Let’s just get to the basics…
What is HCG?
HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. It is medically used to induce ovulation in females and to stimulate testosterone production in males. HCG requires a prescription and is injected into the subcutaneous fat or in the muscle tissue.
How does HCG work?
For this discussion, we will be focusing on the action in males. HCG mimics leutenizing hormone (LH). LH stimulates the Leydig cells in the testicles to produce testosterone. This action also causes the testes to return to normal size and function if they were suppressed due to exogenous (from the outside) testosterone.
Who should use HCG?
Men who currently are on testosterone therapy should use HCG one week on and three weeks off.
What happens if I’m on testosterone and I don’t use HCG?
When your body has enough testosterone, the brain does not send the LH signal to your testicles. Therefore, you will not make any testosterone until your levels drop to below normal and the signal returns, stimulating production. Since you are getting testosterone from an outside source, your brain is most likely not sending that signal to your testicles. Over time, the old adage of “use it or lose it” comes into play and your testicles will shrink in size. The time is different for every man and the amount of “shrinkage” is different for every man. Fortunately, the HCG will quickly restore the size and function.
Will HCG stimulate my own testosterone production?
Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Using HCG regularly over time will desensitize the Leydig cells to your own LH. So when you stop the HCG, your testicles will not recognize the LH signal from your brain…not good. HCG will increase your own testosterone for about five days after you inject it.
Will HCG stimulate estrogen production?
Yes. When testosterone rises sharply, your body will aromatize the testosterone into estrogen. This can be prevented with a tablet called anastrazole. My patients take anastrazole anyway while on testosterone therapy.
Anything else I should know?
Of course…When you are on testosterone therapy, it is inevitable that your cholesterol level will go up. Cholesterol is the beginning chemical structure for many of our hormones. The enzyme that begins the changes of cholesterol into other hormones is stimulated by LH. When taking testosterone, LH is suppressed. When you inject the HCG, the enzyme is stimulated again and the pathway flows normally.
How to take HCG.
The dose I recommend is 500IU three times a week, one week on, three weeks off. Usually, my patients inject the HCG during the first week of each month. It gets injected just like a diabetic would inject insulin. The level peaks in about 6 hours and remains at this level for 36 hours. After about 72 hours, the level is back to baseline.
When my patients get their HCG from the pharmacy, it is freeze-dried and must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water. Everything comes ready to go in the kit. You will draw 5ml of bacteriostatic water from the vial and inject it into the dried HCG vial. DO NOT shake the HCG because the molecule is a peptide and is held together by weak carbon bonds. Shaking can destroy the molecule.
Then draw 0.5ml of mixed HCG into the small insulin syringe provided. Inject the HCG into the subcutaneous fat of your lower abdomen. Store the HCG in the refrigerator after it is mixed. The vial expires 30 days after mixing.
Using HCG while taking testosterone is important to maintain testicular size and function, help balance the other hormones needed in the body, and increases a man’s sense of well-being and libido. As time goes on and research continues, we are learning more and more about how to properly use this wonderful hormone.
I have been taking TRT for several years. Recently my wife and I decided to have a child so I went to a fertility Dr. She had me stop the TRT and I have been on clomid for around 5 months. My T levels are at around 100 – I just started taking HCG 2000 IU 3x’s a week –
If I took the TRT WITH the HCG would it help ramp up my levels or should I only be taking the HCG?
Thanks!
The TRT will significantly decrease fertility. HCG will bring it back to normal in most cases. I think 2000IU 3x a week is way too frequent, but check with a fertility expert on that dosing. Fertility dosing is not my expertise. Don’t use testosterone if you are trying to get pregnant.
Dr. West Conner, question on this subject, I have found HCG to be ineffective (pharmacy graded /prescription) during TRT(150mg cyp a week).. of course I followed exactly what you are talking about here, I dosed 500IU 3/4 times a week even 100IU subq daily, never saved me… still got “shrinkage” after about 4 weeks.. and of course its not fun.. so it keeps me from doing long duration TRT..I have had better luck with menopur at holding off testicle atrophy during trt, is this something you have seen before? or course I wish HCG did work for me as it does for many of my friends, because its so inexpensive compared to menopur.. could I be a non responder? I have tried it at least 3 times straight from the pharmacy for short durations 2-3 weeks mid TRT period…, in my blood work the LH is at .5 or lower even with HCG supplementation..menopur slightly higher ( 75 IU 3 times a week) would it be showing as LH in a blood test?.. or does it not equate to the body’s LH.. appreciated in advance
Chris,
My only thought is that you could just not respond to HCG. If that is the case, you are the first person I’ve heard of that happening to. I’d try using HCG fro a different pharmacy. I’ve seen some pretty “shady” stuff out there. Hopefully that will work for you because that Menopur is so expensive.
Hello doctor ,
I have been using testesterone enthanate of300 mg every week for
Last 5 years for bodybuilding . Now i have stopped it and am on clomid for 5
Months . My sperm count was at 0 which now has improved to 3 million
My test levels have reached 250 and is stagnant with out any improvement
What would u suggest i do .
