What are the potential side effects of the HCG shot used in fertility treatments? Discover the details on subcutaneous, intramuscular, and injection route side effects.

Understanding the HCG Shot and Its Uses

The HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) shot is a common part of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments, such as timed intercourse, intrauterine insemination (IUI), and in vitro fertilization (IVF). This shot, also known as a “trigger shot,” contains the same hormone that is produced during pregnancy and works to stimulate the ovaries to release mature eggs.

HCG shots are typically administered either subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into the muscle), and the injection route can impact the potential side effects. It’s important for patients undergoing fertility treatments to be aware of the possible side effects associated with the HCG shot, so they can be prepared and communicate any concerns with their healthcare provider.

Subcutaneous HCG Shot Side Effects

When the HCG shot is administered subcutaneously, patients may experience the following potential side effects:

• Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Bloating or abdominal discomfort
• Breast tenderness
• Mood changes, such as irritability or depression

These side effects are generally mild and temporary, but patients should report any persistent or severe symptoms to their healthcare provider.

Intramuscular HCG Shot Side Effects

For HCG shots given intramuscularly, the potential side effects may include:

• Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
• Bruising or bleeding at the injection site
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue or dizziness
• Mood changes, such as irritability or depression

As with subcutaneous administration, these side effects are typically mild and temporary, but patients should inform their healthcare provider of any concerning or persistent symptoms.

Injection Route and Side Effect Considerations

The route of administration (subcutaneous or intramuscular) can impact the onset and severity of side effects. Subcutaneous injections may result in a faster absorption of the HCG, potentially leading to more rapid onset of side effects. Intramuscular injections, on the other hand, may have a slower absorption rate, which could result in a delayed onset of side effects.

It’s important to note that the severity and duration of side effects can vary from person to person, and some individuals may experience minimal or no side effects at all. Factors such as the dosage of the HCG shot, the individual’s body composition, and any underlying medical conditions may also influence the side effect profile.

Rare and Severe HCG Shot Side Effects

While the majority of HCG shot side effects are mild and manageable, there are some rare and more severe potential side effects that patients should be aware of, including:

• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which can cause severe abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and other symptoms
• Allergic reactions, such as rash, hives, or difficulty breathing
• Blood clots or stroke

Patients who experience any of these severe side effects should seek immediate medical attention.

Monitoring and Reporting Side Effects

Patients undergoing fertility treatments with the HCG shot should closely monitor for any side effects and report them to their healthcare provider, even if the side effects seem mild. Regular check-ups and communication with the healthcare team can help ensure that any issues are addressed promptly and the treatment plan is adjusted as needed.

Conclusion

The HCG shot is a crucial component of many fertility treatments, but it’s important for patients to be aware of the potential side effects associated with its use. By understanding the common side effects, the impact of the administration route, and the rare but severe side effects, patients can be better prepared to manage their treatment and communicate effectively with their healthcare providers. With proper monitoring and reporting, the HCG shot can be safely and effectively used as part of a comprehensive fertility treatment plan.

What It Is, How It Works, Side Effects, More

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There’s quite a learning curve when it comes to all things assisted reproductive technology (ART). If you’re just starting this journey, your head is probably swimming with all sorts of new terms.

A “trigger shot” is often used with timed intercourse, intrauterine insemination (IUI), or in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. If the shot is part of your protocol, your doctor will tell you when and how to do it in relation to other medications and procedures.

Here’s a bit more about what exactly the trigger shot is, what you might experience when using one, and what the success rate is with this type of treatment.

No matter what you call it — Ovidrel, Novarel, or Pregnyl — the standard trigger shot contains the same thing: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

You might better know hCG as the “pregnancy hormone.” When used as a trigger shot, however, hCG works more like the luteinizing hormone (LH) that is produced in your pituitary gland.

LH is secreted right before ovulation and is responsible for preparing the eggs to mature and then burst out from the ovary.

Trigger shots are part of what’s called gonadotropin therapy. This type of fertility treatment has been around in different ways for the last century (really!) and has become more refined in the last 30 years.

Gonadotropins stimulate the ovaries, so they’re useful if:

• you don’t ovulate at all
• your ovulation is considered “weak”
• you’re looking to control ovulation as part of other procedures

There’s also a newer trigger shot option called Lupron. It uses an agonist (drug) instead of hCG (hormone) to stimulate a surge of LH.

