates testicular Leydig cells to produce intratesticular testosterone, supporting spermatogenesis. hCG is FDA-approved (e.g., Pregnyl, Novarel, recombinant Ovidrel) for ovulation induction, assisted reproduction, and male hypogonadism/cryptorchidism.
Studied uses
- ovulation induction in assisted reproduction (IVF/IUI)
- male hypogonadism and restoring/maintaining fertility during testosterone replacement therapy
- prevention of testicular atrophy on TRT
- treatment of cryptorchidism in boys
Identification
| CAS number | 9002-61-3 |
|---|---|
| Typical dose | Fertility (final oocyte maturation): single 5,000-10,000 IU intramuscular or subcutaneous. Male TRT adjunct: commonly 250-500 IU subcutaneous 2-3x weekly (protocols vary, up to ~1,500 IU) |
| Half-life | ~24-36 hours terminal half-life after IM/SC injection (biphasic; longer than LH due to glycosylation) |
Safety
FDA-approved prescription drug; prescription-only in the US. Risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in women, thromboembolism, gynecomastia and fluid retention in men, and injection-site reactions. hCG is prohibited in men at all times under the WADA Code (S2 peptide hormones); homeopathic/weight-loss hCG products are not FDA-approved and are considered illegal/fraudulent.
Vendors selling hCG
| Vendor | Size | Price | Listed purity | Trust |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forge Performance Co. | — | $40.00 | — | 94 |
| Riptide Wellness | — | $64.99 | — | 92 |
| Peptide Plugs | — | $35.00 | — | 89 |
| Arcane Peptides | — | $45.00 | — | 88 |
| Simple Peptide | — | $55.00 | — | 85 |
| Reta Peptide | — | $65.00 | — | 83 |
| Ascension Peptides | — | $99.99 | — | 83 |
| Qing Li Peptide | — | — | — | 63 |
| Certified Peptides | — | $96.00 | — | 61 |
| DongCheng Peptide | — | — | — | 46 |
| zztai Peptide Ltd | — | $51.00 | — | 43 |
| zztai Peptide Ltd | — | $82.00 | — | 43 |
| zztai Peptide Ltd | — | $159.00 | — | 43 |
| Alpha Omega | — | $55.00 | — | — |
| Atomik Labz | — | $89.00 | — | — |
| Bulk Peptides | — | $220.00 | — | — |
| Genetic Peptide | — | $120.00 | — | — |
| Genetic Peptide | — | $60.00 | — | — |
| Nova Peptides | — | $49.99 | — | — |
| Pepvida Labs | — | $175.00 | — | — |
| Wellness Peptides | — | $45.00 | — | — |
Research
Objectives Most available data on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) elevations in menopausal women are derived from studies using Roche assays, with limited evidence across other immunoassay platforms.
source →Objective To evaluate if blastomere/trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing affects early HCG levels.
source →Purpose The early post-embryo transfer period lacks well-defined beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) thresholds to distinguish viable from non-viable pregnancies after frozen embryo transfer (FET).
source →Objective To explore the role of circulating human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the pathophysiology of enhanced myometrial vascularity (EMV) postpregnancy and the usefulness of determining hCG level in the clinical evaluation and management of this condition.
source →Chronic ectopic pregnancy should be considered in women with adnexal masses and persistent abdominal pain, even when serum β-hCG is negative, to prevent delayed diagnosis. This article reports a case of ectopic pregnancy with negative serum β-hCG levels nearly 3 months after curettage.
source →The first trimester offers valuable biomarkers that can predict abnormal fetal growth, such as small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births.
source →Efficient estrus synchronization is important for improving reproductive performance in dairy herds; however, variations in ovarian activity among cows of different parities may influence responses to synchronization protocols.
source →Objective To explore the factors associated with elevated serum progesterone (P) levels on the day of hCG administration in patients undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation using a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-A) protocol.
source →Primary hepatic carcinosarcoma is an exceptionally rare and highly aggressive malignancy, and ectopic β-hCG production and paraneoplastic leukemoid reaction are both uncommon findings in solid tumors.
source →Objective This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) therapy and identify clinical and laboratory predictors of treatment failure, particularly in relatively contraindicated cases.
source →Objective To investigate the association between the dynamic trajectories of urinary human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and the risk of early miscarriage after embryo transfer. Methods In this prospective cohort study conducted in Hebei Maternity Hospital, 207 women undergoing embryo transfer were enrolled.
source →HCG groups (hyperchromatic crowded groups) are hyperchromatic cellular aggregates observed during routine screening for cancer and premalignant intraepithelial lesions in both negative and abnormal cervical cytology samples.
source →1. Study Objective To Explore the Efficacy and Evaluate the Safety of Vutiglabridin in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients 2. Background Glaceum Inc.
source →a number of infertile women who were prepared for ICSI and immediately post ova pick up intrauterine flushing with human chorionic gonadotropin was done to study the effect of this drug on ICSI outcome and ultrasound parameter.
source →This study seeks to evaluate pregnancy outcomes following hysteroscopic uterine cavity expansion surgery for patients with dysmorphic uterine cavities and poor reproductive histories. Patients already planning to undergo surgery at the recommendation of their physicians will be recruited for participation.
source →Our and others experience suggest that in some cases delaying oocyte pick up (OPU) for more than 39 hours after hCG injection may be of benefit. We plan to apply this to 20 women in whom less than 20% of oocytes were found suitable for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
source →The present study is divided into two groups ,one is the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism who has TPO antibody positive women with TSH concentrations \> 2.5 mU/L and below the upper limit of the pregnancy specific reference range ,another is TPO antibody negative with TSH concentrations greater than the pregnan…
source →Subjects with moderate-to-severe Dry Eye by symptoms will be screened including history, ophthalmic examination to include the status of their ocular structure and function and evaluation of tear production. Blood will be blood drawn for complete blood count and chemistry panel.
source →In women being treated with medicines to help eggs to grow (called ovulation induction), The investigators wish to know whether adding medicines (called ovulation triggers) that help to release the egg (ovulation) would lead to more women having babies without causing harm compared with not giving them ovulation trigge…
source →Healthy volunteers and patients with diseases that involve problems clearing mucus from the lungs will be examined and tested to better understand the reasons for recurring lung infections in these patients and to try to develop better ways to diagnose and treat them.
source →