HCG (Human Choronic Gonadotropin)

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is also called Human Gonadotropin.

It’s a glycoprotein hormone produced during pregnancy, and also made by the embryo just after conception and then by the trophoblast (one of the tissues in the placenta). It can be detected in the blood from the tenth day after ovulation. It takes a few more days to detect it in urine.

This hormone only exists in primates (such as humans, in this case HCG) as well as in equines (female donkeys and mares, in this case of ECG: Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin, before being called Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin – PMSG).

HCG‘s main functions are maintaining the corpus luteum during pregnancy (up to the ninth week) and progestogen secretion. However it also has an anti-gonadotropin effect by inhibiting LH and FSH secretion.

HCG is considered as a steroid since it also allows the corpus luteum to secrete progestogen and stimulates steroid secretion from the fetal gonads. It’s a trophoblastic GnRH that regulates HCG synthesis and secretion.

HCG in Medicine

Its presence is quickly perceptible without needing to be measured. A well-known example is the pregnancy test.

In the course of finding and measuring HCG, its levels give an estimation of the age of the pregnancy and detect molar or extrauterine pregnancies.

Analysing the dosage between the 15th and 17th weeks of pregnancy with other parameters shows a higher risk of Down’s syndrome. If there is any doubt from the results, amniocentesis (a surgical procedure that uses a needle to withdraw a little amniotic fluid) is then used to invalidate or confirm its presence, or detect other genetic or chromasomal anomalies.

HCG & Fertility

The human body naturally produces HCG. This hormone increases ovarian activity and ovulation in women and supports production of the female sex hormone: estrogen.

For men, it stimulates testosterone creation, indispensable to the production of spermatozoa. Pregnyl is an example.

The hormones of the hypothalamus (similar to GnRH) control ovulation by inhibiting the production of female sex hormones. There are two types: antagonists and agonists. The antagonists intervene directly to prevent premature ovulation.

Gonadotropins (FSH and LH) play an essential in the natural cycle.

For gonadotropins, the functions of LH and FSH are defined as follows: FSH stimulates follicle growth and estrogen production. LH causes the final maturation of the ovum as well as the start of the ovulation cycle.

This HCG hormone allows women to detect pregnancy and determine the time of conception. It’s also a way to monitor the healthy development of the fetus.

It also aids ovulation and sex hormone production in women facing fertility problems.

For men, this hormone can be used to stimulate androgen secretion in the cells if there is risk of cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and treat sterility by producing sperm. Finally, this hormone is also used to treat failed hormone production in the testicles.

Using HCG in an Anabolic Steroid Cycle

Sperm production is quickly inhibited while taking steroids, with possible oligospermia (abnormally low sperm presence) and azoospermia (total absence of sperm in semen). This also causes testicular atrophy and well-known feminizing like gynecomastia (increased estrogen causes breast development in men). Other problems are also encountered, including fertility concerns, libido disorders…even impotence.

From everything we have discussed above, as well as HCG hormone’s usage in different treatments, you will easily see that it can be used for various reasons when taking steroids for bulking or fat loss to gain “dry” mass.

As you have understood, HCG hormone is not an anabolic steroid, but a supplementary hormone that many bodybuilders and “strength” athletes take during the second part or end of the their steroid cycle.

There are multiple reasons for taking this product, mainly to avoid metabolic accidents or loss of libido or sexual ability. Indeed, as you know, taking steroids results in inactive testicles and therefore a real decline in libido and quality sperm production throughout the steroid cycle, and even for some time after intake stops.

Since steroids are androgens, they substitute testosterone’s action, which the testicles stop producing naturally.

This is seen in 4-5 week cycles, but since everyone reacts differently, it may occur earlier.

If testosterone levels become dangerously low at the end of the cycle, you must act immediately to bring these levels as close to normal as possible. Since steroids are no longer being taken, no product is taking the place of testosterone.

Thus all the mass acquired during the cycle risks being quickly lost, and serious dehydration may then appear.

This is when you must seriously consider taking human chorionic gonadotropin, for several reasons. Initially this intake has a protective effect, immediately restarting natural testosterone production in the testicles and regulating libido and sperm quality at close to normal levels. Then HCG hormone replaces luteinizing hormone (LH), which is normally in charge of triggering testosterone production to make up for the deficiency during intake and a few days after a steroid cycle.

HCG is taken in the form of HCG pregnyl, used by bodybuilders to help testicles regain their original size and function. It also enhances athletic performance.

HCG Pregnyl contains human chorionic gonadotropins. This enzyme supports the female reproductive system.

Using HCG hormone at the end of a steroid cycle helps you avoid a “crash” as much as possible and return to normal as quickly as possible.

HCG (Human Choronic Gonadotropin) hormone plays an important role for athletes, weightlifters, bodybuilders and fans of intense weight training who regularly take steroid cycles to reduce risk to their testicles, sperm quality and libido, and want to quickly return to a normal level of testosterone in the body after finishing a cycle.

Bodybuilders consider it a product for end-of-cycle therapy.

Another very important point, positive for competitors, is that human chorionic gonadotropin is not detectable in doping tests. As a result, many competitors take this product before competitions to maintain a sufficiently high androgen level.