Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy, and it acts on the same receptor as luteinising hormone. Manufactured versions (such as Pregnyl and Novarel) are approved prescription drugs used in fertility and endocrine medicine.

Yes, for specific indications. hCG is an approved prescription medicine for prepubertal cryptorchidism, certain cases of male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and induction of ovulation in women pretreated with menotropins. It is not approved for weight loss.

Does the hCG diet work for weight loss?

No. The 'hCG diet' is not supported by evidence, and the drug's own FDA-approved label states there is no substantial evidence that hCG increases weight loss or affects fat distribution, appetite, or fat mobilisation. Any weight loss on such programs is generally attributed to the very-low-calorie diet, not the hormone.

What are the side effects of hCG?

As a prescription hormone, hCG can cause injection-site pain, headache, irritability or mood changes, and fluid retention. More serious risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women, gynaecomastia in men, and precocious puberty in children treated for cryptorchidism. It requires medical supervision.

Is hCG used for testosterone or fertility in men?

It is used in some medical and off-label contexts in men. hCG stimulates testicular testosterone production and is sometimes used off-label for hypogonadism or to preserve fertility, though the supporting data are mostly from small studies. These are medical decisions that require a clinician; this page is not medical advice.

Is hCG legal or prescription-only?

hCG is a prescription-only medicine, and its legal status reflects that: it is intended to be prescribed and monitored by a clinician. Products marketed for the unsupervised 'hCG diet' fall outside its approved use. This page is educational information, not medical or legal advice.

Where can I buy HCG and compare vendors?

Use the vendor comparison on this page. It shows only checked, product-specific links and identifies vendor claims, independent documentation and affiliate relationships separately. Availability and legal status can vary by country.

Endocrine

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Also known as: Human chorionic gonadotropin · Pregnyl · Novarel · choriogonadotropin

Evidence grade A — Approved / StrongRisk flag

Short answer

A placental hormone approved as a prescription drug for specific fertility and endocrine uses. Its labelled uses are well established; the 'hCG diet' is explicitly unsupported by the drug's own labelling.

Where can you buy HCG?

Crystal Peptides. The table lists only product-specific offers that were checked and for which a real destination exists. Missing prices, quantities, stock and laboratory details are not inferred.

What is known?

What is not established?

Evidence supports its approved endocrine and fertility indications. Off-label use in men for hypogonadism or fertility preservation has supportive but limited data from mostly small studies. Use for weight loss is not supported: the approved label states there is no substantial evidence it aids weight loss and that it has no known effect on fat mobilisation, appetite, or fat distribution.

Safety

A prescription hormone requiring medical supervision. Reported risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women, thromboembolism, precocious puberty in treated children, and gynaecomastia in men. Non-medical or 'diet' use is unsupervised and carries these risks without benefit.

Regulatory status

An approved prescription medicine in the EU and US for prepubertal cryptorchidism, selected cases of male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and induction of ovulation in women pretreated with menotropins. The FDA-approved label explicitly states it is not effective for weight loss or obesity. Prescription-only.

Not medical advice. This educational reference is not diagnosis, treatment, prescribing, dosing or emergency guidance. Consult a qualified professional before making health-related decisions.

Regulatory or safety concern: This substance may be unapproved for human use, affect the hormonal system, or be subject to regulator or anti-doping restrictions. Check the cited evidence and rules in your jurisdiction.

Vendor comparison

Buy HCG: compare vendors

The table lists only product-specific offers that were checked and for which a real destination exists. Missing prices, quantities, stock and laboratory details are not inferred.

Vendor	Product	Documentation	Shipping	Checked	Action
Crystal Peptides Code PEPTIDES10 −10% · discount code details Sponsored	HCG research product	Vendor-supplied data COA stated as available Not independently documented	Europe See the localized country store	Jul 18, 2026	View at vendor

Crystal Peptides

HCG research product

Code PEPTIDES10 −10% · discount code details

What is it?

Research and evidence

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy, and it acts on the same receptor as luteinising hormone (LH). Manufactured urinary-derived and recombinant versions — sold under names such as Pregnyl and Novarel — are approved prescription drugs used in fertility and endocrine medicine. It is a prescription-only medicine, not a supplement, and it should be distinguished from the unsupported 'hCG diet' products that borrow its name.

