What is hCG, why is an injection of this hormone needed and how does it affect conception?

The principle of action of the hCG injection

Usually this injection is prescribed only once when planning pregnancy. This hormone promotes the rupture of the dominant follicle and stimulates ovulation. This medicine is prescribed only after the woman takes hormones for the growth of the dominant follicle.

Every 2 days the follicle is monitored, and when it reaches the desired size, hCG is administered. After administration of the drug, ovulation occurs within 12-36 hours. It is during this period that you need to have sex during natural conception or inject sperm through insemination. Reviews indicate that the injection helps to get pregnant.

Side effects and contraindications

The use of gonadotropin can cause involuntary erection and increased sexual activity. Testosterone, which is often included in a course of steroids, has a similar property. Increased development of secondary sexual characteristics leads to intensive growth of hair on the face and body, which becomes denser and thicker. However, this effect also has a downside. In men prone to baldness, the process of hair loss occurs faster.

With long-term use in large dosages, the hormone can lead to fluid retention in tissues, skin rashes, and enlargement of the prostate gland and mammary glands. If such signs appear, it is recommended to reduce the dosage of the drug or stop it altogether.

Like any medicine, the synthetic hormone has contraindications. HCG should not be included in a course of steroids if the following pathologies are present:

• thrombophlebitis;
• tumors on the gonads, pituitary gland;
• inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs.

If you have any doubts about the possibility of using the drug, it is recommended to consult your doctor.

Indications for prescribing an hCG injection

There are two options for administering the hormone:

• stimulation of ovulation with Clostilbegit;
• with polycystic ovary syndrome, when the follicle grows, but does not burst, but develops into a cyst.

Therefore, an hCG injection is prescribed for anovulatory cycles, when the egg does not mature. Stimulation is carried out with Clostilbegit or Clomid. On days 14-20 of the cycle, the hCG hormone is administered. During insemination, sperm is injected only after follicle rupture is confirmed.

The hCG hormone helps to conceive a child and maintain a pregnancy. When artificially inducing ovulation after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone is prescribed. Usually this is the drug "Utrozhestan" or "Duphaston". They loosen the endometrium and promote the attachment of the fertilized egg.

Indications for the use of hCG:

• anovulation;
• corpus luteum deficiency during pregnancy;
• habitual abortion;
• risk of miscarriage.

Basic principles of the procedure

The procedure is prescribed for hormone deficiency during pregnancy or to restore ovulation. The key purpose of the injection is to create mature eggs for conception. Chorionic gonadotropin is sold by pharmacy chains in the form of an injection liquid, which must be injected into the stomach at a distance of 2 centimeters from the navel using a syringe with a short needle. All manipulations must be performed by a qualified specialist. He also prescribes the dosage and timing of injection so that the treatment is as effective and safe as possible.

To restore ovulation, full monitoring by a specialist and multiple ultrasounds of the female genital organs are required. This is necessary to track the size of the follicle. Once it reaches an optimal state, the doctor injects hCG, which allows the follicles to burst to trigger ovulation.

Practicing gynecologists prescribe hCG injections of 5000 units. to trigger ovulation and 10,000 units. for in vitro fertilization. Medicines containing human chorionic gonadotropin stimulate the restoration of ovarian function. Usually one injection is enough for a successful outcome of the enterprise. The result is determined by ultrasound, two days after the procedure. If the desired effect cannot be achieved, the physician prescribes an increased dose of the drug, but for the next cycle.

If ovulation has occurred, several more injections of the medication will be required: every 3 days for 9 days after the follicle bursts. This is necessary to maintain the functioning of the corpus luteum. If there is a risk of spontaneous miscarriage, the course of treatment is increased to 14 days.

When is there no point in injecting?

The injection must be given under specific conditions. It must be placed on a certain day of the cycle when the follicle is fully mature. If you administer the medicine earlier, ovulation will occur, but you will receive an underdeveloped egg that cannot lead to pregnancy.

Therefore, the substance is administered only with constant folliculometry using ultrasound. If you were not given drugs to stimulate the growth of the dominant follicle, then the injection is also useless, because there will be nothing to rupture due to the absence of the “main” follicle.

The use of human chorionic gonadotropin in bodybuilding

Athletes using testosterone and its analogues should definitely use human gonadotropin to prevent testicular atrophy.
This is the main function of this drug. Less experienced bodybuilders use human chorionic gonadotropin to gain muscle mass in combination with other drugs. It has been proven that the use of human chorionic gonadotropin in bodybuilding for anabolic purposes is not justified. In addition, its use may cause health problems. The level of stimulation of testosterone production with this drug is significantly lower than when using synthetic forms of testosterone, and the side effects are significantly higher.

