Human chorionic gonadotropin
Glycoprotein gonadotropin
Also hCG, Pregnyl, Novarel, Ovidrel, Choriogonadotropin alfa, Chorionic gonadotropin
- Evidence
- AStrong human evidence
- FDA status
- FDA approvedas of 2026-10-26
- Route
- Injection
- Studies cited
- 3 human0 animal or cell
A hormone used to trigger ovulation and to help some men with low testosterone. It is also sold illegally for weight loss, which no trial supports.
Sold for
hCG is used in fertility clinics to trigger ovulation, prescribed off-label to men to maintain testosterone and fertility, and sold illegally as a weight-loss injection or drops.
Studies say
Randomised trials support hCG for ovulation triggering and for raising testosterone in hypogonadal men, which earns the A grade for those uses; the weight-loss claim has no trial support and the FDA has said so.
Why grade A. For its approved reproductive uses, hCG is supported by decades of randomised trials, including a Cochrane review of hCG as the trigger for final egg maturation in IVF. For testosterone restoration in hypogonadal men who want to preserve fertility, a 282-man randomised trial found hCG as effective as clomiphene, and a systematic review pooled 196 hCG-treated patients. The weight-loss use has no supporting evidence. 1542
FDA. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is FDA-approved as an injectable, under brand names including Pregnyl and Novarel, for inducing ovulation in women, for hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in men and for prepubertal cryptorchidism. It is not approved for weight loss, and the FDA has stated that over-the-counter "homeopathic" hCG weight-loss products are illegal and that hCG has not been shown to cause weight loss. 32
Written from 5 cited sources. Last refreshed 2026-10-27. Not physician reviewed.
What this means for you
- What people take it for
- Fertility, low testosterone and weight loss
- Can a US doctor prescribe it?
- Yes, FDA approved for triggering ovulation and some male hormone problems.
- Properly tested in people?
- Yes, for fertility and low testosterone; no trials support weight loss.
Evidence checklist
- Randomised controlled trial Randomized trials and Cochrane reviewyes
- Human study over 100 people 282-man randomized trialyes
- More than one research group Many groups across IVF and male studiesyes
- Clinical outcomes, not surrogate markers Pregnancy and live-birth ratesyes
- Human safety data beyond case reports Label data and decades of useyes
Drawn from the cited studies below. A dash means the sources give no information.
What it is
Human chorionic gonadotropin is the hormone the placenta makes in early pregnancy, the one that pregnancy tests detect. Structurally it closely resembles luteinising hormone (LH), the pituitary signal that triggers ovulation in women and testosterone production in men, and it acts on the same receptor but lasts far longer in the blood. 3
The approved products are purified from the urine of pregnant women (Pregnyl, Novarel) or made by recombinant DNA (Ovidrel), and are given by injection. Oral drops and pellets marketed for weight loss cannot contain active hCG, since the protein is digested, and the FDA has acted against those products. 32
How it works
In women undergoing ovulation induction or IVF, a single hCG injection mimics the natural LH surge, finishing the maturation of the eggs so they can be released or retrieved about 36 hours later. In men, hCG stimulates the Leydig cells of the testes to make testosterone, which keeps sperm production going; this is why it is used in men with low testosterone who want to stay fertile, since testosterone replacement itself shuts down sperm production. In boys with undescended testes, the same stimulation can sometimes prompt descent. 315
What human research shows
A Cochrane systematic review compared forms of hCG used to trigger final oocyte maturation in IVF cycles and found similar ongoing pregnancy and live-birth rates across them, with low rates of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. 1
Habous and colleagues randomised 282 hypogonadal men who wished to preserve fertility to clomiphene citrate, hCG injections or both for three months. Testosterone rose in all three groups, from a mean of 2.3 to 5.2 nmol/L overall, with no significant difference between arms. A 2021 systematic review covering five hCG studies and 196 patients reached the same conclusion: hCG raises testosterone in hypogonadal men without suppressing fertility. 54
For weight loss, the FDA's position is that hCG has not been demonstrated to be effective, and that prescription hCG labelling must state it does not increase fat loss beyond what calorie restriction achieves. 2
| Study | Model | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Habous 2018, hypogonadal men | Humans, n=282, randomised three-arm, 3 months | hCG, clomiphene and the combination each raised testosterone about 220% with no difference between arms. 5 |
| Cochrane review, oocyte triggering | Systematic review of randomised trials in IVF | Different hCG preparations gave similar ongoing pregnancy and live-birth rates and low ovarian hyperstimulation rates. 1 |
| Non-testosterone treatments review, 2021 | Systematic review, 25 studies including 5 of hCG (196 patients) | hCG raised total testosterone in hypogonadal men, as did selective oestrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors. 4 |
Safety
In women the main risk is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, in which the ovaries swell and fluid shifts into the abdomen; it is uncommon but can be severe. Multiple pregnancy is more likely after ovulation induction. In men, hCG can raise oestradiol along with testosterone, causing breast tenderness or gynecomastia, and may cause acne, mood changes and fluid retention. Weight-loss protocols combine hCG with very-low-calorie diets, and the FDA's concern there is the diet's risks: gallstones, electrolyte imbalance and heart rhythm problems. 321
Questions for your clinician
- Is hCG for weight loss supported by any trial?
- How does hCG compare with clomiphene for raising my testosterone?
- What are the signs of ovarian hyperstimulation I should report?
Questions people ask
Is hCG FDA-approved?
Yes, as an injection for ovulation induction, male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and prepubertal cryptorchidism. It is not approved for weight loss, and the FDA has said hCG drops and pellets sold for that purpose are unapproved and illegal. 32
Does hCG cause weight loss?
No evidence shows that it does. The FDA requires prescription hCG labelling to say it has not been shown to increase weight loss beyond calorie restriction, redistribute fat or reduce hunger. The weight loss on "hCG diets" comes from eating around 500 calories a day. 2
Why do men use hCG instead of testosterone?
Testosterone replacement switches off the pituitary signal to the testes and stops sperm production. hCG stimulates the testes directly, so testosterone rises while fertility is maintained. A 282-man trial found it as effective as clomiphene for raising testosterone. 54
What is hCG used for in IVF?
A single injection is the trigger that completes egg maturation about 36 hours before egg retrieval, standing in for the body's natural LH surge. Cochrane's review found the available hCG preparations perform similarly. 1
Citations
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016: hCG for final oocyte maturation triggering in assisted reproduction doi.org
- FDA: questions and answers on hCG products for weight loss fda.gov
- Organon: Pregnyl (chorionic gonadotropin for injection) prescribing information organon.com
- Sexual Medicine Reviews 2021: efficacy of non-testosterone-based treatment in hypogonadal men, systematic review pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Habous 2018, BJU International: clomiphene citrate and hCG in hypogonadism, randomised study pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov