Is HCG approved for general or research-only use?

Material sold to laboratories is research-use-only and is not intended for human consumption. Separately, prescription hCG is an approved biologic only for specific indications such as ovulation induction, male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and prepubertal cryptorchidism; it is explicitly not approved for weight loss, and regulators have acted against weight-loss products. This page summarizes published research and does not provide usage directions.

Is HCG a simple peptide with a defined molecular formula?

No. hCG is a large glycoprotein hormone, a non-covalent heterodimer of a 92-amino-acid α-subunit and a 145-amino-acid β-subunit, with carbohydrate making up roughly 25–40% of its mass (~36.7 kDa). Because glycosylation varies, it does not have a single defined molecular formula or InChIKey; small-molecule database entries returned for the name are unrelated compounds and should not be used.

HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) Dosage, Half-Life & Research

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a placental glycoprotein hormone, not a synthetic peptide. It is a heterodimer of a 92-residue α-subunit (shared with LH, FSH and TSH) and a unique 145-residue β-subunit, held together non-covalently, with carbohydrate making up roughly 25–40% of its mass¹². Because of its size and extensive glycosylation it has no simple small-molecule structure or single canonical InChIKey — several widely-quoted “formulas” online actually point to unrelated PubChem records and should be disregarded. hCG binds the same receptor as luteinizing hormone (the LHCG receptor), which is why it is studied as an LH analogue in reproductive and HPG-axis research³. It is a prescription biologic for defined fertility and hypogonadism indications and is not approved for weight loss⁴. Materials sold for laboratory use are research-use-only and are not for human administration.

Structure

Sequence & identity

Heterodimeric glycoprotein (α 92 aa + β 145 aa) · formula not established (glycoprotein) · ≈ 36,700 g/mol

hCG is registered under CAS 9002-61-3 as a native/recombinant glycoprotein hormone⁵. As a large, variably glycosylated heterodimer it does not have a defined molecular formula or single InChIKey in PubChem; small-molecule entries returned for “chorionic gonadotropin” (e.g. CID 1108) correspond to an unrelated steroid hydrocarbon and are not the hormone⁶.

What the research shows

Mechanisms studied

hCG binds the luteinizing hormone / chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR), a G-protein-coupled receptor expressed on ovarian and testicular cells. Receptor activation raises intracellular cAMP and drives steroidogenesis: in studies it promoted progesterone output from the corpus luteum and, in males, stimulated Leydig-cell testosterone production while inhibiting luteolysis³¹. The unique, heavily O-glycosylated C-terminal extension of the β-subunit slows clearance relative to LH, giving hCG a longer circulating action².

Reported in studies

Dosing in the research literature

The figures below summarise regimens as reported in published research — they are not recommendations or directions for use.

Source / model	Regimen reported	Notes
Roth et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2010	15, 60 or 125 IU subcutaneously every other day for five doses, in healthy men with experimental gonadotropin suppression	As reported in the study: intratesticular testosterone rose dose-dependently from ~77 nmol/L (0 IU) to ~923 nmol/L (125 IU); the threshold for measurable stimulation lay between 15 and 60 IU. Reported as research findings, not a usage direction.
Coviello et al., J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2005	125, 250 or 500 IU every other day for 3 weeks alongside testosterone-induced gonadotropin suppression in normal men	Authors reported a linear dose-response in which low-dose hCG maintained intratesticular testosterone within the normal range. Figures cited as reported, not as a protocol to follow.
Kyhl et al., Clin Transl Sci, 2021 (recombinant hCG, first-in-human PK)	single 125 µg doses of recombinant choriogonadotropin in healthy men; ascending single/daily doses in women	Reported terminal half-life ~47 h (CG beta) versus ~32 h (CG alfa) in men, with a 1.6-fold greater testosterone AUC for CG beta. Pharmacokinetic data only.

Research use only. Peptigo products are sold to qualified researchers for laboratory use. This information summarises published research for reference and is not medical advice, a dosing recommendation, or directions for human or animal use.

Reported in studies

Effects observed in research

In controlled human studies hCG acted as an LH surrogate: researchers observed dose-dependent increases in intratesticular and serum testosterone in men⁷⁸, and it has been used as an ovulation trigger and to support the corpus luteum in fertility research⁹. These are observations within regulated clinical settings; no inference is made here about effects in non-clinical or research-only use, and hCG has explicitly not been shown effective for weight loss⁴.

Honest assessment

Strength of evidence

Grade A

Grade A within approved indications. hCG has decades of human data for ovulation induction, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and cryptorchidism, plus controlled pharmacokinetic and intratesticular-testosterone studies in men⁷⁸⁹. Evidence does not support marketed weight-loss claims, and regulators have acted against such products⁴. The grade reflects the quality of the clinical literature, not an endorsement of research-use-only material for human use.

Handling

Reconstitution & storage

Reconstitute with bacteriostatic water for laboratory handling. Store lyophilised material frozen and reconstituted material refrigerated. Use Peptigo’s reconstitution calculator and storage cheat sheet for working figures.

References

Human chorionic gonadotropin — Wikipedia (subunit composition, glycosylation, LHCG receptor). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_chorionic_gonadotropin
Cole LA. New discoveries on the biology and detection of human chorionic gonadotropin. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009;7:8. PMC2649930. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2649930/
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf NBK532950 (LHCG receptor, steroidogenesis, luteolysis). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532950/
Questions and Answers on HCG Products for Weight Loss. U.S. FDA. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/questions-and-answers-hcg-products-weight-loss
Chorionic gonadotropin, CAS 9002-61-3, native glycoprotein hormone — Sigma-Aldrich product listing. https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/product/sigma/cg5
PubChem CID 1108 record (returns 2,3,…-hexadecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene; not the hormone). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/1108
Roth MY, et al. Dose-Dependent Increase in Intratesticular Testosterone by Very Low-Dose Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Normal Men with Experimental Gonadotropin Deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010. PMC2913032. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2913032/
Coviello AD, et al. Low-Dose Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Maintains Intratesticular Testosterone in Normal Men with Testosterone-Induced Gonadotropin Suppression. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005;90(5):2595-2602. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/90/5/2595/2836735
Kyhl LB, et al. First-in-human trial assessing the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profile of a novel recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin in healthy women and men. Clin Transl Sci. 2021. PMC8301557. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8301557/

Written by the Peptigo Research Team · scientifically reviewed by Peter, Peptigo Research Team · Last reviewed June 2026. We cite primary literature and flag where evidence is limited. Our sourcing & RUO policy →