Why use it then? The main advantage that the use of gonadotropin can provide during a course of anabolic steroids is its ability to prevent testicular atrophy.

When using gonadotropin for the prevention of testicular shrinkage, the dose is significantly lower than the dose required to manifest its anabolic effect. Accordingly, the health risk is minimized while the benefits of the drug are maximized. Also, human chorionic gonadotropin has the property of softening and eliminating the side effects of some anabolic agents.

Low hCG levels during pregnancy

If during testing it turns out that the concentration of this substance is low, the hormone is administered by injection to preserve the embryo. The fact is that this substance controls the release of progestins and estrogens into the blood. If there are more or less of these hormones, there is a risk of miscarriage. In addition, human chorionic gonadotropin is prescribed for insufficiency of the corpus luteum, which supplies the fertilized egg with useful substances.

An increased concentration of hCG indicates:

• about multiple pregnancy;
• about maternal diabetes;
• about taking progestins;
• about Down syndrome in the fetus;
• about an incorrectly determined gestational age.

Therefore, if you are taking Duphaston or Utrozhestan when there is a threat of miscarriage, tell the laboratory about it. Usually, it is not the concentration of hCG itself that is analyzed, but its relationship to AFP and estriol. Based on the data obtained, a diagram of the risk of genetic defects in the fetus is constructed, because An increased level of the hormone is an indication for analysis of amniotic fluid, which is collected by puncturing the mother’s abdomen. This increases the risk of infection and miscarriage.

Basic schemes for stimulating ovulation

First of all, the doctor examines both partners. Having established a diagnosis, a treatment regimen is determined, where the duration of the course, medications, and doses are determined.

HCG injections for ovulation are prescribed by a doctor if the following conditions exist:

• age less than 35 years;
• Tubal patency and FSH level are normal;
• normal spermogram of a man;
• not using an in vitro fertilization program.

There are different treatment regimens:

1. A single injection of hCG (10,000 or 5,000), which helps the corpus luteum reach the required size after a day and a half.
2. Injection of the drug 5000 or 1500 to normalize the activity of the corpus luteum, but in this case the process of ovulation is delayed for some time.

Stimulation procedure

Doctors, as a rule, prescribe an ovulation stimulation procedure on the second day of the cycle. The injection is given every day for 10 days. This process must take place under the supervision of a physician, as he can change the dosage.

Ultrasounds are performed regularly during therapy. The first – on the 5th day from the beginning of stimulation, the last – when the follicles reach a size of 20-25 mm.

Estimated time before ovulation after hCG injection

Every woman who has decided to take such a step is, of course, interested in how many days after the hCG injection ovulation occurs. There is no secret to this - as a rule, the process begins 36 hours after the injection.

But you should not count on one hundred percent conception naturally after a course of therapy. The fact that fertilization needs to be facilitated with the help of medications cannot be ruled out. IUI and IVF procedures take place here.

Egg release time

As mentioned above, the time of ovulation after an hCG injection is known in advance, which makes the task easier for doctors. After stimulation, it is possible to ensure the union of sperm and egg through normal sexual intercourse or special hospital procedures. In addition, the doctor identifies the most suitable period for conception. Therefore, the only task of the partners will be to strictly follow the instructions.

Luteal Body Support

The injection of human chorionic gonadotropin is responsible for creating a normal corpus luteum. But after the session, you will need to carry out therapy aimed at preventing progesterone deficiency.

For this purpose, the following medications are used:

All of them provide the female body with the necessary content of the second phase hormone, which a woman needs to maintain pregnancy, as well as the luteal body.

Is it possible that after treatment there is no ovulation?

Indeed, there are situations when the injection does not give the desired effect, even if all indicators are normal and intensive therapy with an extended course has been carried out. For these patients, a different treatment regimen is prescribed after re-examination. But there is no need to immediately start panicking if ovulation does not occur 36 hours after the injection, since it can begin within a few weeks.

The period of intimacy for subsequent conception

When the partner’s sperm is normal, it is recommended to have sexual intercourse every day for three days from the moment of the injection. If there are problems with sperm, sexual intercourse is permitted on the day of the procedure and one day after that.

Is preliminary preparation necessary before the injection?

Chorionic gonadotropin is produced in the form of white powders, which are supplied with a solution for dilution in ampoules. Since the liquid drug does not retain its properties for long, during a course of steroids it is advisable to prepare a dose for no more than 2 injections. For more convenient dosing, the solvent itself is purchased additionally at the pharmacy.