The evidence supports hCG for its approved endocrine and fertility indications, which include prepubertal cryptorchidism, selected cases of male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and induction of ovulation in women who have been pretreated with menotropins. Off-label use in men — for hypogonadism or fertility preservation — has supportive but limited data, mostly from small studies. Its use for weight loss, by contrast, is explicitly not supported: the drug's own FDA-approved label states that there is no substantial evidence it increases weight loss, and that it has no known effect on fat mobilisation, appetite, or fat distribution. The underlying mechanism is LH-receptor agonism, which stimulates testosterone production and testicular descent in men and triggers ovulation as part of assisted-reproduction protocols.

Because it is a prescription hormone, hCG requires medical supervision. Reported risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women, thromboembolism, precocious puberty in children treated for cryptorchidism, and gynaecomastia in men. Non-medical or 'diet' use is unsupervised and carries these risks without the benefit its marketing claims, which is why the gap between the label and the diet lore matters. This page is an educational reference summarizing what the evidence and the approved labelling show; it is not medical advice, and it does not provide dosing, protocols, or sourcing guidance.

Evidence grade: A

Human evidence

Animal and preclinical evidence

Gonadotropic effects on the testis and ovary are well characterised across species.

Proposed mechanisms

LH-receptor agonism stimulating testicular Leydig-cell testosterone production and testicular descent
Triggering of ovulation in women as part of assisted-reproduction protocols

Safety concerns and known side effects

Injection-site pain
Headache, irritability, or mood changes
Oedema
Ovarian hyperstimulation (women) / gynaecomastia (men)

Regulatory status

Frequently asked questions about HCG

What is hCG?: Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy, and it acts on the same receptor as luteinising hormone. Manufactured versions (such as Pregnyl and Novarel) are approved prescription drugs used in fertility and endocrine medicine.
Is hCG approved?: Yes, for specific indications. hCG is an approved prescription medicine for prepubertal cryptorchidism, certain cases of male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and induction of ovulation in women pretreated with menotropins. It is not approved for weight loss.
Does the hCG diet work for weight loss?: No. The 'hCG diet' is not supported by evidence, and the drug's own FDA-approved label states there is no substantial evidence that hCG increases weight loss or affects fat distribution, appetite, or fat mobilisation. Any weight loss on such programs is generally attributed to the very-low-calorie diet, not the hormone.
What are the side effects of hCG?: As a prescription hormone, hCG can cause injection-site pain, headache, irritability or mood changes, and fluid retention. More serious risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women, gynaecomastia in men, and precocious puberty in children treated for cryptorchidism. It requires medical supervision.
Is hCG used for testosterone or fertility in men?: It is used in some medical and off-label contexts in men. hCG stimulates testicular testosterone production and is sometimes used off-label for hypogonadism or to preserve fertility, though the supporting data are mostly from small studies. These are medical decisions that require a clinician; this page is not medical advice.
Is hCG legal or prescription-only?: hCG is a prescription-only medicine, and its legal status reflects that: it is intended to be prescribed and monitored by a clinician. Products marketed for the unsupervised 'hCG diet' fall outside its approved use. This page is educational information, not medical or legal advice.
Where can I buy HCG and compare vendors?: Use the vendor comparison on this page. It shows only checked, product-specific links and identifies vendor claims, independent documentation and affiliate relationships separately. Availability and legal status can vary by country.

Common discussion areas

Testosterone-therapy adjunct and fertility preservationPost-anabolic-steroid recovery useThe unsupported 'hCG diet'Prescription status

Sources

Editorial review and transparency

Written by: peptides.cx Editorial Team
Scientific reviewer: No named medical reviewer is currently assigned
Last editorial review: July 18, 2026
Last vendor check: July 18, 2026
Review method: Source review, claim verification, vendor-data separation and regulatory-context review.
Commercial disclosure and conflicts: Vendor relationships do not determine evidence or safety ratings. No named reviewer conflict is recorded because no named reviewer is assigned.

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