the thing that makes this more complicated than it looks: FDA removed HCG from the list of bulk substances that 503A compounding pharmacies can use, back in 2020. so the compounded HCG a lot of people found easily a few years ago is harder to get now, and some pharmacies flat out can’t make it anymore depending on how their compliance counsel reads the guidance. your actual options: brand name HCG (Pregnyl or Novarel) - still available, still FDA-approved, but cash price is rough. worth calling a few independent pharmacies directly, not chains. GoodRx coupons vary significantly by location and sometimes get you under $100 for a vial. ask specifically about 10,000 IU vials vs 5,000 IU because the unit pricing is different. gonadorelin - this is what a lot of TRT docs have moved to since the compounded HCG situation got messy. it’s a GnRH analogue that stimulates LH and FSH upstream, same goal of preserving testicular function. still compoundable at 503A pharmacies. if your prescriber hasn’t mentioned this, ask them directly whether it’s an option for you - some prefer it now for the predictability of the LH response. kisspeptin - less common, more expensive, genuinely works through the same upstream pathway. probably not the first call here but worth knowing it exists if gonadorelin doesn’t suit you. telehealth TRT clinics - some of them include HCG or gonadorelin in their bundled protocols and the cash price is baked in. formen, defy, a few others. you’re trading flexibility for price predictability. what i’d actually do: call your prescriber and ask specifically about switching to gonadorelin if cost is the issue. half the time they haven’t brought it up because they assumed you wanted HCG specifically, not just the outcome HCG produces