For example, the composition of an ampoule with a volume of 5000 IU can be divided into 5 parts, dissolved in 1000 IU and injected in 500 IU twice a week. With other volumes the principle is the same - divide and introduce. Dilute the substance with sodium chloride (1 ml = 9 mg). For a dose of 500-1500 IU, 1 ml of saline solution is sufficient. Store the diluted drug (as well as the sealed powder) in a cool place, optimally in the refrigerator.

Before an HCG injection, a woman must come for an examination by a gynecologist.

A patient who is planning to undergo hormonal injections must have the following checked:

• hormonal background;
• degree of patency of the fallopian tubes;
• presence of antibodies to hCG.

It is possible that injection will not be needed. The patient also undergoes an ultrasound. If necessary, the woman undergoes additional examination by different specialists.

How to take human chorionic gonadotropin during and after the course

You can buy hCG in a pharmacy without a prescription in the form of injections for subcutaneous or intramuscular administration. The drug must be diluted inside the ampoule with a special liquid that comes with the drug. Chorionic gonadotropin should be injected intramuscularly; the drug is quickly absorbed. The duration of action is 5-6 days.

Short course

If the duration of the course of taking anabolic steroids is less than 5-6 weeks, there is no need to use HCG.

Long courses with excessive dosages

In case of longer-term use of AS or use of steroids in large dosages, human chorionic gonadotropin should be taken 2 times a week in the amount of 250-500 IU. If HCG was not used during a heavy course, it is recommended to include it in post-cycle therapy. PCT uses dosages of 2000 IU of the drug. Injections are given every other day for 3 weeks.

"Perpetual Course"

For professional athletes who almost continuously use anabolic steroids, it is recommended to include the drug in the course on an ongoing basis. After 5 weeks of use, the drug is taken off for 1-2 weeks.

Gonadotropin is a substance with a cumulative effect. Its effect begins to appear 2 weeks after the start of administration, and reaches a maximum after a month. It is necessary to administer hCG during a course of steroids subcutaneously or intramuscularly in frequent and small doses, since the division cycle of “germ cells” is about 3 days. By day 3, the effectiveness of the substance decreases, which means its supply in the body must be replenished.

The regimen for taking human chorionic gonadotropin depends on the duration of the anabolic cycle:

1. If the course of steroids lasts from 6 to 10 weeks, then hCG begins to be administered 4 weeks before its end. Take the drug every 4th day, 1000 IU. After the 5th injection, therapy is discontinued.
2. If the course of anabolic steroids exceeds 10 weeks, Gonadotropin injections begin from the fifth week and in small portions, but more often. See the diagrams below for more details.

HCG regimens from the Health Coach

Scheme No. 1. Suitable for a course of 6 to 10 weeks.

Gonadotropin should be given 4 weeks before the end of the course, 1000 IU, every 4th day, five injections in a row and cancel.

Scheme No. 2. Suitable for a course of 10 weeks or longer.

By studying the theory and conducting my own experiments, I came to the conclusion that with long-term use of steroids, it is optimal to administer hCG in cycles of 5 weeks, after which a two-week break is necessary. A gap of up to 1 month is allowed with a relatively short cycle based on Nadrolone and Trenbolone.

HCG administration begins in the 5th week of the anabolic cycle. If steroid therapy is based on Trenbolone, Gonadotropin injections are started a week earlier. For a full hCG cycle (5 weeks), 5000 IU of the drug is administered: 1000 IU per week, divided into 2 doses. Then they take a break (optimally 14 days). Thus, each course will include 10 injections.

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Reviews of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

Many women in their reviews indicate that this particular drug helped them get pregnant and gave them a chance to experience the real joy of motherhood. Most of these patients had already been treated with progesterone and other hormonal drugs in previous pregnancies, but to no avail - there were miscarriages or the pregnancy stopped developing.

Many who became mothers claim that the drug could have worked not the first time, but the second or third time, but, compared to years of planning, 2-3 months did not seem like a long time to them. Among the disadvantages, women point out the high cost of the drug, so as of December 2020, the following prices for the original drug are considered relevant:

• packaging of the drug in a dosage of 500 units (5 ampoules solution) - from 500 rubles;
• packaging of “Chorionic Gonadotropin” in a dosage of 1000 units (5 ampoules solution) – from 750 rubles;
• packaging of the drug in a dosage of 5000 units (5 ampoules solution) - from 3200 rubles.

According to women who left their reviews about this drug on the Internet, this packaging (5 ampoules) is not very convenient for use, because some do not require more than one or two injections. As a result, the remaining ampoules remain unclaimed.

