Human chorionic gonadotropin

HCG in Canada

Also known as Human chorionic gonadotropin · hCG · Chorionic gonadotrophin · Choriogonadotropin · Pregnyl (approved product)

Human chorionic gonadotropin — hCG — is the glycoprotein hormone the placenta makes in early pregnancy. It binds the same receptor as luteinising hormone, which is why it has been an approved fertility medicine for decades and why it is studied wherever the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis is the question. It is not a short peptide: at roughly 36 kDa and one-third carbohydrate by mass it is one of the largest molecules in this catalogue, and it is dosed in international units rather than milligrams. Canada Peptides carries research-grade hCG as a 5,000 IU lyophilised vial, priced and shipped in CAD for laboratory and research use only. It is not the Health Canada-approved product.

Quick facts

Class: Glycoprotein hormone (gonadotropin family)
Structure: Heterodimer · α-subunit 92 aa shared with LH/FSH/TSH · β-subunit 145 aa · ~36–40 kDa with ~30% carbohydrate
Half-life: Biphasic; terminal half-life roughly 24–36 hours after injection in humans
Route in research: Intramuscular in most approved labelling and older trials; subcutaneous in recombinant-product labelling and recent studies
Cadence in research: Single injection (ovulation trigger) to two or three times weekly (male hypogonadism protocols) in labelled and published use
Storage: Lyophilised: cool, dry, dark (approved products are labelled for room temperature or refrigeration). Reconstituted: refrigerated, used within weeks

HCG FAQ

Is HCG for sale in Canada?

Yes. Research-grade hCG is available in Canada from Canada Peptides as a 5,000 IU lyophilised vial, priced and shipped in CAD. It is supplied strictly for laboratory and research use, not for human consumption, and it is not the Health Canada-approved prescription product.

What is hCG?

Human chorionic gonadotropin is the glycoprotein hormone the placenta produces in early pregnancy. It binds the luteinising-hormone receptor on the ovary and testis, which makes it a long-acting LH substitute; pharmaceutical hCG has been an approved fertility medicine for decades.

Is hCG a peptide?

Not in the usual sense. It is a two-subunit glycoprotein of roughly 36–40 kDa, about a third of it carbohydrate — dozens of times the size of the synthetic peptides in this catalogue. It is dosed in international units, defined by bioassay, rather than in milligrams.

What is the half-life of hCG?

Roughly 24–36 hours terminal after injection, compared with under an hour for native LH. The extra carbohydrate and the C-terminal extension on its β-subunit slow its clearance, which is why a single dose stimulates the LH receptor for several days.

How was hCG dosed in studies?

The approved products are labelled at 5,000–10,000 IU as a single ovulation trigger and at a few hundred to a few thousand IU two or three times weekly for male hypogonadism. Research on preserving testicular function during testosterone therapy used 125–500 IU every other day. These are facts about approved products and published studies, not recommendations; the material sold here is for research use only.

Does the hCG diet work?

No. Controlled trials from the 1970s onward, summarised in a 1995 meta-analysis, found that hCG added nothing to the very-low-calorie diet it was paired with — no extra weight loss, no change in fat distribution, no reduction in hunger. The FDA has required labelling to that effect since 1975 and acted against hCG diet products in 2011.

What side effects does hCG research report?

In women, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is the principal serious risk of the approved use. In men, the rise in oestradiol alongside testosterone can cause gynaecomastia, fluid retention and mood changes. Headache, fatigue and injection-site reactions are common. Thromboembolic events are reported rarely. The record belongs to approved products under medical supervision.

Is hCG legal in Canada?

Approved hCG products are prescription drugs in Canada. Research-grade hCG has no DIN and may be sold only for laboratory research, which is how it is sold here. It is prohibited for male athletes under WADA's S2 category.

HCG in Canada

Quick facts

HCG — for sale in Canada

What is HCG?

Evidence at a glance

Pharmacology

Identity and chemistry

Storage and stability

Research indications

Research protocols

Interactions and stacking in research

Reconstitution and handling

Side effects and safety signals

Regulatory status in Canada

Further reading

HCG FAQ

Research references