Hormonal

HCG Dosage Protocol

A glycoprotein hormone LH receptor agonist used for testicular function maintenance during TRT and post-cycle therapy. Complete dosing guide and peer-reviewed references.

Last reviewed March 2025 · 2 cited sources

Reconstitution

Add 2.0 mL BAC water → 2500 IU/mL

Daily dose range

250–1000 IU (titrated)

Unit math (U-100 syringe)

1 unit = 0.01 mL ≈ 25 mcg

Storage (lyophilized)

Refrigerate at 2–8 °C (REFRIGERATE -do NOT freeze) · Reconstituted: 36–46 °F · Use within 30–60 days

Dosing & Reconstitution Guide

The protocol below uses a 2.0 mL reconstitution volume to keep injection units comfortably above 10 on a standard U-100 insulin syringe, reducing measurement error. Doses are titrated as shown below.

Phase	Daily dose	U-100 units	Injection volume
TRT support	250–500 IU	10–20 units	0.10–0.20 mL
PCT	500–1000 IU	20–40 units	0.20–0.40 mL

Route: Subcutaneous / IM · Frequency: 2–3× weekly (TRT) or daily (PCT) · Cycle: Ongoing during TRT

Reconstitution steps

Draw 2.0 mL of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.

Inject the water slowly down the interior wall of the peptide vial -never directly onto the powder -to prevent foaming and denaturation.

Swirl or roll gently until fully dissolved. Do not shake. The lyophilized powder should dissolve completely within 30–60 seconds.

Label the vial with the reconstitution date and concentration (2500 IU/mL). Refrigerate at 36–46 °F, protected from light. Use within 30–60 days.

Research use only. This protocol is derived from published preclinical and early-phase clinical literature. HCG is not FDA-approved for human use. This information is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any peptide protocol.

Supplies Needed

Estimates below assume the titration schedule listed above.

HCG vials (5000 IU each)

Per cycleAs needed per titration

U-100 insulin syringes

8 weeks56 syringes

12 weeks84 syringes

16 weeks112 syringes

Bacteriostatic water (10 mL bottles)

Per vial2.0 mL needed

Alcohol swabs (100-count boxes)

8 weeks2 boxes (~112 swabs)

12 weeks2 boxes (~168 swabs)

16 weeks3 boxes (~224 swabs)

Storage Instructions

Lyophilized (dry powder)

2–8 °C (REFRIGERATE -do NOT freeze)

Store refrigerated in dry, dark conditions. Do not freeze.

Reconstituted (in solution)

36–46 °F

Refrigerate after reconstitution. Use within 30–60 days. Do not refreeze reconstituted solution -freeze-thaw cycles degrade peptide integrity.

Allow refrigerated vials to reach room temperature before opening to minimize condensation uptake. Always inspect for cloudiness or particulates before use -discard if present.

Verified Source

We recommend Pacific Edge Labs for research-grade HCG. Third-party lab tests are published on each product page.

Why Pacific Edge Labs

High-purity compounds with third-party lab results available on the website
Consistent quality control with ISO-aligned handling and documentation
Fast, discreet shipping with proper handling and packaging

View HCG on Pacific Edge Labs →

How HCG Works

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a glycoprotein hormone that directly activates the luteinizing hormone receptor (LHCGR) on Leydig cells in the testes. With an approximately 36-hour half-life, HCG enables 2–3 times weekly dosing to maintain intratesticular testosterone (ITT) production even when exogenous testosterone suppresses pituitary LH output.^[1]

During TRT, HCG prevents testicular atrophy by keeping Leydig cells active, and for post-cycle therapy (PCT), higher-dose protocols rapidly restore testicular responsiveness. Unlike gonadorelin, HCG bypasses the pituitary entirely, acting directly on gonadal tissue.^[2] Important storage note: HCG must be REFRIGERATED even in lyophilized form -do NOT freeze.

