HCG dosage and reconstitution
The shot that keeps your testes working and your fertility intact while you are on testosterone. A real medicine, dosed to your bloodwork.
UnderstandWhat it isApplyHow to use it
Staying safe
Things people sometimes notice
- A little soreness where you inject
- Mild water retention for the first few weeks
- Acne or oilier skin, more so at higher doses
- A moodier week when estradiol climbs
Stop and get help if (trouble breathing or swelling: call 911)
- Signs of a blood clot: one swollen painful leg, sudden chest pain, trouble breathing
- Severe pelvic or lower belly pain
- Rash, swelling of the face or lips, or trouble breathing (an allergic reaction)
- Breast tissue that is growing or a hard lump under the nipple
Talk to your doctor first, especially if
- Dosing is set against bloodwork: total testosterone and estradiol on a sensitive assay a few weeks in, then every few months
- You have had prostate or breast cancer, or any hormone-sensitive cancer; hCG raises both testosterone and estradiol
- You take an aromatase inhibitor or SERM, since the doses interact and need adjusting together
- You are trying to conceive: a semen analysis before you start and at three months is how you know it is working
Mixing it
hCG comes as a powder mixed with bacteriostatic water, and the dose is measured in IU. Your exact mixing depends on the vial. Use the calculator, and follow your doctor's prescription.
Bring the vial to room temperature and clean the top.
Add bacteriostatic water per the label and confirm with the calculator.
Swirl very gently, do not shake. hCG is delicate.
Inject subcutaneously (subQ) on your prescribed schedule.
Store mixed hCG in the fridge and use within the time your pharmacy specifies.
The short version
What it isThe shot that keeps your testes working and your fertility intact while you are on testosterone. A real medicine, dosed to your bloodwork.
EvidenceAnimal 4/5 · Human 4/5 · Approved
Want the background?What it is and the research
This is education, not medical advice. Doses shown are the patterns people commonly follow, not a prescription. Talk with a doctor before starting, especially if you take other medicines or have a health condition.