Kindly advice
Marc – I have been on TRT for 1 year.
Every 3 days I take the following
50 mg depo
1 mg ARIMIDEX
500 iu’s HCG
Everything is going great and I feel fine.
My most recent blood work is a follows
Estradiol 15
Free Test: 153
Total Test: 1011
I have had 7 blood tests through out the last year all aprox the same.
However, I have noticed what would appear to be a slight increase of fatty tissue around the lower portion of my pectorals. My concern is this may be the beginning of Gynecomastia.
I have read that HCG could be a contributing factor to this.
Do you think following your recommended dosage of 1 week on 3 weeks off of HCG would be advisable? And would, or should I see a decrease in the fatty tissue on my lower pectorals because of this action?
Or would you suggest another actions?
I would like to see the study that says hcg desensitizes the leydig cells to real lh
Paul,
There have been studies. When given large, frequent doses, the HCG will desensitize the cells. The dose I recommend does not adversely effect the Leydig cell receptor sites. The dose can be high and infrequent or low and frequent without desensitization. Infrequent higher dosing gives better results in my opinion.
I have also seen the studies, I have also seen a study were a very high dose of hcg alone is enough to downregulate the receptors. I have been on trt for over a year now, and things have hit a rough patch. Going on trt was amazing, more energy, libido etc. However as the months went on It has been getting harder and harder to orgasm and now it is damn near impossible. My wife feels she Is no longer attractive, and it has caused a rift in our love life. I recently started 1000iu twice a week under my dr, for 3 weeks. Then down to 300iu twice a week. Can you please tell me how long it will be till the sensitivity comes back? Things are terrible right now! Any advice or help would be very very appreciated!
-kevin
I am a 55 year old male. I have been on a 200 mg/mL injection of testosterone for a little over a year now and have noticed testicular shrinkage. I just went for my annual check up and shared with my doctor your thoughts on HCG in combination with TRT and she said she has never given any patient both and wouldn’t do it.
Does anyone know any doctors in the NYC or Connecticut areas that believe in the benefits of both hormones?
Please recommend someone who understands.
Thanks,
Dan
Dan,
I don’t know of a doctor in those states. Your “doctor” is completely wrong, I’d find someone else who can treat you ASAP.
Hi Dan,
I might be able to help you. Although, I’m hoping that you still come back to this website looking for information. Anyway, my name is Randy and I currently live in Yonkers, NY. The endocrinologist I see has an office in Yonkers (Tues/Thu 1pm-4pm) and the Bronx (Mon/Wed/Fri 9am-noon). I’ve been seeing him for 10 years now, due to being diagnosed with Secondary Hypogonadism at 22 years old. I’m now 35. I get test cyp, anastrozole, synthroid scripts from him and recently started to get HCG script.
Definitely shoot me an email rlt1980@hotmail.com and I’ll be more than happy to provide reference. To protect his privacy, I’d rather not give his name and number out in the open. Hope you get this.
-Randy
I turned 32 today…5 months ago I had my hormone levels checked and my testosterone 289!….that’s the natural level of a 78 year old man…..I now take 100 mg of test 2 times a week and I take a hcg tab that dissolves in your mouth 3 times a week and arimidex 2 times a week….I feel like a kid again and my wife loves the revived libido….I now want to go outside with my 2 and 3 year old sons and play till they drop….I’m feeling 1 million times better than 5 months ago so for me it’s a no brainer….take these meds and stick yourself in the leg to be the husband and father that my family deserves!
At your age if you stop taking the test and hcg….you are gonna stop playing tennis and golf and your libido is gonna plummet and so will your overall sense of well being and health. Your 51 and your worried about taking for the rest of your life….well your life span will be greatly increased because of these meds so you will take them longer , yes. However consider the alternative of a shorter more miserable life without them. There had to be a reason why you were prescribed these in the first place. The hassle of 1 shot or two a couple times a week adding years and happiness to my life sounds like an even trade to me.
Great article, thank you. I have a question… I’m considering going completely off Testosterone and HCG and was wonder what the best protocol would be. I currently take 140 mg (0.7 cc) of Cypionate on Fridays each week and take .5ML of HCG on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. I recently added the HCG approximately 7 weeks ago but have been on Cypionate for about 1.5 years.
I play competitive tennis and also enjoy golf working out ….I have seen very positive improvements in my body including lower fat levels, greater strength, and faster recovery time. However, I’m concerned about taking these drugs for the rest of my life (I’m 51). As a result, I am considering going off.
What are your recommendations… think quoting is a good idea? IF I do want to quit, can I just stop both cold turkey since I’ve been on HCG for 7 weeks?
Thanks very much!
Marc,
At that dose, you can quit “cold turkey” and the testosterone will leave your body. Id continue HCG for a couple months just to be sure you are producing something. You will notice a difference when you stop, trust me.