HCG Updates

HCG is currently affected by a global supply issue due to a shortage of the raw materials used to produce HCG. There are also strict regulatory requirements for importing alternative products, creating delays in securing alternative HCG products. These factors are outside of our direct control, but we’re actively working with manufacturers, suppliers and regulators to restore supply as soon as possible.

We recently met with IBSA, the sole manufacturer of the only licensed HCG product in the UK. While IBSA expects to distribute some HCG starting from the end of January, it has become clear that HCG will likely remain constrained in the short term, not meeting demand of all patients in the UK.

This means that, for the time being, we must prioritise supply of HCG based on clinical need. Because HCG plays a particularly important role in fertility, we are prioritising access to patients who are actively trying to conceive or plan to do so in the near future.

We are sending out emails to patients based on previous information we have for you on file regarding your desires around fertility and conceptions and based on that the next steps will be laid out. We are aware that the information we may hold for you may not be complete or the most up to date, so there is opportunity to adjust preferences where required.

Please follow the steps outlined in that email to ensure we can manage this process as smoothly as possible.

If you have not been informed you are clinically prioritised, but conceiving children is a priority for you, or you are unsure about your options, you can speak to a doctor about your treatment, fertility planning, or whether any changes are right for you. You can book in for a review call with a doctor here.

For most patients, a short pause in HCG use (8-12 weeks) is not expected to cause long-term issues.

If fertility is important to you right now, please book in for a review call with a doctor so we can review your options with you.

That depends on your goals. Some patients choose to switch temporarily to support natural hormone production while HCG is unavailable. Others prefer to wait or continue TRT alone. If you’re unsure what’s right for you, we recommend speaking with one of our clinicians.

If you’re taking HCG on its own

We advise a temporary switch to Clomid (Clomiphene Citrate) to help maintain your natural testosterone levels and reduce the impact of the supply interruption. It is currently the most clinically similar treatment we can offer at this time.

If you’re on TRT and HCG for fertility maintenance

We recommend continuing your TRT and temporarily switching to Clomid to maintain fertility protection.

If you’re on TRT and HCG to support testicular size or natural production

Clinically, a short break is not expected to cause long-term issues. However, if you’d prefer to maintain stimulation of natural production, Clomid is a suitable short term option.

Clomid is an oral medication that stimulates your body’s natural hormone production. It can offer some support for testosterone production and fertility while HCG is unavailable, although it works differently to HCG and is not a direct replacement.

About Clomid

• Clomid is an oral medication that is a well-established, evidence-based treatment used by thousands of patients in our clinic
• Clomid use for this purpose is off-label, which means it is not licensed for this specific use, but your doctor may still prescribe it when they consider it safe and appropriate.
• It works by indirectly increasing the signals by your brain telling your testicles to produce testosterone and sperm
• It is not a direct replacement for HCG but is the closest equivalent medication we have available in the UK that offers a similar outcome to HCG on both testicular function and sperm production
• Most patients report little to no difference in symptom control when taking Clomid compared with HCG. However, the evidence is that clomid is not as effective as HCG in maintaining testicular function with TRT in the longer-term, which is why we do not recommend it as first-line combination treatment
• We have thousands of patients on Clomid with no to minor side effects, and it works really well for most men. But, like all medications, it's not right for everyone. If you have a history of retinal vein occlusion (a type of eye disease), blood clots, or significant history of mental illness please inform the team before switching to Clomid

We advise that you read this treatment plan that contains further detailed information about Clomid, how it works, and potential side effects here

For most patients, temporary changes in treatment are unlikely to cause long-term fertility issues.

However, if you are actively trying to conceive or fertility is a priority for you, please contact us so we can advise you appropriately.

HCG is a regulated prescription medicine. Any new supplier or brand requires regulatory approval before it can be safely prescribed and dispensed. We are actively pursuing approvals for alternative sources.

If your treatment or prescription changes as a result of the shortage, we’ll adjust your plan or billing accordingly. You do not need to do anything, please contact us if you have any questions on this.

We’ll notify patients directly by email and update this page as soon as supply is restored. We’ve already started emailing patients on next steps relating to their treatment. If you have not received this email, please reach out to us.