Your doctor may suggest using Lupron if you’re at a higher risk of developing a complication called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) or if there’s some other reason that a traditional trigger shot isn’t ideal in your case.

Trigger shots are given once per cycle before ovulation. They can be injected either into the muscle (intramuscularly) or under the skin (subcutaneously). They’re most typically self-administered, and many women choose to do the shot under the skin on the abdomen.

Related: 9 questions to ask your doctor about infertility treatments

Whereas other gonadotropins — like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and LH — work on both growing and maturing the eggs, a trigger shot of hCG helps the ovaries release those mature eggs as part of ovulation.

Timed intercourse/IUI

With timed intercourse or IUI, this means that your doctor can pinpoint when ovulation is likely to occur and then time sex or your IUI for the best results. Here are the steps:

1. Your doctor will monitor your follicles until they’re ready.
2. You’ll administer the shot as directed.
3. Your doctor will schedule your procedure (or tell you to have sex) to coincide with ovulation a certain number of hours after the shot.

IVF

With IVF, the trigger shot is used before egg retrieval to help facilitate a process called meiosis. In meiosis, eggs go through an important division where its chromosomes go from 46 to 23, priming them for fertilization.

Before the eggs release naturally, your doctor will schedule your egg retrieval procedure to collect them for fertilization in a lab. Once fertilized, the embryos will then be transferred back into the uterus for implantation.

Again, the trigger shot is given as part of fertility treatments. It’s usually used with other medications and must be carefully timed and monitored. ART procedures are very nuanced, individual processes. Your doctor will tweak your specific protocol depending on what has worked or not worked in the past.

In general, the trigger shot is used in conjunction with other drugs to help with:

• anovulation (when your body doesn’t release eggs on its own)
• unexplained infertility (when the cause of infertility is unknown)
• in vitro fertilization (for a variety of infertility causes)

There is a range of uses and dosages. If this is your first IUI cycle, for example, your doctor may wait to see if you ovulate on your own before adding a trigger shot to your protocol.

Or if you have had a trigger shot in the past, your doctor may tweak the dosage for optimal effectiveness or in response to any adverse effects.

Ovulation generally happens about 36 to 40 hours after administering a trigger shot. Since the shot is used differently in IUI and IVF, this means that the timing of the shot is important in relation to the other procedures you’re having.

Your doctor may have very specific instructions you should follow — so, if you have questions about your protocol, it’s a good idea to give your office a quick call.

IUI

With IUI, your doctor will monitor your follicles via ultrasound as you approach ovulation or the middle of your menstrual cycle.

Your doctor will likely give you the go-ahead to do the shot when your follicles reach between 15 and 20 millimeters in size and when your endometrium (uterine lining) is at least 7 to 8 millimeters thick. But individual specifications vary among physicians.

Your IUI is usually performed to coincide with ovulation — 24 to 36 hours after you take the shot. From there, your doctor may also suggest taking progesterone supplements (either orally or vaginally) to help with implantation.

IVF

The timing is similar with IVF. Your doctor will monitor your ovaries via ultrasound and give you the green light to do the trigger shot when your follicles are of a size that your clinic specifies. This might be anywhere between 15 and 22 millimeters. This is usually between day 8 to 12 of your cycle.

After you do the shot, you’ll schedule your egg retrieval for within 36 hours. Then the eggs are fertilized using your partner’s or a donor’s sperm. The fertilized eggs are then either transferred (when doing a fresh transfer) between 3 and 5 days after your retrieval or frozen (for later transfer).

Related: Self-care for IVF: 5 women share their experiences

There are various side effects you may experience with the trigger shot. Most common include bloating and stomach or pelvic pain. You may also experience pain or tenderness at the injection site.

OHSS is a risk as well. With OHSS, your ovaries become swollen and filled with fluid. Mild cases may give you abdominal discomfort, bloating, and gastrointestinal issues, like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Severe OHSS is rare and can be a medical emergency. Signs include rapid weight gain (over 2 pounds a day) and abdominal bloating, as well as extreme discomfort in your abdomen or extreme nausea/vomiting.

