hCG

Gonadotropin. hCG is FDA approved (prescription only); research-chemical versions are not the approved drug.

Also called:human chorionic gonadotropin

Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · 3 Oct 2026 · DisclosureUpdated 3 Oct 2026Strongest evidence: Human RCT

Key facts

Class: Gonadotropin
Also called: human chorionic gonadotropin
Half-life: pooled half-life 5.8 days; injection (urinary and recombinant hCG), in people · Clinical endocrinology 2024, PMID 38446525
FDA status: Approved (prescription only); Approved
WADA: Prohibited (S2.2.1); In and out of competition

Everything on hCG

hCG guides

01DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.02Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.03ResultsStudy outcomes and when they were measured.04PricePrice per mg and per week from dated listings. No vendor links.05Legal statusFDA, compounding and WADA status with dates.06How to injectSites, syringe types and hygiene, step by step.07Half-lifeWhat is measured, by route, and what is not.08StoragePowder and mixed vials: temperature and shelf life.09For testosteroneWhat research says about hCG for testosterone.10For weight lossWhat research says about hCG for weight loss.11For muscle growthWhat research says about hCG for muscle growth.

Evidence at a glance

Human and animal counts are PubMed records from our evidence ledger (search counts, not studies we reviewed). The grade is the strongest design among the studies we summarised for that goal: a human randomized trial outweighs any number of animal studies.

hCG: studies by condition
Condition	Human studies	Animal studies	Studies we summarised	Evidence grade
Testosterone	1,606	1,441	12	Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Clinical endocrinology 2024, PMID 38446525
Weight loss	156	124	5	Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2002, PMID 12107212
Muscle growth	19	2	2	Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2002, PMID 12107212

Grades follow our evidence scale. Summarised studies come from our evidence file, each quote checked against the abstract or label.

Compared with

hCGvsEnclomipheneGonadotropin next to serm (not a peptide): evidence, dosing and legal status side by side.Not FDA approved · compoundedRead the comparison →hCGvsHGHGonadotropin next to recombinant growth hormone: evidence, dosing and legal status side by side.FDA approved (prescription only)Read the comparison →

Common stacks

hCG is often sold pre-mixed or combined with other peptides. A few of these pairs appear together in published studies; each stack page lists what was tested, and the pages below cover the math and what each part has been studied for.

hCG + Enclomiphene hCG + HGH hCG + Kisspeptin-10

Common questions

Is hCG FDA approved?

hCG is FDA approved (prescription only). Products sold as research chemicals are not the approved drug and are not checked by the FDA.

Is hCG banned in sport?

Yes. Prohibited by WADA (S2.2.1), so it is prohibited at all times for tested athletes.

Sources

1US search volume and year-over-year trend, Google Keyword Planner export (Jun–Aug 2026 vs 2025)Peptigraph research · 2026peptigraph.com/methodology/Accessed 1 Oct 2026
2World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
3NOVAREL ® (chorionic gonadotropin) for injection, for intramuscular use Initial U.S. Approval: 1974FDA label, DailyMed · current labeldailymed.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
4Single and multi-dose pharmacology of recombinant and urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin in men.Clinical endocrinology · 2024PMID 38446525Accessed 2 Oct 2026
5A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin on muscle strength and physical function and activity in older men with partial age-related androgen deficiency.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2002PMID 12107212Accessed 2 Oct 2026

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