Regarding another use of the drug - to maintain pregnancy, reviews are also mostly positive.

On bodybuilding forums, positive reviews about gonadotropin prevail when used on PCT and during large and long courses of anabolic steroids. The use of hCG is justified only for men. Human chorionic gonadotropin is not used in women's courses, and is not a means to “treat” the effects of aromatization.

Negative reviews about human chorionic gonadotropin hCG can be found in small quantities, since it is rarely used for anabolic purposes. Usually these are written by people who are trying to gain 10 kg of muscle per course using pharmaceutical pharmacology, and at the same time lose weight. There is no point in counterfeiting the drug, since it is freely available.

For whom is the medicine contraindicated?

In some cases, you will have to refuse to use the drug, because it has a fairly large list of contraindications. Thus, “Chorionic Gonadotropin” cannot be used for:

• increased sensitivity to this hormone, which can become the beginning of a severe allergic reaction;
• with ovarian carcinoma - cancer of the reproductive gland in women;
• for neoplasms and tumors in the pituitary gland;

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• with so-called hormonal tumors in the body, which are capable of responding with rapid growth to the introduction of androgens;
• with insufficient functioning of the thyroid gland;
• with dysfunction or insufficiency of the adrenal glands;
• with an increased level of the hormone prolactin in the patient’s blood;
• at the onset of menopause, menopause;

• for epilepsy;
• with obstruction of the fallopian tubes, with a strong adhesive process in them;
• during breastfeeding;
• with diagnosed thrombophlebitis.

Conditions for storage and release from pharmacies

The drug belongs to pharmacological group B, it can be bought in pharmacies only with a doctor's prescription. Boxes with solution and dry powder for dilution should be stored at a temperature no higher than 20 degrees Celsius, so that the medicine is not exposed to direct sunlight.

If a diluted solution remains after an injection, it cannot be used again; it is advisable to prepare a new portion of the solution for a new injection, and there is no need to store the leftovers at all, neither in the first aid kit nor in the refrigerator.

Post-injection tests

The issue of using various tests after hormonal therapy with hCG drugs deserves special attention. The level of the hormone received by the female body “from the outside”, of course, affects the results and analyzes that can be carried out later. Therefore, it is recommended to do an ovulation test no earlier than three days later, and a pregnancy test after the injection will not be informative for at least 12 days. Most often, a woman will see a second line, but the result will be a false positive.

The concentration of the hormone obtained during the injection leaves the body in approximately 12 days. Therefore, doctors do not recommend starting to buy pharmacy tests before the fifteenth day after ovulation. The best option is a blood test for hCG. If you do it several times, the dynamics will be noticeable.

How to give injections?

Considering that the course of treatment is long, and not all expectant mothers live near a medical institution where they can go for an injection, the question arises of how to give an hCG injection yourself. In fact, it is not difficult if you follow the entire algorithm of actions:

• You should wash your hands well with soap. It is better to use soap with antibacterial action.
• The ampoule with isotonic sodium chloride solution is opened first.
• A syringe is used to draw out the full contents from it.

• The isotonic solution is introduced into the ampoule with the drug powder and mixed well until uniformly distributed without precipitation. You need to stir in a circular motion and under no circumstances shake the ampoule.
• The prepared solution is drawn into a syringe, the needle is changed to a regular one if you decide to inject in the buttock, or to a small “insulin” one if you plan to inject in the stomach.
• Use cotton wool soaked in alcohol or special pharmaceutical alcohol wipes to wipe the injection site.
• The drug is administered intramuscularly, not quickly.
• After the injection, apply an alcohol pad to the injection site and press lightly for 1-2 minutes.

If it is possible to establish the causes of infertility, then to eliminate them, a treatment course is prescribed, in which the woman is monitored around the clock. The first injection is given on the 2nd day of menstruation. The course lasts 10 days. HCG injections are so effective that within a day they significantly increase the amount of hormones in the female body.

Ovulation often occurs after 3 days. However, do not be upset if this does not happen. There are high chances that it will come a little later. In any case, an ultrasound should be done. When ovulation is confirmed, ovarian support is needed. Therefore, the patient is injected with progesterone (for example, Utrozhestan).

HCG injections are strictly prohibited for:

• early menopause;
• malignant tumors on the ovaries;
• congenital or postoperative absence of ovaries;
• obstruction of the fallopian tubes;
• breastfeeding;
• blood clots or problems with blood clotting;
• hypertension;
• heart failure;
• imbalance of paired endocrine glands (adrenal cortex);
• hypothyroidism;
• bronchial asthma;
• migraines;
• individual intolerance to the components of the drug.