Even though it is a simple calculation, some men struggle with calculating IU and cc doses of HCG. Here is a simple site to help.
Why is hCG dose measured in IU’s instead of mg? What is an IU?
When measuring testosterone, we speak of milligrams. HCG is measured not by weight but in IU’s, or international units. IU is not about weight but refers to the amount of a substance that produces a particular biologic effect that has been agreed upon as an international standard. The IU from one substance to the next does not mean they have equivalent weights (for example, 1,000 IU of vitamin C might have a different weight than 1,000 IU of vitamin A). Again, IU is not a weight.
How is hCG Dispensed?
HCG is dispensed as a powder contained in vials of 3,500 IUs, 5, 000 IUs, 10, 000 IUs, and other amounts depending on the product or the compounding pharmacy. You can call compounding pharmacies and have them make vials for you with different IU amounts, though. To reconstitute the powder into a liquid solution, these typically come with another vial of 1 mL (or cc) of bacteriostatic water.
Bacteriostatic water (water with a preservative that is provided with the prescription) is mixed in with the powder to reconstitute, or dissolve, it before injection. This type of water can preserve the solution for up to 6 weeks when refrigerated. Some patients do not use the 1 mL water vials that come with the commercially available (non-compounded) product and instead get their doctors to prescribe 30 cc bottles of bacteriostatic water so that they can dilute the HCG down to a more workable concentration that is more practical for men using lower doses of HCG weekly.
How to Calculate hCG Dose
HCG is given as an injection under the skin or intramuscularly (there is still debate on which method is best). The number of IUs per injection will depend on how much bacteriostatic water you add to the dry powder vial. If you add 1 mL to a 5,000 IU powder vial, then you will have 5,000 IUs per mL, so 0.1 mL would be 500 IUs. If you add 2 mL to the 5,000 IU dry powder vial, then you will have 2,500 IUs/mL; 0.1 ml (or cc) in an insulin syringe will equal 250 IUs. If you need to inject 500 IUs, then inject 0.2 cc of this mixture.
The table below provides dilution volumes at different HCG powder/water proportions.
Ultra-fine needle insulin syringes are used to inject HCG under the skin, making this very easy to take even for the needle-phobic. Typical sizes are:
• 1 ml, 12.7 mm long, 30 gauge and
• 0.5 ml, 8 mm, 31 gauge syringes.
HCG Dilution Table
|
IUs of dry powder HCG |
Amount of bacteriostatic water mixed in (cc) |
Injection volume for 250 IU (cc) |
Injection Volume for 500IU (cc) |
Injection volume for 1000 IU (cc) |
|
5,000 |
5 |
0.25 |
0.5 |
1 |
|
5,000 |
10 |
0.5 |
1 |
2 |
|
10,000 |
5 |
0.13 |
0.25 |
0.5 |
|
10,000 |
10 |
0.25 |
0.5 |
1 |
Syringes require a separate prescription. Some compounding pharmacies will automatically include them with the shipment, but do not forget to ask them. Never use the syringe that you used for injecting the bacteriostatic water into the powder for injecting yourself; the needle will be dull (I usually use a regular 23 gauge, 1 inch, 3 ml syringe to load up the water). Remember that you also need alcohol pads to clean the injection area and the tip of the vial. Typical injection sites are the abdominal area close to the navel or the pubic fat pad. Pinch a little fat on your abdominal area and inject into that pinched area, then massage with an alcohol pad. Put used syringes in the sharps container that your pharmacy can provide.
More Information About hCG Use in Men:
HCG Use in Men on TRT or as Monotherapy: Over 200 Questions and Answers
