hCG for Men: How to use it to Enhance Testosterone Levels

hCG for Men: How to use it to Enhance Testosterone Levels

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Evidence-Based

Can using hCG help increase testosterone in men?

Is hCG required as part of a TRT regimen?

In this post you will find the answers to these questions and more, including how hCG can be effective in men, how it can help increase testosterone, help with weight loss, and more

More about hCG

hCG, otherwise known as human chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone that we often associated with women and pregnancy (1).

But what exactly is hCG?

It’s really just a hormone, but we often associate it with the hCG diet and tend to only think about it in those terms. 

But hCG can actually be used in both men and women for many other purposes, especially as a part of hormone therapy. 

hCG, in men, has been shown to improve testosterone levels, improve fertility, alter thyroid function (2) and potentially help with weight loss. 

These benefits are thought to be mediated through the effects that hCG has on certain cellular receptors. 

At the molecular level, hCG looks similar to another hormone known as LH (secreted by the pituitary gland) (3).

What this means is that hCG can lock onto and stimulate LH receptors, especially in the testicles

Stimulation of LH receptors then goes on to help produce adequate sperm and testosterone production. 

We can take advantage of this physiology by using hCG in certain situations to naturally improve HPT (hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular) function. 

Using hCG as a Testosterone Booster, Does it Work?

It is well known that hCG can stimulate the production of testosterone in men. 

And this is important because there are very few actual “testosterone boosters” available to men. 

The only way to increase testosterone is to reverse conditions that prematurely lower it (such as insulin resistance), take exogenous testosterone (such as TRT), or stimulate natural production from the testicles (such as hCG). 

I’ve previously written about testosterone boosters and why most of them are simply hype and marketing, but hCG is the real deal. 

Small doses of hCG, ranging from 120 IU to 2,000 IU, increase serum testosterone levels in most men who take it. 

This includes men taking existing testosterone and men who simply suffer from low testosterone from other causes. 

serum testosterone rises in response to hCG

The question becomes:

Should hCG be used in men with low testosterone instead of testosterone? 

The answer is probably not because there are better, more effective ways, to treat low testosterone. 

We know that there is a natural, and inevitable, decline in testosterone production and testicular function in men which occurs with age. 

At some point, usually around 50 years of age, men go through what is known as andropause, which results in very low levels of testosterone. 

hCG can be tempting to use, especially if you suffer from low T, because it may be “easier” to get than testosterone. 

A premature decline in testosterone is also becoming more and more common among younger men, especially in their 20s and 30s. 

This decline in testosterone may result in fatigue, weight gain, an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, and erectile dysfunction (4).

While it may be tempting to look to testosterone boosters, such as hCG or other marketed supplements, the best approach is to look at combination TRT therapy. 

The symptoms of low T can almost always be abated with the use of exogenous TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), especially when combined with hCG. 

hCG is an Important Part of TRT Therapy

hCG plays an important and critical role in men who are undergoing TRT (testosterone replacement therapy). 

In fact, I believe that hCG is a necessary component of TRT and should be used in most men who consider using testosterone. 

When men use exogenous testosterone (meaning testosterone from an outside source) the normal response is for the body to shut down its own natural production of testosterone. 

The hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular system is very sensitive to outside testosterone and it responds by reducing its own natural production of testosterone and by reducing both FSH and LH (5).

These hormones, FSH and LH (secreted from the pituitary), are important, though, because of their role in maintaining testicular size. 

In response to intramuscular testosterone (but really this can be expanded to include any exogenous source of testosterone) both FSH and LH will drop to very low (suppressive) ranges within 2-3 days. 

This can largely be mitigated with the use of hCG which acts directly on the testis as an LH agonist. 

The benefit to using hCG in this way is that men will NOT experience testicular atrophy (shrinking of the testicles) in response to testosterone administration

Men who use TRT may complain of shrinkage of the testicles over time as well as testicular pain, both of which are felt to stem from reductions in LH. 

In addition, the impact that hCG has on LH receptors in the testis will result in a minor increase in natural testosterone production (thus increasing testosterone levels). 

This benefit occurs through manipulation of the intratesticular androgenic environment and may be why hCG can sometimes to be used to improve fertility in some men (6).

Does hCG Help with Weight Loss?

Perhaps one of the most well-known uses of hCG is for weight loss. 

No doubt, by now, that you’ve heard about the hCG diet and how it can help with weight loss. 

It’s worth pointing out that hCG is an effective tool for weight loss, but it should NOT be used in the “traditional way”. 

I’ve outlined exactly how to use hCG as part of a weight loss program and as a tool for hormone balance in this post

But back to the hCG diet for a minute. 

