This TikTok's HCG claims are half right, half confusion

What does this TikTok actually claim?

Coach Darian Bates argues that HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) doesn't "mimic" LH (luteinizing hormone) in men's bodies, even though both bind to the same receptors. He says they work differently at the system level and suggests this explains why some men respond well to HCG while others don't.

His reasoning involves pregnant women: if HCG worked exactly like LH, pregnant women would just make more LH instead of HCG. It's an interesting theory, but let's see what the actual research shows about how these hormones function.

Does the science back up his receptor claims?

Bates gets the basic biochemistry right. Both HCG and LH bind to the same luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) in Leydig cells of the testes. The Endocrine Society's 2018 guidelines on male hypogonadism confirm this shared receptor binding.

However, calling them functionally different oversimplifies things. A 2019 study by Huhtaniemi et al. in Human Reproduction Update found that while HCG has a longer half-life than LH (24-36 hours versus 20 minutes), both hormones stimulate testosterone production through the same cAMP pathway.

The key difference isn't the "systemic effect" but duration of action. HCG sticks around longer, which actually makes it more potent for testosterone stimulation, not less effective.

What's wrong with the pregnancy comparison?

Bates's pregnancy argument misses basic reproductive biology. Pregnant women don't produce HCG instead of LH for testosterone-related reasons. They produce it because the placenta makes HCG to maintain the corpus luteum and progesterone production during early pregnancy.

This has nothing to do with how HCG works in men's testes. It's like saying insulin doesn't work like glucose because diabetics need insulin injections instead of sugar pills.

The comparison doesn't support his point about HCG being less effective than LH in men. If anything, studies show HCG often works better than LH for testosterone production because of its longer half-life.

Why do some men respond differently to HCG?

Bates is right that individual responses to HCG vary, but his explanation about receptor differences isn't supported by evidence. A 2017 study by Hsieh et al. in The World Journal of Men's Health found that 89% of men maintained normal testosterone levels on HCG monotherapy.

Response variations likely stem from differences in baseline LH receptor sensitivity, testicular function, and dosing protocols. Some men have primary testicular failure where no amount of LH or HCG will restore normal testosterone production.

Others have secondary hypogonadism where their testes respond well to stimulation. The 2018 American Urological Association guidelines note that men with preserved testicular function typically respond better to HCG therapy than those with primary testicular disease.

What should you actually know about HCG?

HCG can effectively stimulate testosterone production in men with functional testes. The same 2017 Hsieh study found average testosterone increases from 207 ng/dL to 540 ng/dL after 12 weeks of HCG therapy.

But it's not a magic bullet. Side effects can include estrogen elevation, mood changes, and injection site reactions. Some men prefer direct testosterone replacement because it's more predictable.

The decision between HCG and testosterone replacement depends on your goals, baseline hormone levels, and desire to maintain fertility. HCG preserves sperm production while testosterone replacement typically suppresses it.