All compounds
Prescription drug Published: RCT evidence Extensive real-world use

HCG: dosing, reconstitution and evidence

A glycoprotein hormone that mimics LH, directly stimulating the testes. Used alongside TRT to preserve testicular size and fertility, and used alone for fertility treatment.

Also known as Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, Pregnyl, Novarel, Ovidrel

Educational research reference TRT / HRT & Ancillary
Quick reference. Everything you need to run HCG — dosing, frequency, reconstitution math for the vial sizes people actually buy, and what it stacks with. For anything specific to your situation, ask the Guru.

HCG quick start

Route
SubQ
Typical dose
250–500 IU
Frequency
2–3× weekly
Half-life
Biphasic — roughly 24–36 hours terminal.
Cycle
Continuous alongside TRT, or in fertility protocols.
Vial sizes sold
10,000 IU or 5,000 IU
These are the numbers people actually run, drawn from the published record and from what the community has settled on over time. Educational reference, not medical advice — a starting point to work from, and one you can adjust as you learn how you respond.

How to run it

How often
2–3× weekly
Cycle length
Continuous alongside TRT, or in fertility protocols.
Half-life
Biphasic — roughly 24–36 hours terminal.
Route
SubQ
Consistency matters more than perfect timing. Pick a slot in your day you will actually keep, and let DoseIQ handle the rest.

What people actually run

Standard alongside TRT for testicular function. 250–500 IU 2–3×/week is well settled.

This is accumulated community practice — years of real-world use across a large number of people, converging on numbers that work. It is not a controlled trial, and for most compounds here no such trial exists or is ever likely to. That makes this the most reliable dosing signal available, and it is a good deal better than guessing.

What to expect

Most people tolerate HCG well. Here is what is worth knowing going in, so nothing catches you by surprise.

Prescription-only. Must be refrigerated after reconstitution and is typically good for about 30 days. Can raise estradiol — sometimes requiring an AI. Excessive doses can desensitize Leydig cells, defeating the purpose. Note: HCG appears in the peptide dropdown as well; it belongs in the HCG section.

Reconstitution guide

HCG ships as a lyophilised powder and gets mixed with bacteriostatic water before use. How much water you add sets the concentration, which sets how many syringe units make up each dose. One unit on a U-100 syringe is 0.01 mL — the tables below do the arithmetic for the vial sizes you are most likely to be holding.

10,000 IU vial most common

Water addedConcentration 250 IU500 IU
5mL (common) 2,000 IU/mL0.13 mL
12.5 units		0.25 mL
25 units
10mL 1,000 IU/mL0.25 mL
25 units		0.50 mL
50 units

5,000 IU vial

Water addedConcentration 250 IU500 IU
5mL (common) 1,000 IU/mL0.25 mL
25 units		0.50 mL
50 units
10mL 500 IU/mL0.50 mL
50 units		1.00 mL
100 units
10,000 IU vial + 10 mL BAC water = 1,000 IU/mL. A 500 IU dose = 50 units. (5,000 IU + 5 mL gives the same concentration.)

Standard steps

  1. Inspect the vialConfirm the label and that the powder cake is intact. Do not use a cracked or compromised vial.
  2. Let it reach room temperatureSitting out for a few minutes reduces condensation inside the vial when the seal is broken.
  3. Disinfect both stoppersWipe the compound vial and the bacteriostatic water vial with a fresh alcohol swab and let them air-dry.
  4. Draw the bacteriostatic waterUse a sterile syringe to draw the volume you have chosen from the reconstitution table.
  5. Add the water down the vial wallInject slowly so it runs down the inside wall rather than spraying directly onto the powder. This limits foaming.
  6. Dissolve gentlySwirl or roll the vial between your hands until the cake dissolves. Never shake — agitation damages peptide bonds. The solution should end up clear.
  7. Label and refrigerateWrite the reconstitution date and concentration on the vial. Store at 2–8°C. Do not freeze.
Running a different vial size or water volume? The DoseIQ calculator works it out for any combination — mcg, mg or IU, on any syringe size.
Track this in DoseIQ Browse all compounds

This page is an educational research reference and is not medical advice. Dose figures reflect the published record and what the community has converged on — starting points to weigh, not instructions. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any protocol.