How to reconstitute hCG
A step-by-step guide to combining a hCG vial with bacteriostatic water, along with the units in each dose after mixing.
- sizes of vials sold
- 5,000, 10,000 IU
- The water added to a 5,000 IU vial gives 5,000 IU/mL.
- 1 mL
- bac water once opened
- 28 days
How to mix hCG, one step at a time
- Wash your hands, then use an alcohol swab on the rubber stoppers of the peptide vial and bacteriostatic water.
- Pull the chosen amount of water into the syringe. With 1 mL added, a 5,000 IU vial provides 5,000 IU per mL.
- Keep the needle at a slight angle as you push it through the stopper; let the water flow slowly down the vial's inner wall.
- Gently roll the vial between your hands until the powder has fully dissolved. Don't shake it.
- Mark the vial with the mix date and store it as your product or prescription directs.
- Calculate your dose in units, then draw the liquid to that line.
Chart for reconstituting hCG
| Vial | Water added | Strength | Units for a sample dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 IU | 1 mL | 5,000 IU/mL | 20 units for 1,000 IU |
| 5,000 IU | 2 mL | 2,500 IU/mL | 40 units for 1,000 IU |
| 5,000 IU | 3 mL | 1,666.667 IU/mL | 60 units for 1,000 IU |
| 10,000 IU | 1 mL | 10,000 IU/mL | 10 units for 1,000 IU |
| 10,000 IU | 2 mL | 5,000 IU/mL | 20 units for 1,000 IU |
| 10,000 IU | 3 mL | 3,333.333 IU/mL | 30 units for 1,000 IU |
hCG dose units
Label details
The FDA-approved products include Pregnyl, Novarel and generic chorionic gonadotropin, sold as 5,000 and 10,000 USP units per vial; a prescription is required. Each branded pen and vial has its own instructions, and those take priority over general steps.
Questions people often ask
How much bacteriostatic water do I need for 5,000 IU of hCG?
There's no one right amount. With 1 mL, the mix is 5,000 IU per mL; adding more water weakens each unit, so you can draw small doses more easily.
Can sterile water be used to mix hCG?
Since sterile water contains no preservative and is single use, a mixed vial that you draw from over days is usually mixed with bacteriostatic water. Learn more in bacteriostatic water vs sterile water.