Other possible symptoms of this syndrome include:

• blood clots
• difficulty breathing
• lowered urine output

Related: How to increase your chances of getting pregnant

Beware of false positives!

Since the trigger shot contains hCG, you may be able to get a positive on a pregnancy test without being pregnant if you test too soon after the shot.

Experts at the Mayo Clinic recommend waiting at least 2 weeks after the shot to take a pregnancy test. This is because it may take between 10 and 14 days for the trigger shot to leave your system.

And if you’re doing ART procedures, your doctor may schedule you for a beta (initial) blood test to look for hCG. So, if you’re worried about getting a false positive, consider waiting for your blood draw for the most reliable results.

Related: How soon after an IUI can you take a pregnancy test?

‘Testing out’ the trigger

If you’re wondering how long the trigger shot (and hormone hCG) is hanging around in your body, you might want to try “testing out” the shot.

What this means is that you’ll take a pregnancy test every day and watch as the line gets progressively lighter. A lighter and lighter result can show you that the hormone is leaving your system.

Of course, if you continue testing until you can barely see the line — only to see it return again and get darker — you might actually be pregnant. It’s still a good idea to have a blood test in your doctor’s office to confirm, but this method is helpful if you’re the type of person who just can’t wait. (We completely understand.)

To try this out on your own, consider getting cheapie pregnancy tests — not the kind at your local drug store that cost upwards of $16 to $20 for a pack of just three! It’s important to use the same type of test each time you test so the sensitivity is the same.

Testing at the same time each day, like right when you wake up, is also helpful. That way, you aren’t drinking too much water that might alter your urine concentration and, therefore, your test results.

Shop for inexpensive pregnancy test strips (“internet cheapies”) online.

The success rate of the trigger shot itself is difficult to determine. That’s because it’s often used in combination with other drugs or procedures to treat infertility. The trigger shot is a critical part of IVF because of the function it serves with meiosis, so it’s nearly impossible to study the shot’s impact in isolation.

That said, a 2017 study on IUI cycles compared cycles with a trigger shot to ones without it. The pregnancy rate with IUI and no trigger shot was 5.8 percent. With the trigger shot, this rate jumped to 18.2 percent. And when the trigger shot was timed with the woman’s natural LH surge, the pregnancy rate was an impressive 30.8 percent.

Another older study looked specifically at the timing of the shot. Surprisingly, the researchers discovered a higher pregnancy rate in cycles where the shot was given after the IUI (19.6 percent) instead of 24 to 32 hours before the procedure (10.9 percent). The standard has been to give the shot before IUI, which is why these findings are so significant.

More research needs to be done in this area before the timing is changed universally.

Related: IUI success stories from parents

If you’re curious about the trigger shot and wonder if it might work for you, make an appointment to talk with your doctor. Again, the shot is used only during monitored cycles where you’re either doing timed intercourse, IUI, or IVF.

To use it, you’ll need regular appointments to track the size of your follicles and thickness of your uterine lining. It may sound like a lot of work, but couples have found success with this method combined with other fertility treatments.

HCG Injection for Pregnancy – Early Signs, Side effects

What is hCG? How is hCG linked with pregnancy? What do hCG injections do for and/or during pregnancy? When to take hCG and when not to? Does it have any side effects? What if even HCG injections do not work out?

This comprehensive article discusses them all. This article contains every information about HCG that you might want to know.

What is hCG?

HCG is an abbreviation for human chorionic gonadotropin, a natural hormone that is majorly produced in the placenta during pregnancy. However, livers, colons, and the pituitary gland also produce minor amounts of hCG. The primary work of the hCG hormone is to stimulate the ovaries for regularly producing progesterone (the pregnancy hormone) throughout pregnancy.

HCG and Pregnancy

HCG and pregnancy are closely correlated. As a woman conceives, hCG starts to appear in her blood and urine in less than 2 weeks. A healthy pregnant woman has a HCG level higher than 25 mlU/mL which continues to rise week by week, trimester by trimester, as the fetus develops. HCG level anything lower than 2 mlU/mL indicates a negative pregnancy.

Other than just testing pregnancy, hCG hormone levels in women during their pregnancy also indicate fetus’ age, an abnormal pregnancy, and risk of miscarriage.