What you may not realize is that most men who use the hCG diet for weight loss do tend to experience more dramatic weight loss when compared to women. 

This benefit likely stems from how hCG impacts testosterone levels in the male body. 

Testosterone is probably one of the most effective tools (medications or otherwise) at helping MEN (and sometimes women) achieve their weight loss goals

Testosterone improves body composition by increasing lean muscle mass, helping improve the metabolism of adipose tissue, and improving metabolic function. 

The reason that men may experience more weight loss when using hCG, compared to women, is probably because of the slight increase in testosterone that occurs secondary to its use. 

While I don’t necessarily recommend hCG for weight loss, especially by itself, it can certainly be used in conjunction with testosterone (TRT) for that purpose. 

Testosterone + HCG, when combined with diet and exercise, can rapidly and dramatically improve body composition in men

Unfortunately, the same is not always true for women, but it can still be effective in them as well. 

hCG and Fertility

There is a difference between having high levels of serum testosterone and having normal levels of intratesticular testosterone. 

It is the intratesticular testosterone (testosterone found in the testicles) that helps manage the production of sperm. 

Because of the widespread use of exogenous testosterone (meaning IM, subcutaneous, or gels/creams), there is an increasing population of men that may be suffering from hypogonadism related to testosterone use (7).

This type of hypogonadism may result in symptoms such as decreased libido, depression, erectile dysfunction, and even low energy. 

Most young and middle-aged men who fall into this history usually have a history of testosterone use (either medically prescribed or used for bodybuilding/weight training). 

The problem with this type of therapy is that the use of exogenous testosterone, without hCG, may cause alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular function and lead to both low serum levels of testosterone and intra-testicular testosterone

The good news is that hCG, because of its action on the LH receptor, can be used to help restore sperm count and fertility in some men (8).

serum lh and FSH drop in response to hcg in men

hCG, when used for fertility, typically only works in those men who either have gonadotropin suppression from exogenous testosterone use (9) (those with VERY low FSH and LH due to testosterone supplementation) or in those with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (10).

Using hCG is incredibly important if you are a younger male and one who is still interested in potentially having children later, who is undergoing testosterone replacement therapy. 

The use of TRT without hCG may result in high serum levels of testosterone but low intra-testicular testosterone which may then result in decreased sperm count and infertility long-term. 

Using hCG in Men (How to Guide)

One of the best parts about using hCG is that you can obtain significant benefits from very low dosing. 

Studies have been done comparing small doses to large doses and there appear to be diminishing returns with higher doses of hCG. 

What this means is that you can accomplish a saturation of receptor stimulation at low dosages. 

Whenever we can get away with low dosages, of any medication or hormone, we can reduce any potential negative side effects or responses by the body. 

So what kind of dose should you expect to use, and with what frequency?

Often using anywhere from 125 to 250 IU’s 1-2x per week is sufficient for most men to notice a difference in testosterone levels and symptom management. 

dosing hcg in men for maximum testosterone

For best results, you will want to ensure that you are using hCG through the subcutaneous injection route. 

You can administer hCG via an insulin syringe which reduces the risk of infection and damage to the local tissue. 

Insulin syringes can be purchased from your pharmacy or online. 

Make sure that you avoid oral preparations or sublingual preparations of hCG as they are not as effective as subcutaneous injections. 

For certain conditions, such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (11), a higher dose of hCG may be recommended (with a higher frequency as well).

The length of time that you should use hCG depends on what you are using it for. 

hCG should be used in conjunction with testosterone as part of a complete TRT regimen (and this use should continue as long as you are using testosterone). 

Not all men who use exogenous testosterone will experience testicular atrophy or infertility, but using hCG should still be used to help normalize HPT axis function. 

If using for infertility, as what may be necessary if you have a previous history of using exogenous testosterone, then you may only need to use it for a short period of time (months) to restore testicular function. 

When in doubt, consult with a knowledgeable physician who understands hormone management.  

Side Effects of Using hCG

hCG, as a hormone, is actually fairly well tolerated both in men and women. 

Most men who use hCG will NOT experience negative symptoms and instead will realize the positive benefits of increased testosterone.

Rarely, you may experience some off-putting symptoms, but many of these may subside over time and with repeated use. 

Some, such as those caused by high estrogen, will need to be treated or managed and not ignored. 

Side effects of using hCG in men include: 

  • Increased acne
  • Bloating
  • Headache
  • High estrogen symptoms (rare)
  • Swelling of the extremities
  • And pain or nodules at injection sites

If you experience these side effects, your best bet is to simply reduce the dose or frequency. 

