Ovidrel vs Pregnyl: Recombinant vs Urinary hCG | Dose Track
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Ovidrel vs Pregnyl: how do recombinant and urinary hCG differ?

Source · Approved uses · Route · Storage · Trials

Short answer: Both are hCG. Ovidrel (choriogonadotropin alfa) is made by recombinant DNA and comes as a 250 mcg prefilled syringe injected under the skin, approved only for fertility treatment in women.1 Pregnyl is purified from the urine of pregnant people, comes as a 10,000-unit powder vial given into muscle, and is also approved for some boys and men.2

How do Ovidrel and Pregnyl compare side by side?

From the US Ovidrel PreFilled Syringe and Pregnyl labels.
Ovidrel (choriogonadotropin alfa)Pregnyl (chorionic gonadotropin)
SourceRecombinant human hCG1Purified from the urine of pregnant people2
Approved forFinal follicle maturation in IVF and similar programs; ovulation induction in anovulatory women1Prepubertal cryptorchidism; hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males; ovulation induction in anovulatory women2
How it comesPrefilled syringe delivering 250 mcg in 0.5 mL1Multiple-dose vial of 10,000 USP units powder plus a 10 mL solvent vial2
RouteUnder the skin (subcutaneous) only1Into muscle (intramuscular) only2
Label dosing250 mcg once, one day after the last follicle-stimulating dose1Women: 5,000 to 10,000 USP units once, one day after the last gonadotropin dose. Men and boys: several regimens, for example 500 to 1,000 units 3 times a week2
Half-lifeabout 29 hours (label: mean terminal half-life about 29 hours after a subcutaneous dose)1Not stated in the label
StorageRefrigerated; may be kept up to 30 days at room temperature (up to 77°F)1Unopened at room temperature; once mixed, refrigerate and use within 60 days2
Main warningOvarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)1OHSS, anaphylaxis, blood clots, ovarian torsion; precocious puberty in boys2

Reviewed . Half-life figures are shown only where the value Dose Track uses agrees with the cited source.

Were Ovidrel and urinary hCG compared directly?

Yes. The Ovidrel label describes three randomized trials against approved urinary hCG products (not named as Pregnyl):1

  • IVF, vs 10,000 USP units given into muscle: 297 women; the number of eggs retrieved was similar, and Ovidrel 250 mcg was judged equivalent. Ovidrel 250 mcg averaged 13.6 eggs per patient.1
  • IVF, vs 5,000 IU under the skin: 205 women; equivalent, with 10.6 eggs per patient on Ovidrel.1
  • Ovulation induction, vs 5,000 IU into muscle: 242 women; equivalent, with ovulation in 91.9% on Ovidrel.1

OHSS occurred in 1.7% of women on Ovidrel 250 mcg in the IVF trials and 3.0% in the ovulation trial.1

Which one is used in men?

Only Pregnyl's label covers males: undescended testicles in boys and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in men, with dosing such as 500 to 1,000 USP units three times a week, or 4,000 units three times a week for 6 to 9 months.2 Ovidrel's label is for women in fertility treatment only.1 For hCG alongside testosterone, see hCG vs enclomiphene: how do they differ?.

The Pregnyl label also states that hCG has not been shown to help with weight loss.2

More detail: Ovidrel side effects, Pregnyl side effects, and the Ovidrel and Pregnyl dosing schedules.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Ovidrel the same as Pregnyl?+
Both are hCG, but Ovidrel is recombinant (made in cells) and Pregnyl is purified from urine. Ovidrel is a 250 mcg prefilled syringe under the skin; Pregnyl is a 10,000-unit vial mixed and injected into muscle.12
How many IU is 250 mcg of Ovidrel?+
The Ovidrel label doses in micrograms and does not give an IU figure. In its trials, 250 mcg was compared against 5,000 IU and 10,000 USP units of urinary hCG and judged equivalent for the trial goals.1
Is Ovidrel approved for men?+
No. The Ovidrel label covers women in fertility treatment only. Pregnyl is the one with male indications.12
How long does mixed Pregnyl last?+
Refrigerated, the mixed solution is stable for 60 days.2
Can I track hCG in Dose Track?+
Yes. hCG is built in. Save the vial and the water you added, log each shot in IU and syringe units, and set reminders.

Sources

  1. Ovidrel PreFilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alfa) prescribing information: description, clinical pharmacology, clinical studies, indications, warnings, dosage and storage. DailyMed, version of December 2023.
  2. Pregnyl (chorionic gonadotropin) for injection prescribing information. DailyMed, version of December 2025.

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