Talking more about HCG and pregnancy, hCG injections are also considered by doctors as a fertility treatment. HCG injections are often used in combination with fertility drugs such as FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) to stimulate the eggs production in the ovaries, as well as, to help them grow and release on maturity.

Well, since hCG injection is used as a pregnancy treatment, should you really be considering it for or during pregnancy?

When to Take hCG?

HCG stimulates more progesterone production, which can obviously help in initiating and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Maybe you also want to consider taking HCG injections to become pregnant or minimize your pregnancy risks. But, are you an ideal candidate?

HCG Injection for Pregnancy

Doctors have been using HCG along with certain fertility drugs like FSH as a treatment for pregnancy. HCG and FSH used in combination helps produce more mature eggs and maintain a healthy pregnancy by stimulating progesterone hormone. If you are a person who has a good ovarian reserve and healthy ovulation function, but has a very low HCG level, you can consider taking HCG injections to induce a healthy pregnancy. 

HCG Injection During Pregnancy

The reason why many fertility specialists suggest HCG injections during pregnancy to women who have low HCG levels is because progesterone is an essential hormone that a woman needs to sustain a pregnancy. Plentiful progesterone (pregnancy hormone) ensures that the fetus continues to develop healthily. A woman can become pregnant even if she has low HCG level, but it comes with a high risk of miscarriages or abnormal pregnancy.

Fertility doctors often recommend HCG injections during pregnancy when a woman has a low HCG level and its amount is not increasing as it normally should week by week. If you are pregnant and diagnosed with low HCG, you can consider taking HCG injections during your early pregnancy (period when the fetus is at a high risk of being miscarried or developing abnormalities).

When not to Take hCG?

HCG injections can definitely escalate a woman’s pregnancy chances and help sustain it healthily. But, every woman encountering some fertility problem does not need its administration. HCG injections are ideal for women with a history of miscarriages due to low HCG or women whose body is incapable of producing enough HCG naturally throughout pregnancy.

Other than that, when combined with other fertility drugs, HCG can have an adverse effect if you have certain pre-existing health conditions. These conditions include:

• Heart diseases
• Kidney function issues
• Thyroid
• Tumors
• Asthma, or
• Seizures

HCG injections are intended to help you attain and sustain a healthy pregnancy. But, since it can have some adverse effects too, a woman must only use it under a doctor’s prescription and administration.

HCG Injection Side Effects

Just like any drug, injecting HCG (human gonadotropin hormone) can also provoke some common and uncommon side effects. These include:

Common HCG side effects are:

• Bloating
• Stomach pain
• Swelling
• Headaches
• Rashes, and
• Dizziness

These side effects are most common in women under HCG administration. Though, these side effects are not usually severe and may not need any medical help. They disappear eventually in 1 to 2 weeks on their own.

But, there are also some uncommon HCG side effects that are severe and may require medical attention. These side effects include:

• Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHS): OHS is a condition when a woman’s ovarian function responds excessively to the injected fertility drugs. It usually causes the ovaries to become swollen and cause severe pain. If a woman encounters any OHS symptoms, she must immediately seek medical help, because if left untreated, OHS can be life-threatening as well.
• Severe stomach and pelvic pain
• Severe bloating
• Breathe shortness
• Swollen hands and legs
• Urinating less frequently than normal
• Indigestion, and
• Severe vomiting and diarrhea

Early Signs of Pregnancy after hCG Injection

Pregnancy takes place when a sperm fertilizes a mature egg, the fertilized egg takes about a week to implant around the uterine lining. And, in 3 to 4 weeks, you can expect pregnancy.

Talking about early signs of pregnancy after HCG injection, the signs or symptoms are common as if a natural pregnancy. The woman may experience a missed menstrual cycle, breast tenderness, fatigue, more frequent urination, and nausea. But, even if you experience these early pregnancy signs after HCG injections, this does not guarantee you pregnancy.

HCG is the pregnancy hormone and it is obvious that its symptoms will be similar to the early symptoms of pregnancy. To confirm pregnancy after HCG injections, you cannot rely on the symptoms or even a HCG blood test as it may show a false positive. You will need to go for an ultrasound pregnancy test to verify your pregnancy.