If you are using 250 IU’s then switching to 125 IU’s will usually do the trick. 

If you are taking it twice weekly, simply reduce it to once weekly. 

If possible, try to maintain some usage of hCG (especially with TRT) by manipulating both the dose and frequency. 

Wrapping it up

hCG is an important hormone that can be used in both men and women to potentially regulate hormone function. 

It is particularly effective in men who are undergoing a TRT program or regimen. 

hCG, when used in this way, can reduce testicular atrophy and prevent infertility. 

hCG can also be used to restore fertility, in certain situations, and help with weight loss (if combined with diet and exercise)

Now I want to hear from you:

Have you used hCG?

Did it help to regulate your hormones?

Did it help to reduce your symptoms?

Why did you use it?

Leave your comments or questions below! 

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4584104/

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/870313

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956631/

#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4391003/

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17097221

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2913032/

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4378070/

#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1516981

#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15713727

#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583156/

#11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3214853/

how to use hcg to enhance TRT in men

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

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35 thoughts on “hCG for Men: How to use it to Enhance Testosterone Levels”

  1. Great information! I am on TRT and HCG. I do testosterone cyp injections 2x/wk and HCG injections 2x/wk. I have searched for information on the best time to give HCG shots(ie the day before or the day after testosterone shot) and have found both recommenced. What do you suggest? And why? I

    Reply
    • Hi Tom,

      Any doctor can prescribe it, you just need to find one who specializes in hormone management or TRT.

      Reply
  2. My testosterone was under 300 and my sperm count was 0. 500 iu of Hcg 3 times a week for 3 month brought my testosterone level to 700+ and 53 million sperm count. YES it works!

    Reply
      • I have used a fair amount of testosterone in my years, and have experienced testicular shinkage a few times. Always reversible with hcg. I have taken a variety of doses: low is fine. Too high and they will swell enormously and be quite sore, similar to what you might remember from teenage years with your first partner. Not fun… obtain from a doctor or online from reputable sources. I use occasionally and have never been disappointed: feels like libido increase a lot, testicular size increase very obvious, seminal output very increased, pregnancy very likely (from experience) and I’ve never had bad sides.
        Hope my trials help your quest.

        Reply
  3. Dr. Child’s, Great info. & detail….
    I’m a male 65yrs old. I have CML leukemia for 21yrs now been taking 600mg Gleevec for 20yrs with cml in remission. I have type 2 diabetes taking Novolog 70/30mix-22/26 units 2x/day. I have bad fatigue. My First Testosterone test was 220 4yrs back. Family doctor put me on 2cc/400mg testo/cyp. alone with zero gain. I recently went to a small male/female health clinic and initial test results was estradiol 141-Testosterone 104 – and unable to get result on Free/Testosterone number. I was put on 2ea/1mg tabs Anastrozole the first 2 weeks, then 1mg of same for each week after; 2nd/inject Pregnyl HCG 0.5ML intramuscle ea/3days
    Last 1cc Testosterone Cyp. Every week.
    In spite of my health issues I have been Blessed with pretty good health other than spine/hip issues that has caused me lots of problems the past 5 yrs.
    Like Tom Frederick noted above, the only HCG They would prescribe was for intramuscularly and not subcutaneous. The box even says for chorionic gonadotropin for intramuscular injection only!

    Will this type NOT work properly for me?

    My testicles have been smaller than grapes for over a year.
    I have chronic Fatigue the past year, I feel like I’m in a fog, I have Zero libido and tried Viagra and a couple of other ED pills with Zero success. I tried a vacuum pump and even once a day Cialis that helped slightly a couple of times.
    I take a lot more meds than I noted along with other details you might would like to know but I didn’t want to tie up your site so you could help others with that space…
    I guess my main questions are will what I have been prescribed help me any, preferably sooner than later or will I get any benefit at all from injecting the HCG into my upper arm muscle instead of by subcutaneous as you noted?
    Thank You,

    Reply
  4. I have been prescribed hcg along with my Test Cyp from my doctor. My last blood work indicated a test level of 236, which is very low for me. How long will it take to get my test levels up and hopefully restore fullness back in my testicles, as they have shrunk up to nothing since I use Test Therapy once per week.

    Reply
  5. Hi! My partner has been on TRT for 5 years, using only T. However, we want to start a family now. He is now on T AND HCG 2x/wk. my question is: does he need to stop the T to bring his sperm count back up, or is adding the HCG but continuing the T okay? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Hi Mira,

      It would not be advisable to stop the testosterone at this time as his ability to produce testosterone naturally has likely been compromised from this use of isolated testosterone therapy. The combination of hCG and Testosterone is usually sufficient, at least in my experience.

