HCG
Purrptide digest
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin mimics luteinizing hormone, the signal that tells the testes to keep producing testosterone — even when the rest of the hormonal axis is suppressed. This makes it a key tool in fertility treatment and in preventing testicular shutdown during testosterone replacement therapy, where TRT alone signals the body to stop natural production. It's also infamous for a completely unrelated, debunked weight-loss diet protocol from the 1950s that the FDA has repeatedly warned has no scientific basis.
What this means for you
Ignore the old HCG diet claims entirely — that's debunked. Its real, evidence-backed use is in fertility and TRT support contexts.
A standard, well-established tool for maintaining testicular function during TRT or treating hypogonadism. The diet-related claims are a separate, discredited matter entirely.
LH-receptor mimicry to maintain endogenous testosterone production during exogenous hormone therapy is well-characterized, mature pharmacology.
An old, cheap, generic hormone with a stable niche in fertility and TRT support markets. Not a growth story, but a reliable one.
For the nerds
Low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin maintains intratesticular testosterone
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · DOI: 10.1210/jc.2004-0260
Read full paper on PubMed →