Reasons for not Becoming Pregnant after hCG Injection

There can be multiple reasons why you could not become pregnant even after HCG administration. Some common reasons include:

• High androgen levels: HCG can definitely help you ovulate and ensure you ovulate a healthy mature egg during your ovulatory cycle. But, if you also have a high amount of androgen (male hormone) in your body, it is possible that the implantation does not take place successfully and result in a negative pregnancy.
• Improper HCG administration: When you are under HCG administration, you require at least 5,000 to 10,000 units of HCG to sufficiently increase the progesterone levels and help you become pregnant. But, if you are injected with lesser HCG units, it is possible that you fail to conceive. 
• Other undefined fertility issues: Low HCG is not the only reason that affects pregnancy. Oftentimes, women with low HCG can even become pregnant without any medical intervention. But, if you also have other undefined fertility issues such as low ovarian reserve, blocked fallopian tubes, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), or endometriosis, it is likely that the HCG administration will turn out to be ineffective. In such a case, diagnosing and seeking treatment for the particular fertility disorder is foremost.

Other Treatments for Pregnancy

Even if you are not able to achieve pregnancy with HCG injections, there are effective assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) that can help. Low HCG is not the sole factor responsible for lower pregnancy chances, there are multiple other reasons as well.

These common reasons affecting your pregnancy chances include:

• Having blocked or damaged fallopian tubes
• Low ovarian reserve
• Having pre-existing reproductive conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, or POF (premature ovarian failure).
• Genetic chromosomal abnormalities
• Age
• Poor egg quality
• Poor semen quality

In the above mentioned cases, you may primarily require an ideal and suitable fertility treatment instead of getting HCG shots.

Most common and effective ARTs that help you become pregnant while having such conditions include:

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine Insemination or IUI treatment is one of the effective ARTs typically preferred in cases of male-factor infertility. In such cases, a female has an absolutely healthy reproductive function. But, due to poor sperm quality, the sperm fails to fertilize the egg and induce conception. How IUI helps in such cases is, IUI procedure involves inseminating washed and concentrated sperms directly into the uterus for fertilization, eventually escalating the chances of conception. 

In-vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In-vitro Fertilization or IVF treatment is another ART which is usually recommended to patients with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, low ovarian reserve, PCOS, chromosomal abnormality, poor egg quality, and poor sperm health. Most doctors administer HCG injections with IVF only. In IVF, the fertilization takes place completely outside the woman’s body, in a facility. IVF bypasses the fallopian tube involvement as the fertilized egg (a healthy blastocyst) is directly implanted into the uterine lining.

The Bottom Line

In many infertility cases, HCG administration has been found to improve chances of pregnancy. But, do you really need it is the question. If you are a woman trying to become pregnant or maintain your pregnancy and minimize miscarriage risk, HCG injections can be helpful. However, HCG is not the alone determining factor for pregnancy. Having other infertility issues can also lead to failed conception or miscarriages. So, before you decide to undergo HCG determination, it is foremost that you first diagnose your fertility conditions and seek a fertility specialist’s help for pregnancy assistance. It is likely that you might have never needed it, but took it ignorantly, and developed some adverse side effects. So, always discuss with your fertility doctor before taking HCG or any other fertility drug.

HCG injection – indications and contraindications

Currently, ovulation stimulation by hCG injection is in demand. The procedure is recommended for women who do not have high-quality egg maturation. HCG injection is an injection, the main component of which is human chorionic gonadotropin. Undoubtedly, after an injection of hCG, the likelihood of conception increases. Why do I need to stimulate ovulation with an injection of hCG? The purpose of the technique is to create eggs in the female body that are capable of fertilization.

The level of human chorionic gonadotropin increases from the moment of engraftment of the embryo in the uterus. Initially, hCG is produced by the membranes of the chorion, then the placenta performs this function. With insufficient production of the hormone, its amount is compensated artificially. An hCG injection is given to women who want to get pregnant. The injection normalizes ovulation and increases the hormonal activity of the corpus luteum.

Ovulation

The menstrual cycle is divided into two phases. In the first phase, menstrual bleeding occurs, the dominant follicle matures, and the egg is released. In the second phase, the uterus prepares to receive the embryo, regardless of whether fertilization has taken place or not. The endometrium thickens. Having joined with the sperm, the egg travels to the uterus.

