Comprehensive medication guide to {drug} including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced during pregnancy. The pharmaceutical version is classified as a gonadotropin and is used for several important medical purposes. In women, it is used to trigger ovulation as part of fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). In men, it treats hypogonadotropic hypogonadism by stimulating the testes to produce testosterone. It is also used in prepubertal boys with cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) to promote testicular descent.
HCG is commonly used off-label as an adjunct to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to help maintain testicular size and preserve fertility. It is available as FDA-approved brand-name products including Pregnyl (Organon), Novarel (Ferring Pharmaceuticals), and Ovidrel (EMD Serono, recombinant form), as well as generic versions.
HCG mimics luteinizing hormone (LH) by binding to the LH/hCG receptor found in the ovaries and testes. In women, this triggers final oocyte (egg) maturation and ovulation — which is why it's commonly called a "trigger shot" in fertility treatment. In men, HCG stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone. In prepubertal boys with cryptorchidism, it promotes testosterone production, which can stimulate testicular descent.
The medication is administered by intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous (SubQ) injection. The powder form (Pregnyl, Novarel, generics) must be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water before injection. Ovidrel comes as a convenient prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection only.
Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is extremely difficult to find in 2026, earning a findability score of just 4 out of 100. Since the FDA reclassified HCG as a biologic in March 2020, most compounding pharmacies were forced to stop producing it. The FDA-approved products — Pregnyl, Novarel, and generic equivalents — have experienced ongoing supply disruptions. Many retail pharmacies do not stock HCG at all, and specialty pharmacies may have limited or inconsistent availability. Patients often need to check multiple pharmacies, contact fertility clinics directly, or use services like Medfinder to locate available stock.
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Chorionic Gonadotropin is primarily prescribed by specialists who manage fertility and hormonal conditions:
Telehealth options are available for HCG prescriptions in some cases, particularly through men's health clinics and hormone therapy services.
No, Chorionic Gonadotropin is not a controlled substance under the DEA schedule. However, it is a prescription-only injectable medication that requires a valid prescription from a licensed healthcare provider. Since the FDA's 2020 reclassification of HCG as a biologic under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA), compounding pharmacies can no longer produce it without an approved biologics license, significantly affecting supply.
Serious side effects that require immediate medical attention include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), thromboembolism (blood clots), severe allergic reactions, and ovarian torsion or rupture. OHSS can be life-threatening and is a particular risk when HCG is used for fertility treatment. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience severe abdominal pain, rapid weight gain, difficulty breathing, or signs of blood clots.
Chorionic Gonadotropin has relatively few known drug interactions, but there are some important considerations:
No significant food interactions are known. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and herbal products you are taking before starting Chorionic Gonadotropin. Patients with cardiac or renal disease, epilepsy, migraines, or asthma should use HCG with caution due to the risk of fluid retention.
Chorionic Gonadotropin remains an essential medication for fertility treatment, male hypogonadism, and pediatric cryptorchidism — but finding it in stock is a major challenge in 2026. The FDA's 2020 biologic reclassification eliminated most compounded HCG products, and ongoing supply disruptions with FDA-approved brands like Pregnyl and Novarel have left patients scrambling. If you're prescribed HCG, be prepared to check multiple pharmacies, contact specialty or fertility pharmacies directly, and consider using Medfinder to locate available inventory near you. Work closely with your prescribing specialist to have backup plans, including alternative medications like Ovidrel or Lupron trigger if HCG cannot be found in time for your treatment cycle.
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