      Reply
  6. Dear,
    I’m using 2500 unit 2 time week it did not help to regulate my hormone, the first month yes, but after went down again.
    I’m using this HCG with Clomid and anastrozole but without any increase of testosterone and sperm count, I’m still azoospermia.
    Please, I need your advice!!

    Reply
    • Hi Ahmed,

      If you’re using it primarily for fertility then it can take months to see progress. If you are using it primarily to increase your testosterone then you might consider altering/adding bio-identical testosterone to your regimen.

      Reply
  7. Hello Dr. Childs,

    Is there anyway to increase low testosterone with peptides like IPAMORELIN or SERMORELIN with out exogenous testosterone? Or just HCG alone? Will persistent use of HCG shut down pituitary function? I tested low for low testosterone a couple years back but felt great overall and could lose weight without any issues when working out. However that is not the case anymore.

    Reply
  8. Must I use an AI if I’m using testosterone with Hcg? I am not feeling well using anastrazole 1 mg per week. Is there a safe dosage so I wouldn’t need to take anastrazole?

    Reply
  9. My husband has high total testosterone (800 range) but very high binding globule hormone and low Free testosterone (140). Would HCG injections be helpful in this case? What else would you recommend for treatment?

    Reply
    • Hi Rebecca,

      There isn’t enough information here for me to say one way or the other. They may help regulate testosterone levels but I’m not sure they are necessary in this case.

      Reply
  10. Hello, I am 51, in good shape, and my total serum test levels have been around 500 for several years. My free test has been 9.5 for several years. LH has been consistently 5, and FSH consistently around 4. I have been working out since I was a teenager, and I feel like I can no longer build muscle. Sex drive is far less then what it used to be. I believe that my test is too low for me, but my MD says I do not need TRT based on my numbers.
    I take OTC Arimistane and Vit D, and I do a lot of cardio all to try and raise my Test levels naturally. Should I try HCG to see if I can raise it up 1 or 2 hundred points, or look for an MD who is not afraid to script TRT? Thanks in advance.

    Reply
  11. I have been on testosterone replacement for about 4 years. My hormone doctors who I consider very good and well trained never recommended HCG. My testicles were getting smaller and smaller. On my own I contacted another doctor I knew who did get me a prescription for HCG. The change was very quick. The sack itself seemed to fill and my testicles did improve in size. Not exactly like when I was 20, which was over 40 years ago, but they did improve. Testosterone did improve also. My first hormone doctors also into the beginning of testosterone replacement did put me on anastrozole. Do you have any thoughts on supplementing with IGF 1 as an addition? I am 66 years old.

    Reply
  12. Good job on not describing/explaining what the Figures you’ve insert are actually showing, especially Figure 5 which shows baseline ITT as being higher than ITT via 0 and 125 IU hCG, which doesn’t seem to make sense.

    Reply
  13. Hello dr..I want to ask you if Only HCG is been used for low testosterone..My LH and FSH was normal on my blood test but testosterone was low..do you think that HCG only will suppress my LH receptors when I stop the treatment ?

    Reply
  14. hello, For 1 year I take trt 140 mg a week twice a week sub q injection libido is good but erectile dysfunction is sometimes trt I take without hcg. how can you advise?

    Reply
  15. hello doctor
    thank you for this useful article , i’m 33 and have low test 2.4 ng/ml , and i want to start HCG course , what dose i should have and for how long ??

    Reply
  16. Do you provide products containing HCG? If not, where do I find safe and effective HCG products? Do you recommend a brand or specific product?
    Thank you in advance for your help.

    Reply
    • Hi Lee,

      I do not sell hCG as it requires a prescription to obtain. You should be able to get it from a local hormone clinic, though.

      Reply
  17. Do you feel supplementing with HCG helps keep the body’s natural production of other hormones going (primarily pregnenolone and DHEA)? Which otherwise decrease over time on TRT?

    Reply
    • Hi Jason,

      hCG has an impact on thyroid hormones so it’s possible it may also impact other hormone systems as well. I’m an advocate of hCG use in men because it maintains testicular volume and provides a more balanced testosterone level.

      Reply
  18. I’ve been on TRT for 6 months with great results and steady T around 1000. Only issue has been loss of libido and sensitivity. I started using hcg 250 2x week along with my T (80 2x week). I’m already seeing an increase in both libido and sensitivity. My question is should I lower my T injections to stay around 1000? If so, by how much?

    Reply
    • Hi Joe,

      You will most likely have to make some changes to your testosterone dose but you’ll need to check your levels to determine how much (or if) you need to. Each person is so different so it’s hard to give any baseline recommendations.

      Reply

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