One of the topics Jim Brown and I are continually bombarded with questions about is hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin). Unfortunately it’s a widely misunderstood topic as many Doctors don’t prescribe it and oftentimes when they do, it’s usually not done in the patients best interest. Many times we see it scripted for Men who otherwise wouldn’t need it at all. Here is information on hCG right out of the #1 book ever written on TRT.
Using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) every so often (daily, weekly to perhaps even every other week) at a dosage of 250 to 500 iu’s per injection (injecting subcutaneously into the fat tissue of lower stomach or the fat pad of outer glute with an insulin syringe) will provide your testicles an increase in size or fullness. hCG has been clinically proven to restore fertility in men undergoing TRT. Some men psychologically need this cosmetic effect of full testicles to feel normal. The “John Crisler Method” of hCG is injecting the last two days before a once a week T injection protocol or if injecting T twice weekly, injecting hCG on the day before each injection. It is important to monitor hCG as it *CAN* elevate estradiol (E2) potentially causing estrogenic side effects in men with higher body fat percentages and higher genetic production of aromatase due to its ability to elevate aromatase enzymes.
To make this article as informative as possible with regards to using hCG for long term health and happiness, I’ve decided to answer a bunch of questions from men posting on the Reddit sub forum on Testosterone.
Question: During a cruise of 200mg Test E once a week, if I do 250 iu of hCG E3D, how long can I keep taking the hCG in that dose so that it doesn’t cause long term drastic effects to my leydig cells?
Answer: You need to define “cruise” usage of Test. Why are you taking hCG? There is no definitive proof usage of hCG long term does any ‘damage’ to your Leydig cells. Way too many men are confused as to why they are using hCG in the first place. Is it for cosmetic purposes-to maintain full testicles? Or is it to retain motile sperm in order to father children? If it’s neither, my question has to be obvious-why are you even using hCG?
Question: What are the other benefits of hCG apart from atrophy reduction, fertility restoration?
Answer: Some users “feel” better with it. Other have major issues (increased estrogen production and resulting side effects like water retention, puffiness, irritable, unbalanced. It comes down to again why you are taking it and if its beneficial to your therapy.
Question: Have any of you been on hCG for a long time? How long have you been on that hCG and at what dose during that phase?
Answer: I myself have used hCG on and off or ‘intermittently while in my mid to late 30’s in order to have 2 children. This lasted for a period of about 3.5 years. My strategy was to use hCG at 125 iu’s 3 days in a row every 21 days. As you can see this strategy worked perfectly well:
Question: Will I be fertile in a day or two after the first hCG pin (250iu)? How does fertility work with such kind of a dosage?
Answer: It really depends on how infertile you are now(upon starting therapy) or were at the beginning of your hCG usage. It is highly unlikely hCG will improve sperm motility with only 1-2 dosages. What is your goal? If your ultimate end game is to father children, I would stop TRT altogether and begin using hCG and hMG together. Again directly from the book:
For those of you wishing to retain your fertility, fret not. Human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) is a potent female fertility medication which can also increase sperm count and stimulate sperm motility in men. hMG is stronger than hCG because it mimics both LH and FSH and additionally binds to receptors in the testicles hCG alone will not bind to. I have known men who were on TRT for many years straight and after using hMG in combination with hCG at a very minimum dose of 0.75 iu’s per day for 5–7 days in a row, got their wives or girlfriends pregnant within one month of beginning administration. For any of you utilizing TRT and struggling to father children (just using hCG or Clomid) give this book to your physician so he is informed and aware of this highly effective SERM. For an excellent dosing strategy using hCG and hMG in combination, read this article on Web MD.
Question: If I pin the hCG on Monday and Thursday, does it matter if I pin the next one on the next Wednesday and then take E3D from there? What should I do if I miss one pin of hCG on the standard day (Monday/Thursday)?
Answer: You are way overthinking it. Don’t worry about it as life will always get in the way of the best laid plans. Just get back on schedule when you can.
Question: If I am at 2866 ng/dL for Test during the cruise of 200mg Test E/week (100mg puts me at 1620ng/dL… natural test was 232ng/dL) and I am taking hCG for fertility restoration, what should my AI dosage be? I have 25mg pills of Aromasin?
Answer: How could anyone possibly answer that without knowing your estrogen(E2) levels? As I have put forth in many places in the book, an aromatase inhibitor should not be initiated until their is a clinically established need verified by both symptoms and blood work.
Question: I have heard the theory proposed on the internet about the leydig cells desensitizing is completely wrong and it never happens on human beings. Have there ever been examples of desensitization in low doses of hCG long term? What’s the actual truth? 
Answer: Although I am not a Doctor, in speaking with hundreds of clinicians and immersing myself in all of the latest research, I DO NOT BELIEVE it is common for a long term user to stop responding to HCG therapy. I have not found any human studies in men to demonstrate this either. Anecdotally, I have heard from men who claim that hCG loses its effectiveness when dosed for long periods. Oftentimes men start feeling like it increases E2 production and its resulting side effects. As a proper course of action when using hCG for the long term, I recommend using it only intermittently. Example would be to dose 3 days in a row every 3-4 weeks to maintain testicular size, increase dopamine response and somewhat maintain motile sperm. To find much more pertinent information about hCG, check out our Testosterone Resources Page.
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Have a question about using hCG yourself, leave your comment below.