If pregnancy does not occur, the concentration of estrogen and progesterone decreases. The inner layer of the uterus exfoliates, menstruation occurs. The ovulation phase is located between the follicle-stimulating period and the luteinizing stage. It takes forty-eight hours in duration. The onset of ovulation occurs on the fourteenth day of the cycle (cycle of 28 days).

Stimulation of ovulation

Lack of ovulation is the main problem of infertility. Violation of the natural process of ovulation is caused by a disorder of hormonal regulation, inflammation of the reproductive organs, dysfunction of the adrenal cortex, thyroid gland, and stress. To correct the level of hormones, an injection of hCG is prescribed. For the simultaneous maturation of several eggs, ovulation is stimulated by an injection of hCG. The injection increases the chances of fertilization and is actively used in in vitro fertilization.

HCG injection

HCG injection is used to restore ovulation. The main indication for the introduction of artificial chorionic gonadotropin is infertility.

Indication for injection:

• Corpus luteum deficiency
• Cause of infertility – anovulation
• Stable miscarriage
• Threat of spontaneous abortion

HCG injection. Contraindications:

• “Young” menopause
• Breastfeeding
• Malignant neoplasm of pituitary gland
• Ovarian cancer
• Tubal obstruction
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Drug resistance

When an HCG injection is prescribed

In case of repeated miscarriages, an HCG injection is prescribed after confirming the pregnancy. In such cases, the injection is carried out at the eighth week. Therapy with artificial gonadotropin is continued for forty to forty-five days. With the danger of miscarriage – up to the fourteenth week inclusive.

If a woman is planning a pregnancy, an HCG injection is given after the absolute maturity of the follicles has been reached. The injection is performed once. The egg after the hCG injection leaves the follicle in twenty-four to thirty-six hours.

Pregnancy test after hCG injection

Usually, after the hCG injection, ovulation occurs in a day. After making sure that the egg is released, a reinforcing therapy is prescribed: progesterone preparations. Next, the time of sexual intercourse is calculated, the result of which will be the reunion of the sperm with the egg. With ideal indicators of spermogram, the action is carried out every other day. If the stimulation of ovulation with an hCG injection ends successfully, a long-awaited pregnancy occurs.

A pregnancy test should be performed when the artificial hCG has completely “left” the body – after two weeks. If you do not follow the recommendations, then pregnancy tests after an hCG injection will be incorrect.

Stimulation of ovulation with an injection of hCG increases the chances of conception. However, there are contraindications to the procedure:

• Inflammation of the ovaries
• Serious hormonal disorders
• Age restrictions
• Allergic reactions

Stimulation of ovulation with an injection of hCG should be carried out under the strict supervision of a physician. Illiterate therapy is the cause of trouble in the female body.

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What is an hCG injection and what is its purpose?

What is an hCG injection and what is its purpose?

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An hCG injection is given to a patient in cases where the test shows an insufficient amount of the hormone present in the body. If the independent synthesis of the substance is insufficient, an injection of hCG is useful.

Injection means the intramuscular administration of preparations containing human chorionic gonadotropin. Among the means used: Pregnil, Profazi, Horagon and others. The main goal of the remedy is to restore hormonal balance and the correct functioning of the reproductive system. Doctors recommend an hCG injection in cases where a woman is planning a pregnancy and wants to normalize ovulation and be sure of the normal activity of the corpus luteum.

What is chorionic gonadotropin?

The abbreviation hCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. Its structure is a combination of alpha and beta units. Alpha is similar in structure to TSH and FSH, and beta is unique and it is she who affects the pregnancy rate during the test.

Beta units are produced in the early stages of pregnancy, up to 10 weeks. At week 11, their number increases dramatically, and this growth indicates the active development of the embryo and the normal course of pregnancy. Then the indicators stop increasing and remain stable until the baby is born. Focusing on the level of the hormone, the increase and decrease in its volume, doctors make assumptions and conclusions about the health and activity of the fetus, the presence or absence of pathologies and anomalies, as well as the general course of pregnancy.

A pregnant woman should undergo examinations that show not only the level of hCG, but also the synthesis of antibodies in the body that oppose the hormone. They interfere with the normal functioning of the protein, and lower the level of placental hormones. A normal level of hCG is conducive to the preservation of the fetus and blunts the immune functions of the body, excluding rejection. An analysis for the beta component can be prescribed to a non-pregnant woman and even a man for a preliminary assessment of the presence of hormone-dependent tumors.

