Pregnyl (hCG) has been hard to find at pharmacies. Learn why Pregnyl is in short supply in 2026 and what you can do to get your prescription filled.
If you've recently tried to fill a prescription for Pregnyl (human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG), you may have run into a frustrating wall. Pharmacy after pharmacy tells you they're out of stock, on backorder, or simply can't get it. You're left wondering: why is Pregnyl so hard to find?
You're not imagining things. Pregnyl and other hCG products have faced ongoing availability problems, and 2026 is no exception. Whether you need Pregnyl for fertility treatment, hormone therapy, or another medical reason, the shortage is real — and it's affecting patients across the country.
Let's break down what's going on and, more importantly, what you can do about it.
Pregnyl is a brand-name injectable medication containing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). It's primarily used in fertility medicine to trigger ovulation in women undergoing assisted reproduction. It's also prescribed for certain hormonal conditions in men, including hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and prepubertal cryptorchidism (undescended testes).
Pregnyl comes as a powder that must be mixed with a liquid (reconstituted) before being injected intramuscularly. A single vial contains 10,000 USP units of hCG. It's manufactured by Organon and has been a cornerstone of fertility protocols for decades.
For a deeper dive into how it works, see our guide on Pregnyl's mechanism of action.
There's no single reason Pregnyl is hard to get. Several factors have combined to create a persistent availability problem:
Pregnyl is a biologically derived product — the hCG is extracted from the urine of pregnant women. This makes manufacturing more complex and less predictable than producing a simple chemical compound. Any disruption at the manufacturing facility, quality control issue, or raw material shortage can slow or halt production for weeks or months.
Since 2020, hCG products have appeared on and off the FDA Drug Shortages list. These aren't quick fixes — resolving manufacturing bottlenecks for biological products takes time.
Unlike common medications that have dozens of generic manufacturers, the hCG market is small. Only a handful of companies produce injectable hCG products (Pregnyl by Organon, Novarel, and recombinant Ovidrel by EMD Serono). When even one manufacturer has trouble, the entire supply tightens dramatically.
The demand for IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies has grown steadily. More patients need hCG trigger shots as part of their fertility cycles, putting additional pressure on an already limited supply. When supply can't keep up with demand, shortages become more frequent and longer-lasting.
Many retail pharmacies don't routinely stock Pregnyl because it's a specialty injectable. They may need to special-order it, and if their distributor is out, you're stuck waiting. Specialty and compounding pharmacies often have better access, but patients don't always know to look there first.
Being told your medication isn't available is stressful, especially when you're on a time-sensitive fertility protocol. Here are steps you can take:
Medfinder helps you find which pharmacies near you actually have Pregnyl in stock. Instead of calling pharmacy after pharmacy, you can check availability in one place and save yourself hours of frustration.
Your doctor may be able to switch you to Ovidrel (a recombinant hCG that comes in a pre-filled syringe) or Novarel (another urinary-derived hCG brand). In some IVF protocols, a Lupron trigger can be used instead of hCG. Talk to your provider about which alternatives to Pregnyl might work for your situation.
Specialty pharmacies that focus on fertility medications often have better supply chains for products like Pregnyl. Compounding pharmacies may also be able to prepare hCG, though regulations around compounded hCG have changed — ask your doctor what's currently allowed.
If you know you'll need Pregnyl for an upcoming cycle, talk to your clinic and pharmacy early. Giving them extra lead time to source the medication can make a real difference. Read more tips in our guide on how to find Pregnyl in stock near you.
The Pregnyl shortage isn't something patients caused, and it's not something you should have to solve on your own. But until supply stabilizes, being informed and proactive gives you the best chance of getting your medication when you need it.
Use tools like Medfinder to check stock, talk to your doctor about backup plans, and don't hesitate to look beyond your usual pharmacy. For the latest on shortage status, check our Pregnyl shortage update for 2026.
You deserve access to the medication your doctor prescribed. We're here to help you find it.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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