Take the assessment
45-min intake with your dedicated health coach. A free health-score quiz is available before the paid intake.
hCG (Pregnyl®)hCG (Pregnyl®)
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is an LH mimetic: it activates the same receptors as luteinizing hormone, the pituitary signal that stimulates testosterone production and sperm quality. Used adjunctively with TRT to maintain testicular size, intratesticular testosterone, and fertility, and to support the brain's own neurosteroid production, which TRT alone doesn't replace.
HSA/FSA eligible · No commitmentHSA/FSA eligible · No commitment
Hormones · Fertility
hCG (Pregnyl®)
Marketing purposes only. Actual medications, if prescribed, are dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.
How it works
From sign-up to treatment.From sign-up to your first dose.
Get your labs drawn
Complete lab panel ordered by your provider, drawn at any of 4,000 partnered lab locations nationwide. Results typically return within 14 days.
Provider reviews your results
A licensed medical provider reviews your labs and history to evaluate whether hCG (Pregnyl®) is appropriate for you. Eligibility and any prescription are determined at the provider's discretion.
If eligible, treatment ships to your door
If your provider prescribes hCG (Pregnyl®), it ships from a licensed pharmacy. Your coach supports you through follow-up labs and ongoing monitoring.
The baseline panel.
Every Marek client receives this baseline panel before a provider review. Your provider may add additional biomarkers based on your health history, symptoms, and goals, pulling from 1,000+ available markers. See more biomarkers →
Hormone Profile
12 markers
Sex hormones
- Total TestosteroneLC/MS
- Free TestosteroneEquilibrium Dialysis
- Estradiol, Sensitive / UltrasensitiveLC/MS
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG)
- ProgesteroneLC/MSFemale panel
- Prolactin
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- hCG, Total, QuantitativeFemale panel, pre-menopause
Adrenals & neurosteroids
- Cortisol
- DHEA-S
Growth hormone / IGF-1
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-1)
Thyroid Status
3 markers
Thyroid hormones
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Free T4
- Free T3
Heart Health
9 markers
Cardiovascular health
- Total Cholesterol
- HDL Cholesterol
- LDL Cholesterol
- LDL:HDL Ratio
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Apolipoprotein-B (ApoB)
- C-Reactive Protein, High Sensitivity (hsCRP)
- Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a))
Metabolism
3 markers
Insulin sensitivity
- Blood Glucose
- Fasting Insulin
- HbA1c
Organ Function
26 markers
Liver & pancreas
- AST
- ALT
- Bilirubin, Total
- γ-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
Kidney function
- BUN
- Creatinine w/ eGFR
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Glucose
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
- Creatinine
- eGFR
- BUN/Creatinine Ratio
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Carbon Dioxide, Total
- Calcium
- Protein, Total
- Albumin
- Globulin, Total
- Albumin/Globulin (A/G) Ratio
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)
- AST
- ALT
Prostate health
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)Male panel
- Free PSAMale panel
- % Free PSAMale panel
Nutrient Status
31 markers
Vitamins & minerals
- Vitamin D, 25-OHD (25-Hydroxy)
- Magnesium, RBC
Iron status
- Iron
- Iron Saturation
- TIBC
- UIBC
- Ferritin
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- White Blood Count (WBC)
- Red Blood Count (RBC)
- Hemoglobin (Hgb)
- Hematocrit (HCT)
- MCV
- MCH
- MCHC
- Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)
- Platelets
- Neutrophils
- Neutrophils (Absolute)
- Lymphocytes
- Lymphocytes (Absolute)
- Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio
- Monocytes
- Monocytes (Absolute)
- Eosinophils
- Eosinophils (Absolute)
- Basophils
- Basophils (Absolute)
- Immature Cells
- Immature Granulocytes
- Immature Granulocytes (Absolute)
- NRBC, w/ Reflex for Immature Cells
The science
How hCG (Pregnyl®) works.
Binds LH/CG receptors on testicular Leydig cells, activating adenylate cyclase and driving steroidogenesis, conversion of cholesterol to testosterone within the testes.
Adjunctive therapy in men on TRT to prevent testicular atrophyHypogonadotropic hypogonadismMale infertility with low sperm countPost-TRT recovery
Eligibility, dosing, and outcomes vary. Any prescription is at the discretion of a partnered licensed medical provider based on your labs and medical history.
Clinical evidence
The research behind hCG (Pregnyl®).
Intratesticular Testosterone During TRT with HCG
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2005)
Low-dose HCG (125 to 500 IU every other day) maintained intratesticular testosterone within normal range in men on exogenous testosterone.
Safety profile
Monitoring & safety information.
Commonly reported side effects
- Injection site reactions
- Fluid retention
- Gynecomastia (estradiol elevation)
- Acne
- Mood fluctuations
Less common but serious risks
- Gynecomastia from elevated estradiol if not monitored
- Potential antibody formation with prolonged use
Generally not appropriate for
- Androgen-dependent tumor
- Precocious puberty
- Pregnancy
Typical monitoring
- Total and free testosterone
- Estradiol
- LH and FSH
- Semen analysis
- Testicular exam
- Hematocrit
FAQ
Quick answers.
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is an LH mimetic: it activates the same receptors as luteinizing hormone, the pituitary signal that stimulates testosterone production and sperm quality. Used adjunctively with TRT to maintain testicular size, intratesticular testosterone, and fertility, and to support the brain's own neurosteroid production, which TRT alone doesn't replace.
Prevents testicular atrophy during TRT. Maintains intratesticular testosterone for spermatogenesis. Preserves or restores fertility. Supports neurosteroid production.
Common side effects include: injection site reactions, fluid retention, gynecomastia (estradiol elevation), acne, mood fluctuations. Most side effects are dose-dependent and may resolve with continued use or dose adjustment.
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is an LH mimetic: it activates the same receptors as luteinizing hormone, the pituitary signal that stimulates testosterone production and sperm quality. Used adjunctively with TRT to maintain testicular size, intratesticular testosterone, and fertility, and to support the brain's own neurosteroid production, which TRT alone doesn't replace.
Treatments are dependent on licensed clinical prescription. Client costs vary based on individual labs and panel in treatments and services.