HCG

What do you mean by HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone that is made by the first embryo and then by your placenta.

It is a hormone that arouses the production of increased estrogen and progesterone during pregnancy.

HCG is a hormone detected by all pregnancy tests, be it at home in urine or a blood test done by a doctor.

You need to know that HCG is found in urine or blood almost 10 to 11 days after a sperm fertilizes an egg.

Towards the end of the first trimester, your HCG levels are highest and then start declining for the rest of the pregnancy time. 

To confirm a pregnancy, doctors measure HCG and provide information on how your pregnancy is progressing.

Role of HCG

HCG hormone plays a vital role in your early pregnancy because it promotes the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum.

You need to know that together with hormones like progesterone and estrogen, HCG helps to maintain the uterus lining.

HCG arouses the thyroid gland and supports the implantation of a blastocyst that is developed into a baby later.

As this hormone is produced by your fertilized egg and later placenta, HCG is a useful hormone for detecting pregnancy.

How is human chorionic gonadotropin produced?

After conception occurs, a fertilized egg starts traveling through your fallopian tubes to the uterus.

This fertilized egg implants into the wall of your uterus. In this way, the placenta is triggered to form. 

Your placenta starts creating and releasing human chorionic gonadotropin in blood and urine.

You need to know that HCG can be found in a person’s blood almost 11 days after conception.

Nevertheless, it takes slightly long for HCG to register on urine tests.

For the first 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin increases rapidly.

Further, a doctor will look at how your HCG levels rise in early pregnancy to check how pregnancy and fetus are developing.

Functions and uses of HCG in the body

During pregnancy, your body is able to create a protein-based hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).

• HCH hormone aids in maintaining the production of other important hormones like progesterone.
• Progesterone is also helpful in supporting the healthy growth of your fetus and uterus.
• HCG is also considered a maker in home pregnancy tests. Being a pregnancy hormone, HCG levels identify pregnancy in females.
• Pregnancy tests check HCG levels in your blood tests samples and urine tests which determine pregnancy.
• After the first 3 months of pregnancy, there is a decrease in blood levels of HCG that can be seen.
• HCG is effective in treating fertility problems in males and females. In females, it stimulates the development and release of eggs from ovaries.
• In males, HCG treats fertility issues. It aids when a hormonal imbalance affects the production of testosterone or sperm.
• HCG assists the production arousal of testosterone and brings an upsurge in sperm production in certain cases.
• It is necessary to know that doctors claim that an HCG diet might aid the loss of abnormal fat.
• Though HCG is not approved by FDA as a safe and effective treatment for weight loss.

How HCG levels are tested?

Human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG can be detected either in your blood or urine.

Nevertheless, a blood test is more accurate as it is detected in smaller amounts of HCG.

Here are two different types of blood tests which detect HCG:

A qualitative test that detects whether HCG is present in the blood. It does not identify the amount, just that there is HCG. 

A quantitative test measures the amount of HCG present in your blood. Results of HCG are in milli-international units of HCG per milliliter of blood.

An at-home pregnancy test will be positive if Human chorionic gonadotropin is detected in your urine.

A urine HCG test is performed by either peeing on a chemical strip or simply placing a drop of urine on a chemical strip.

When urine tests are done at home, it requires higher HCG levels to return a positive.

Remember a low HCG level is not going to diagnose anything. It is just a tool to identify potential problems.

In case, a doctor is concerned about HCG level then your levels will be tested again in two or three days.

Later, they will compare results to get a better picture of what is going on with your pregnancy.

How human chorionic gonadotropin is taken?

First, a doctor will advise whether you must take treatment of HCG or not depending upon your health condition.

If it appears helpful and important then its treatment can be started under the supervision of a doctor.

Generally, HCG is given as an injection under the skin or into muscles depending upon your condition.

It is vital to take HCG injection with a help of a doctor and follow their instructions strictly during treatment.

Never self-inject HCG and make sure to dispose of used needles and syringes in the dustbin properly.

Different HCG injections are available

Here are some different HCG injections available at licensed pharmacies:

• ZYHCG 5000IU injection
• HUCOG 5000 IU injection
• Ovidac 5000 IU injection
• LUPI-HCG 5000 IU injection
• Corion 5000 IU injection
• Fetigyn 5000 IU injection

Precautions and warnings for HCG

Before starting your treatment with HCG, it is necessary to consider a few precautions and warnings:

• A person allergic to any ingredient of HCG should strictly avoid taking it.
• Avoid consuming alcohol during treatment because it can make you suffer from serious side effects.
• When using HCG medicines, if you experience any severe effects on the body then contact a doctor immediately.
• If you have any medical issues then inform your doctor about them before starting treatment with HCG medicines or injections.

Side effects of HCG

During your treatment with HCG, you might experience some side effects including:

• Vomiting, nausea
• Allergic reactions like hives, rash, swelling, or itching
• Pelvic pain
• Breathing issues
• Sudden weight gain
• Enlargement of male sexual organs and testes
• A sudden increase in height

Get emergency medical help, if any of these side effects persist or become worse.