HCG Injections Cost

Last updated on December 28, 2023 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using publicly available sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

HCG injections are used for medical purposes to induce ovulation or treat ovarian dysfunction in women or stimulate testies that do not produce enough testosterone in men.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone secreted by the special envelope of the developing embryo during pregnancy. HCG supports the normal development of pregnancy. Due to this hormone, in the pregnant woman’s body, the processes that cause menstruation are blocked and the production of hormones needed to maintain pregnancy is increased. Increasing the concentration of HCG in the blood and urine of a pregnant woman is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy.

How Much Do hCG Injections Cost?

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The amount of money you are going to spend on hCG injections will be influenced by some factors such as the place you buy them from, the brand, and your insurance coverage. In case you have a health insurance coverage, you will have to pay anywhere between $8 and $25 (that's 50 minutes of your life at a $30/hr wage, or $10 in 1990 money) for a one-month supply.

The health insurance policies may vary, but most of them will classify hCG injections as fertility regulators. Though, if your doctor prescribes these injections for weight loss purposes, some insurance companies may cover the costs. Make sure you talk with your doctor and insurance company about your options and costs before purchasing hCG injections.

You might also like our articles on the cost of allergy testing, thyroid ultrasounds, or blood tests.

On the other hand, if you don’t have health insurance coverage, the cost of hCG injections will be influenced by the place you purchase them and your dosage. If you were to buy them from an online pharmacy, you will have to pay $20 to $60 (about $24 in 1990 money). For example, the price of 1,000 IU ampoules is around $25, while for 10,000 IU ampoules of Novarel you will have to get around $60 out of your pocket. A 1,000 IU vial is equal to eight doses, which means that the cost per injection would be $4 to $6, without insurance. The costs of the doctor’s visit to get your first prescription won’t be included in this price.

The cost of a month’s supply of 10,000-unit hCG injections would be anywhere between $70 and $100 (about $40 in 1990 money), according to the members of BabyCenter.

 How are hCG injections administered?

The powder should be dissolved with the solvent in the vial before use. This medicine can be given intramuscularly (only by a doctor or nurse), for example in the buttocks, upper leg, or upper arm, or just under the skin (for example in the abdominal wall). In the latter case, you can administer the injections yourself. Your doctor will tell you when and how to do this.

If you forget to take hCG do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

What are the extra costs?

As these injections are regulated and require a prescription, you will have to budget for a doctor’s visit to get your initial prescription.

In case you purchase hCG injections from an online pharmacy, you will have to pay delivery fees.

Important things to consider

Make sure you always buy hCG injections from a reputable FDA-registered lab when purchasing online.

Medical monitoring is very important. Ultrasounds of the ovaries are usually performed as well as blood tests which are performed periodically. The results of these tests allow the doctor to correctly choose the daily dose of HCG. This is very important because a too high dose of HCG can cause rare but severe complications in which the ovaries are hyperstimulated. These are manifested by pain in the abdomen.

This warning is important, especially in patients with polycystic ovaries. Regular monitoring of gonadotrophin response will help your doctor prevent excessive ovarian stimulation. Contact your doctor immediately if you have abdominal pain.

hCG injections have been approved by FDA only for fertility purposes, but not for weight loss purposes.

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Injection site reactions such as bruising, pain, redness, swelling, and itching have been reported. Occasionally, allergic reactions that have been reported mainly involve pain and rashes on the skin at the injection site. In rare cases, generalized reactions such as rash and fever may occur.

How can I save money?

If you have health insurance coverage, contact the company and ask about how much of the hCG injection cost will be covered. For example, approximately 60% of Medicare Advantage plans cover the cost of these injections.