HCG
Pregnyl / Novarel
A decades-old FDA-approved fertility hormone that doubles as the standard tool for preserving testicular function on TRT.
Verdict — B · Viable
A genuinely well-evidenced, FDA-approved hormone with a long safety record and a clear role in TRT testicular support. The grade is held out of A-territory by gray-market sourcing variance and the handling/contraindication burden of an injectable hormone — obtain pharmaceutical-grade through a licensed clinic with a batch COA.
Overview
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is an LH-mimetic glycoprotein hormone FDA-approved for decades (Pregnyl, Novarel) for hypogonadism, cryptorchidism and ovulation induction. It has one of the deepest clinical evidence bases in the catalog and is the workhorse for maintaining intratesticular testosterone and fertility during testosterone therapy. The compound itself is well understood and broadly available as a prescription product; the buyer-side risk is gray-market sourcing of research-labeled vials whose potency and sterility are not COA-verified.
PepScore Breakdown — the four axes
Evidence
35% weightHow strong is the published human science?
Sourcing & COA
30% weightOur moatCan a buyer obtain an independently-verified, high-purity version? — our proprietary layer.
Safety & Risk
25% weightWhat is the real-world harm potential?
Practicality
10% weightHow easy is it to actually run a verified version?
Sources & Citations
Every claim cites a primary source. Citations are machine-audited against NCBI — see methodology.
Educational only — not medical advice. PepScore is an educational research grade, not a prescription or dosing recommendation. Some vendor links are affiliate links — this never affects grades. Consult a licensed healthcare provider before using any compound.