626-319-5261 Free assessment Book a consult

Answer · Testosterone Therapy

Why is HCG hard to get on TRT?

Short answer

HCG got harder to find because on March 23, 2020 the FDA began regulating it as a biologic, and biologics cannot be compounded. The compounded vials many men on TRT relied on disappeared. HCG now has to come as a licensed, urine-derived product such as Pregnyl from a short list of makers, so local pharmacies may not stock it and licensed-product pricing applies.

By the Ultimate Male team · Updated October 8, 2026

Father lifting his baby into the air

What changed for HCG in 2020?

HCG changed legal categories. On March 23, 2020, a group of protein products that had been approved as drugs moved to licensing as biologics, and human chorionic gonadotropin was one of them. The FDA notice to compounders names HCG among the affected substances and states that these transitioning biological products are not eligible for the 503A and 503B compounding exemptions.

Before that date, many men on TRT used HCG mixed by compounding pharmacies. After it, that supply line closed. A compounding pharmacy cannot legally make HCG for you today, so any vial offered as “compounded HCG” deserves suspicion. Our article on why compounded HCG disappeared tells the longer story.

Why is Pregnyl the route now?

Because only licensed products remain, and Pregnyl is the most familiar of them. DailyMed lists a short set of chorionic gonadotropin products: Pregnyl from Organon, Novarel from Ferring and a generic from Fresenius Kabi, all supplied as kits that are mixed before use. The same search also turns up homeopathic “HCG” drops, which are not medicine-grade hormone.

The Pregnyl label says the hormone is obtained from the urine of pregnant persons, lists intramuscular use only, and includes selected cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males among its uses. Using HCG alongside testosterone to keep the testes active is off-label, and the AUA guideline allows HCG for men with low testosterone who want to maintain fertility.

What does that mean for supply and cost?

It means fewer sources and less flexibility. With compounding off the table, every vial comes from a small number of manufacturers making a urine-derived product, and fertility clinics draw on the same supply. As of October 2026, chorionic gonadotropin does not appear in the FDA drug shortage database, but that national picture says nothing about whether your local pharmacy has it on the shelf.

Factor Before March 2020 Today
Where it came from Compounding pharmacies or licensed brands Licensed products only
Number of sources Many A handful of manufacturers
Choice of product Any compounding pharmacy’s version Pregnyl, Novarel or a licensed generic
Waste Varied by pharmacy Mixed vial discarded after 60 days per the Pregnyl label

The 60-day limit on a mixed vial also affects cost. If your plan uses a small amount per week, part of a large vial may expire before you finish it, so the vial size your provider chooses matters. Our page on HCG cost for men explains the other price drivers.

What about HCG sold online or as drops?

Skip it. The FDA’s consumer warning to avoid HCG diet products states that HCG is not approved for over-the-counter use for any purpose and is not approved for weight loss. Vials sold as “research use only” are not made for people either, and you cannot know what is in them. Our pages on HCG for weight loss and research-use-only products explain the risks.

What if HCG is unavailable when you need it?

Talk to your provider before you run out. Options can include a different licensed brand, adjusting the timing of your doses, or revisiting whether HCG is still the right tool for your goals. Do not fill the gap with an online source. Our comparison of HCG and TRT covers when each makes sense.

How Ultimate Male handles HCG

At Ultimate Male, HCG comes as brand Pregnyl through a pharmacy, never as a compounded vial. Your provider decides whether it fits based on your labs, including LH and FSH, and on your fertility plans, then teaches you to mix and inject it and sets the schedule. Our page on HCG with testosterone therapy explains how the two are combined, and HCG timing on TRT covers scheduling questions.

The process starts with a free 10-minute call, then on-site labs in San Gabriel or Downey and a one-on-one consultation about testosterone therapy options that protect your own production.

questions

Related questions.

Why is HCG hard to get on TRT?

Still unsure? Take the free assessment

Is there a national HCG shortage right now?
As of October 2026, chorionic gonadotropin does not appear on the FDA's drug shortage list. Individual pharmacies can still be out of stock, so it helps to plan refills ahead.
Is the HCG in diet drops the same thing?
No. The FDA says HCG is not approved for any over-the-counter use or for weight loss, and products sold as HCG diet drops are not a legitimate source of the hormone.
Does mixed HCG go bad?
Yes. The Pregnyl label says to refrigerate the vial after mixing and discard any unused solution after 60 days, which is one reason vial size and timing matter.

Sources

  1. Notice to Compounders: Changes that affect compounding as of March 23, 2020 · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  2. PREGNYL (chorionic gonadotropin) for injection, label · DailyMed, National Library of Medicine
  3. DailyMed search results for chorionic gonadotropin · DailyMed, National Library of Medicine
  4. FDA Drug Shortages database · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  5. Avoid Dangerous HCG Diet Products · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  6. Evaluation and Management of Testosterone Deficiency, AUA Guideline · American Urological Association

This page is general education, not medical advice. A licensed clinician must review your symptoms, history and labs before any treatment decision. For chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of stroke or an erection lasting over four hours, call 911.

Keep reading

Answer Can I get TRT injections while on blood thinners? Often, yes, with planning. Intramuscular shots can bruise or bleed into the muscle in men on anticoagulants, so options include a fine needle with a longer pressure hold, shallower subcutaneous injections, or a non-injected form. Answer Can TRT interact with my other medications? Yes, a few. Testosterone labels list four main groups. Answer Can TRT cause mood swings or irritability? Yes. Mood swings are a listed side effect of testosterone injections, and the usual cause is the rise and fall of levels between shots. Lab test Low testosterone with low LH When testosterone is low and LH is low or inappropriately normal, the problem usually sits in the pituitary or hypothalamus rather than the testes. Lab test Normal testosterone levels by age For healthy, non-obese men aged 19 to 39, the harmonized reference range for total testosterone is about 264 to 916 ng/dL. Lab test Why one low testosterone result is not enough Testosterone varies enough from one day to the next that a single result cannot diagnose low testosterone.

Ready when you are

Start with a free phone call.

Ten minutes. No pressure. We tell you honestly whether we can help.

Take the free assessment Call 626-319-5261
Call 626-319-5261 Free assessment