Gonadotropins (axis restart)GonadotropinA glycoprotein hormone that stimulates the gonads (e.g. LH/FSH-like), part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
HCG vs HMG vs FSH-rec
The table compares the compounds’ key data from their entry pages. Open each compound’s full entry for details. Educational content, not medical advice.
 HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon) | HMG (Menopur / Pergonal) | FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – LH structural analog, Leydig-cell LHCGR receptor stimulus. AAS-PCT bridge against testicular atrophy and for HPTA restart. Cross-frame: future peptide library will add `hcg-peptid` with fertility-clinic framing. | Human Menopausal Gonadotropin – urinary-extracted FSH + LH 75/75 IU mixture. In AAS-PCT: full HPG axis restart (Sertoli FSH support too, not just Leydig LH like HCG). Pergonal withdrawn 2005, Menopur modern alternative. Cross-frame: future peptide library will add `hmg-peptid`. | Recombinant FSH (CHO-expressed) – selective Sertoli FSHR stimulus, NO LH activity. AAS-PCT niche: azoospermia recovery + Sertoli support alongside HCG LH. Expensive (€300+/75 IU vial EU). Cross-frame: future peptide library will add `fsh-rec-peptid`. |
| MechanismMechanism of actionThe molecular pathway by which a compound acts in the body (e.g. which receptor or enzyme it binds). | Leydig-cell LHCGR receptor agonist (LH structural analog, ~80% β-subunit identity) | Urinary-extracted FSH (75 IU) + LH (75 IU) mixture – Sertoli-FSHR + Leydig-LHCGR receptor double-stimulus | Recombinant FSH (CHO-expressed) – selective Sertoli FSHR agonist, NO LH activity |
| Dosing (PCT-blast) | 1500-2500 IU EOD × 10-14 days | — | — |
| Dosing (mid-cycle) | 250-500 IU 2-3x/week | — | — |
| Half-lifeHalf-lifeThe time for the compound’s plasma concentration to fall by half; indicates how fast it clears and how often it is dosed. | uHCG: 24-36 h / rHCG (Ovidrel): 30-50 h | FSH ~24-36 h / LH ~20 h (mixed component decay) | ~24-36 hours (recombinant) |
| Legal statusLegal / WADA statusThe compound’s regulatory status (e.g. prescription) and its place on the WADA prohibited-in-sport list. | FDA + EMA Rx (fertility indications), WADA S2 (banned in+out-of-competition) | EMA Rx Menopur (Ferring 2002), USA FDA Rx Menopur (2005), WADA S2 (banned) | EMA Rx Gonal-F (1995) + Puregon (1996), FDA Rx (1997), WADA S2 (banned) |
| Dosing (PCT) | — | 75-150 IU EOD × 2-4 weeks | — |
| OnsetOnsetThe time from dosing until a measurable effect appears. | — | Test rise 5-10 days, spermatogenesis restart 4-8 weeks | Inhibin-B rise 2-4 weeks, sperm count rise 3-9 months |
| Dosing (PCT azoospermia recovery) | — | — | 75-150 IU EOD × 4-12 weeks |
| Full entry | Open → | Open → | Open → |
What it is
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – LH structural analog, Leydig-cell LHCGR receptor stimulus. AAS-PCT bridge against testicular atrophy and for HPTA restart. Cross-frame: future peptide library will add `hcg-peptid` with fertility-clinic framing.
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)Human Menopausal Gonadotropin – urinary-extracted FSH + LH 75/75 IU mixture. In AAS-PCT: full HPG axis restart (Sertoli FSH support too, not just Leydig LH like HCG). Pergonal withdrawn 2005, Menopur modern alternative. Cross-frame: future peptide library will add `hmg-peptid`.
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)Recombinant FSH (CHO-expressed) – selective Sertoli FSHR stimulus, NO LH activity. AAS-PCT niche: azoospermia recovery + Sertoli support alongside HCG LH. Expensive (€300+/75 IU vial EU). Cross-frame: future peptide library will add `fsh-rec-peptid`.
MechanismMechanism of actionThe molecular pathway by which a compound acts in the body (e.g. which receptor or enzyme it binds).
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)Leydig-cell LHCGR receptor agonist (LH structural analog, ~80% β-subunit identity)
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)Urinary-extracted FSH (75 IU) + LH (75 IU) mixture – Sertoli-FSHR + Leydig-LHCGR receptor double-stimulus
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)Recombinant FSH (CHO-expressed) – selective Sertoli FSHR agonist, NO LH activity
Dosing (PCT-blast)
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)1500-2500 IU EOD × 10-14 days
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)—
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)—
Dosing (mid-cycle)
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)250-500 IU 2-3x/week
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)—
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)—
Half-lifeHalf-lifeThe time for the compound’s plasma concentration to fall by half; indicates how fast it clears and how often it is dosed.
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)uHCG: 24-36 h / rHCG (Ovidrel): 30-50 h
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)FSH ~24-36 h / LH ~20 h (mixed component decay)
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)~24-36 hours (recombinant)
Legal statusLegal / WADA statusThe compound’s regulatory status (e.g. prescription) and its place on the WADA prohibited-in-sport list.
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)FDA + EMA Rx (fertility indications), WADA S2 (banned in+out-of-competition)
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)EMA Rx Menopur (Ferring 2002), USA FDA Rx Menopur (2005), WADA S2 (banned)
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)EMA Rx Gonal-F (1995) + Puregon (1996), FDA Rx (1997), WADA S2 (banned)
Dosing (PCT)
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)—
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)75-150 IU EOD × 2-4 weeks
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)—
OnsetOnsetThe time from dosing until a measurable effect appears.
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)—
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)Test rise 5-10 days, spermatogenesis restart 4-8 weeks
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)Inhibin-B rise 2-4 weeks, sperm count rise 3-9 months
Dosing (PCT azoospermia recovery)
HCG (Pregnyl / Novarel / Choragon)—
HMG (Menopur / Pergonal)—
FSH-rec (Gonal-F / Puregon)75-150 IU EOD × 4-12 weeks