HCG indicators are monitored through regular examinations with comments by the leading doctor, as well as by self-comparison of the results with the hCG table.

When is an hCG injection recommended?

Doctors advise to have a hormone injection after receiving the results of the test for its level. In general, the administration of effective drugs is recommended in the following cases:

• Dysmenorrhea,
• Ovarian problems,
• Disadvantages of the ovulation process,
• Problems related to the corpus luteum,
• The prospect of a miscarriage,
• Unsuitability of the body to bear a child,
• Pre-in vitro fertilization therapy,
• Formation of placental tissue.

Medications containing hCG are used during reproductive procedures of various specifics, since the hormone has a positive effect on the functioning of the ovaries.

HCG injection

Intramuscular administration of the drug implies the possibility of independent injection, if the woman has the necessary experience and knowledge, but can also be carried out in a medical institution. You can also call a nurse at home. It should be taken into account that hCG injections are carried out in a course, so it is worth preparing for therapy in advance.

An injection of hCG is given in the abdomen. For many women, this is a frightening fact, since many are used to injections in the buttocks and do not really understand the meaning of such prescriptions. An injection in the stomach is more effective. To carry it out, measure the distance of two fingers from the navel to the left or right side. Then, with the fingers, the skin of the abdomen is collected in a small fold and a needle is inserted into it. It does not enter the skin completely. The most relevant tool will be an insulin needle, which is used for injections in diabetes mellitus. The needle must first be sterilized in an alcohol solution.

Recommended injection doses may vary depending on medical prescription and individual situation. The most popular dosages of the substance that can be purchased at the pharmacy are the standards of 500.1000, 1500, 5000 and 10000 units.

Depending on the indications, a different number of hCG injections may be recommended, aimed at creating the necessary conditions for pregnancy. The standard norm of the drug for each application is 5-10 thousand units. Assessing the change in the situation, the doctor may prescribe a lower dose after a few injections. When conducting hormone therapy, the size of the follicles is taken into account so as not to motivate excessive stimulation of the ovaries.

The main indication for HCG injection is diagnosed infertility. Some time after hormone therapy, an ultrasound scan is performed, which makes it possible to clarify the presence of positive changes. If expectations are justified, an hCG injection is given to stimulate ovulation. The positive effect of the hormone also lies in the fact that it does not give the follicles the opportunity to regress.

When stimulating superovulation as part of the reproductive program, the patient is given a single injection of about 10 thousand units of human chorionic gonadotropin, which ensures the growth of several follicles at once, which will later become eggs. 36 hours after the injection, you can choose the egg that best meets the requirements for artificial conception.

If doctors diagnose a threatened miscarriage, the maximum dose is administered by injection of hCG, and then 5 thousand units of the hormone are injected twice a week. In order for hormone therapy to retain its relevance and effectiveness, it is necessary to start it before the eighth week of pregnancy, and its completion should be scheduled closer to the 14th week of the term.

Recommendations for pregnant women

An injection of hCG is recommended for a pregnant woman when there is not enough human chorionic gonadotropin in her body for a comfortable pregnancy and the development of a healthy fetus. Before giving instructions on the need for hormone therapy, the doctor asks to retake the analysis for the hormone level and draws conclusions based on several studies.

The hCG norm is a vague concept, so you should not be afraid of minor deviations up or down. But, when the results of your test differ from the standards indicated in the hCG table, you need to conduct hormonal therapy and identify the reasons for the deviation from the norm.

Non-compliance with standards can be caused by various pathologies and anomalies, including:

• Ectopic pregnancy,
• Illegal pregnancy,
• Problems in the formation of the placenta,
• Risk of miscarriage.

When resorting to hormonal therapy, one should not forget about the possible side effects that the use of drugs can lead to. The use of chorionic gonadotropin can be fraught with the formation of a follicular cyst and other pathologies. Preparations containing hCG are not recommended for the following reasons:

• When lactating,
• With early menopause,
• In case of tumors in the ovaries and pituitary gland,
• For thrombophlebitis,
• In case of obstruction of the fallopian tubes,
• If allergic.