Testosterone, Weight Loss, Side Effects & More

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved hCG injections to treat specific medical conditions. In females assigned at birth (FAABs), they can help treat infertility. In males assigned at birth (MAABs), they can treat a type of hypogonadism.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is sometimes called “the pregnancy hormone” because of its important role in maintaining pregnancy.

Pregnancy tests check hCG levels in the urine or blood to determine if a person is pregnant or not.

Read on to learn how it can be used for MAABs.

There are a variety of reasons why a doctor might prescribe hCG to a man.

To help address hypogonadism

In men, doctors prescribe hCG to help address the symptoms of hypogonadism, such as low testosterone and infertility. hCG can help the body increase its production of testosterone and sperm, which can help reduce infertility.

To improve testosterone deficiency

Injections of hCG are also sometimes used as an alternative to testosterone products in MAABs with testosterone deficiency.

Testosterone deficiency is defined as testosterone blood levels less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) along with symptoms of low testosterone. These include:

• fatigue
• stress
• a low sex drive
• depressed mood

According to the American Urological Association, hCG is appropriate for those MAABs with testosterone deficiency who also desire to maintain fertility.

Testosterone products boost levels of the hormone in the body but can have the side effects of shrinking the gonads, altering sexual function, and causing infertility.

hCG can help increase:

• gonad size
• testosterone levels
• fertility

Some doctors believe that using testosterone along with hCG may help improve symptoms of testosterone deficiency while preventing some of testosterone’s side effects.

To improve sexual function

hCG may also help improve sexual function in MAABs who don’t experience improvement while on testosterone.

To reverse steroid side effects

Bodybuilders who take anabolic steroids such as testosterone also sometimes use hCG to help prevent or reverse some of the side effects steroids cause, such as gonad shrinkage and infertility.

In men, hCG acts like luteinizing hormone (LH). LH stimulates Leydig cells in the testicles, which results in the production of testosterone.

LH also stimulates production of sperm within structures in the testicles called seminiferous tubules.

As hCG stimulates the testicles to produce testosterone and sperm, the testicles grow in size over time.

Very little clinical research has evaluated hCG in MAABs with low testosterone levels.

In a small 2002 study of older MAABs with partial hypogonadism, hCG increased testosterone levels compared to a placebo control. However, hCG had no effect on sexual function.

In one 2005 study, MAABs taking testosterone along with hCG were able to maintain testosterone production in the testicles.

In a 2013 study, MAABs taking testosterone along with hCG were able to maintain adequate sperm production.

According to a 2018 study, hCG can help MAABs with hypogonadism preserve their fertility, whether it’s used alone or in combination with testosterone. It can help restore sperm production as well.

A small 2019 study concluded that hCG was safe and effective for MAABs who experience the symptoms of hypogonadism but have testosterone levels above 300 ng/dL. Testosterone levels above 300 ng/dL are widely considered normal.

For men, the most common side effects of hCG injections include:

• gynecomastia, or the growth of male breasts
• pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting

In rare cases, people taking hCG have developed blood clots. Although also rare, allergic reactions can occur, including mild skin rashes and severe anaphylactic reactions.

hCG is sometimes used for weight loss. Several products are available that are marketed as over-the-counter (OTC) homeopathic hCG products for weight loss.

However, the FDA has warned that it hasn’t approved hCG products for the purpose of weight loss. Any OTC products claiming to contain hCG aren’t legally authorized, either.

The FDA has also advised consumers that there’s no substantial evidence that hCG works for weight loss.

These products are often used as part of an “hCG diet.” This typically involves taking hCG supplements while following a low calorie diet of 500 calories per day.

Although this low calorie diet can help reduce weight, there’s no evidence that using hCG products helps.

Additionally, this extremely low calorie diet can be unsafe for many people. Possible side effects of extremely restrictive diets include:

• gallstones
• electrolyte imbalances
• arrhythmias

When used appropriately with the guidance of your doctor, hCG is safe.

It shouldn’t be used by MAABs with prostate cancer, certain brain cancers, or uncontrolled thyroid disease.

Talk with your doctor about other medical conditions you may have before using hCG.

hCG is produced from hamster ovary cells. People with an allergy to hamster protein shouldn’t take hCG.

You should avoid all OTC hCG products, since none of them have been FDA approved. The FDA warns against using these products or following the hCG diet.

hCG is an FDA-approved medication for treating specific conditions in both FAABs and men.

In men, it seems to have an important role as an alternative to testosterone for boosting testosterone levels and maintaining fertility.

Some doctors are prescribing it in conjunction with testosterone products for testosterone deficiency to help maintain fertility and sexual function.

Some people are also using hCG for weight loss, often as a component of the hCG diet. However, there’s no reliable evidence that hCG works for this purpose. Due to concerns about its safety, it should be avoided as a weight loss aid.

Testosterone, Weight Loss, Side Effects & More

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved hCG injections to treat specific medical conditions. In females assigned at birth (FAABs), they can help treat infertility. In males assigned at birth (MAABs), they can treat a type of hypogonadism.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is sometimes called “the pregnancy hormone” because of its important role in maintaining pregnancy.

Pregnancy tests check hCG levels in the urine or blood to determine if a person is pregnant or not.