Observed Effects & Side Effect Profile

The following observations are derived from preclinical literature and limited early-phase human data. They do not constitute clinical claims.

Reported benefits (research literature)

Direct LH receptor activation maintains testicular function during TRT
Prevents testicular atrophy and preserves intratesticular testosterone
36-hour half-life enables convenient 2–3× weekly dosing
Rapid restoration of testicular responsiveness for post-cycle therapy

Known limitations & side effects

Must be REFRIGERATED even as lyophilized powder -do NOT freeze
Estrogen elevation possible through maintained testicular aromatase activity
Gynecomastia risk if estrogen management is inadequate
Desensitization of Leydig cells possible with supraphysiologic dosing
Regulated substance in many jurisdictions

Lifestyle Considerations

While the following suggestions are not protocol requirements, research on tissue repair and peptide efficacy consistently highlights these as factors that influence outcomes:

Protein intake. Collagen synthesis and tissue remodeling require adequate dietary protein. Research generally supports 1.6–2.2 g/kg/day during active recovery periods.

Sleep. The majority of tissue repair and growth hormone secretion occurs during deep sleep stages. 7–9 hours of quality sleep per night supports the biological environment in which recovery peptides operate.

Activity balance. Avoid complete immobilization (which impedes collagen remodeling) and overuse (which re-injures tissue). Progressive loading appropriate to the injury stage supports functional recovery.

Stress management. Elevated cortisol chronically impairs immune function and tissue repair. Evidence-based stress reduction techniques support the recovery environment.

Injection Technique

Standard subcutaneous injection guidance from clinical best-practice references.

Wash hands thoroughly. Clean your work surface. Gather all supplies before beginning.

Wipe the vial rubber stopper with a fresh alcohol swab. Allow it to dry completely before inserting a needle.

Draw the calculated dose volume into a sterile insulin syringe. Invert the syringe and tap to remove air bubbles; expel them before withdrawing the needle from the vial.

Select an injection site: abdomen (at least 2 inches from the navel), outer thigh, or upper outer arm. Clean with a fresh alcohol swab and allow to dry.

Pinch a fold of skin between thumb and forefinger. Insert the needle at a 45–90° angle depending on body fat thickness -45° for leaner individuals, 90° for more subcutaneous tissue.

Do not aspirate. Current clinical guidelines do not recommend aspiration for subcutaneous injections. Inject slowly and steadily over 2–3 seconds.

Wait 3–5 seconds after the plunger bottoms out before withdrawing the needle at the same angle. Apply gentle pressure with a clean swab -do not rub vigorously.

Rotate injection sites systematically with every dose. Reusing the same site repeatedly causes lipohypertrophy (hardened fat tissue) which reduces absorption consistency.

Dispose of used needles and syringes immediately in a puncture-resistant sharps container. Never recap needles by hand.

Important Notes

⚠

Research use only. HCG is not FDA-approved for human use. Human clinical data may be limited. Do not use without consulting a qualified healthcare professional.

◎

One syringe per injection. Never reuse needles or syringes. Each injection requires a fresh, sterile syringe to prevent contamination and infection risk.

⚠

REFRIGERATE even lyophilized -do NOT freeze dry powder

⚠

Estrogen elevation possible -monitor and manage

◎

Document your protocol. Record daily dose, injection site, and any observations. This supports consistency and allows you to identify patterns or issues over the course of the cycle.

◎

Inspect before each use. The reconstituted solution should be clear and colorless. Discard if cloudy, discolored, or if particulates are visible.

References

All dosing recommendations and mechanism descriptions on this page are derived from the following peer-reviewed publications and regulatory documents.

PubMed 15713727

Coviello AD et al. Low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin maintains intratesticular testosterone in normal men with testosterone-induced gonadotropin suppression

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15713727 ↗

PubMed 23260550

Hsieh TC et al. Concomitant intramuscular human chorionic gonadotropin preserves spermatogenesis in men undergoing testosterone replacement therapy

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23260550 ↗