Read on to learn how it can be used for MAABs.

There are a variety of reasons why a doctor might prescribe hCG to a man.

To help address hypogonadism

In men, doctors prescribe hCG to help address the symptoms of hypogonadism, such as low testosterone and infertility. hCG can help the body increase its production of testosterone and sperm, which can help reduce infertility.

To improve testosterone deficiency

Injections of hCG are also sometimes used as an alternative to testosterone products in MAABs with testosterone deficiency.

Testosterone deficiency is defined as testosterone blood levels less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) along with symptoms of low testosterone. These include:

• fatigue
• stress
• a low sex drive
• depressed mood

According to the American Urological Association, hCG is appropriate for those MAABs with testosterone deficiency who also desire to maintain fertility.

Testosterone products boost levels of the hormone in the body but can have the side effects of shrinking the gonads, altering sexual function, and causing infertility.

hCG can help increase:

• gonad size
• testosterone levels
• fertility

Some doctors believe that using testosterone along with hCG may help improve symptoms of testosterone deficiency while preventing some of testosterone’s side effects.

To improve sexual function

hCG may also help improve sexual function in MAABs who don’t experience improvement while on testosterone.

To reverse steroid side effects

Bodybuilders who take anabolic steroids such as testosterone also sometimes use hCG to help prevent or reverse some of the side effects steroids cause, such as gonad shrinkage and infertility.

In men, hCG acts like luteinizing hormone (LH). LH stimulates Leydig cells in the testicles, which results in the production of testosterone.

LH also stimulates production of sperm within structures in the testicles called seminiferous tubules.

As hCG stimulates the testicles to produce testosterone and sperm, the testicles grow in size over time.

Very little clinical research has evaluated hCG in MAABs with low testosterone levels.

In a small 2002 study of older MAABs with partial hypogonadism, hCG increased testosterone levels compared to a placebo control. However, hCG had no effect on sexual function.

In one 2005 study, MAABs taking testosterone along with hCG were able to maintain testosterone production in the testicles.

In a 2013 study, MAABs taking testosterone along with hCG were able to maintain adequate sperm production.

According to a 2018 study, hCG can help MAABs with hypogonadism preserve their fertility, whether it’s used alone or in combination with testosterone. It can help restore sperm production as well.

A small 2019 study concluded that hCG was safe and effective for MAABs who experience the symptoms of hypogonadism but have testosterone levels above 300 ng/dL. Testosterone levels above 300 ng/dL are widely considered normal.

For men, the most common side effects of hCG injections include:

• gynecomastia, or the growth of male breasts
• pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site
• stomach pain
• nausea
• vomiting

In rare cases, people taking hCG have developed blood clots. Although also rare, allergic reactions can occur, including mild skin rashes and severe anaphylactic reactions.

hCG is sometimes used for weight loss. Several products are available that are marketed as over-the-counter (OTC) homeopathic hCG products for weight loss.

However, the FDA has warned that it hasn’t approved hCG products for the purpose of weight loss. Any OTC products claiming to contain hCG aren’t legally authorized, either.

The FDA has also advised consumers that there’s no substantial evidence that hCG works for weight loss.

These products are often used as part of an “hCG diet.” This typically involves taking hCG supplements while following a low calorie diet of 500 calories per day.

Although this low calorie diet can help reduce weight, there’s no evidence that using hCG products helps.

Additionally, this extremely low calorie diet can be unsafe for many people. Possible side effects of extremely restrictive diets include:

• gallstones
• electrolyte imbalances
• arrhythmias

When used appropriately with the guidance of your doctor, hCG is safe.

It shouldn’t be used by MAABs with prostate cancer, certain brain cancers, or uncontrolled thyroid disease.

Talk with your doctor about other medical conditions you may have before using hCG.

hCG is produced from hamster ovary cells. People with an allergy to hamster protein shouldn’t take hCG.

You should avoid all OTC hCG products, since none of them have been FDA approved. The FDA warns against using these products or following the hCG diet.

hCG is an FDA-approved medication for treating specific conditions in both FAABs and men.

In men, it seems to have an important role as an alternative to testosterone for boosting testosterone levels and maintaining fertility.

Some doctors are prescribing it in conjunction with testosterone products for testosterone deficiency to help maintain fertility and sexual function.

Some people are also using hCG for weight loss, often as a component of the hCG diet. However, there’s no reliable evidence that hCG works for this purpose. Due to concerns about its safety, it should be avoided as a weight loss aid.

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,
• Corpus luteum problems,
• The prospect of a miscarriage,
• Unsuitability of the body to bear a child,
• Pre-in vitro fertilization therapy,
• Formation of placental tissue.

Medications, which include hCG, are used in 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 self-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. Products containing hCG are not recommended for the following reasons:

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

If a married couple is faced with the impossibility of spontaneous conception, reproductive specialists find out what is the cause of the problem by analyzing the results of tests and examinations that both partners undergo. If a lack of chorionic gonadotropin is confirmed, an hCG injection is indicated. Correctly calculated effect of hormonal therapy helps to successfully carry out artificial insemination, comfortably endure and give birth to a healthy baby.

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:

• Luteal deficiency
• Cause of infertility – anovulation
• Stable miscarriage
• Threatened miscarriage

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 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.