HCG (Human Choronic Gonadotropin)

Human Choronic Gonadotropin in English or in French, Hormone Chronique Gonadotrope Humaine, also called Human Gonadotropine.

It is a glycoprotein hormone produced during a woman’s pregnancy, and also made by the embryo just after conception and later by the trophoblast (one of the tissues of the placenta). Its presence in the blood is detectable from the 10th day following ovulation. To find it in the urine, you have to wait a few more days.

This hormone exists only in primates (humans for example and in this case it is the HCG) as well as in equids (Anesses and mares for example for equids, in this case it is the ECG: Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin, before called Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin – PMSG)

The main function of HCG is to maintain the corpus luteum during pregnancy (until the 9th week) and also to secrete progesterone. However, it also has an anti-gonadotropic effect by inhibiting the secretion of LH and FSH.

HCG is considered steroidogenic since it also allows the secretion of progesterone from the corpus luteum and also stimulates the secretion of steroids from the fetal gonads. It is a trophoblastic GnRH that regulates the synthesis and secretion of HCG.

HCG in medicine

Its presence is very quickly spotted, without the need for dosing. A well-known example is the principle of the pregnancy test.

When looking for it and measuring it, the information given by the levels gives an estimate of the age of the pregnancy, to identify a molar or ectopic pregnancy.

An analysis of the dosage between the 15th and 17th week of pregnancy, crossed with other parameters, allows to evaluate a higher risk of trisomy. If there is any doubt about the results, an amniocentesis (a surgical procedure that consists of removing a small amount of amniotic fluid with a needle) is performed to confirm or rule out other genetic or chromosomal anomalies.

HCG & fertility

HCG is produced naturally by the human body. This hormone increases the activity of women’s ovaries and ovulation and supports the production of the female sex hormone: estrogen.

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

Hormones from the hypothalamus (GnRH analogues) slow down the production of female sex hormones to control ovulation. There are two types: antagonists and agonists. The antagonists intervene directly on the prevention of premature ovulation.

In the natural cycle a primordial role is held by the gonadotrophins (FSH and LH).

For the gonadotropins, FSH and LH hormones the functions are defined as follows: The FSH hormone is the simulator of follicle growth and the production of the female estrogen hormone. The final maturation of the ovum as well as the start of the ovulation cycle are motivated by the hormone LH

For women, the role of this HCG hormone allows to detect a pregnancy and, when it is measured, to date it accurately. It is also a way to monitor the healthy development of the fetus during the course of the pregnancy.

For women with fertility problems, it is also an aid to treatment that can influence ovulation and the production of sex hormones .

On the male side, the use of this hormone can be done in case of cryptorchidism (non descent of the testicles), for the stimulation of the secretion of androgen by the cells and also for the treatment of sterility by helping the production of spermatozoids. Finally, this hormone is also used for the treatment of hormone production failures in the testicles.

The use of HCG as part of an anabolic steroid treatment cycle

When steroids are taken, sperm production is inhibited very rapidly, with oligospermia (abnormally low sperm count compared to the average) and azoospermia (total absence of sperm in the semen) possible. It also causes testicular atrophy and well-known feminizing effects such as gynecomastia (the change in hormone secretion causes male breast growth due to increased estrogen). There are also regularly encountered, concerns of fertility and a real modification of the libido, disorder of this one… see even impotence.

From all the elements we have seen above, as well as the use of the HCG hormone in the various treatments, you will easily understand that it can be used for different reasons in the intake of products with a muscle mass gain or fat loss effect to obtain ” dry ” mass.

The HCG hormone is not an anabolic steroid. But as you have perfectly well understood, a complementary hormone that many bodybuilders and “strength” athletes take during the second part or at the end of their steroid cycle.

The reasons for taking this product are multiple and mainly allow to avoid accidents of metabolism or loss of libido or sexual capacity. As you know, taking steroids causes the testicles to rest and therefore leads to a real drop in libido and quality sperm production during the entire steroid cycle and for some time afterwards.

As steroids are androgens, they replace the action of testosterone, which, as a result, ceases to benaturally produced in the testicles.

This is seen in 4- to 5-week intake cycles, but no two people react the same way, so it can happen sooner.

At the end of the cycle, the testosterone level has become dangerously low, and urgent action must be taken to bring the level back to as close to normal as possible, since the steroids are no longer being taken, and there is no longer any product to play the role of testosterone.

All the mass acquired during the cycle is therefore likely to be lost very quickly and severe dehydration may therefore occur.

This is when you should seriously consider taking Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) for several reasons. This intake will first of all have a protective effect, and will immediately restart the natural production of testosterone in the testicles, and thus also regulate a libido and a quality of sperm close to normal. The HCG hormone then replaces the luteinizing hormone, also called LH (see above), which is normally responsible for triggering the production of testosterone, which is automatically lacking when the steroid cycle is taken and a few days afterwards.

HCG is taken in the form of HCG pregnyl, which is used by bodybuilders to help the testicles regain their original size and function. It also has functions toimprove sports performance.

HCG Pregnyl contains human chorionic gonadotropins. This enzyme is the one that takes care of the female reproductive system.

The use of the HCG hormone at the end of the steroid cycle therefore makes it possible to avoid “crashes” as much as possible and also to return to a normal situation as soon as possible.

In light of all this, the HCG hormone (Human Choronic Gonadotropin) has a really important role to play for athletes, strength athletes, weight lifters, bodybuilders and fans of intensive bodybuilding who take steroid cycles on a regular or irregular basis in order to allow them to reduce the risks to their testicles, sperm quality and libido, and to return to near-normal levels of testosterone in the body quickly after the cycle has ended.

It is considered by bodybuilders as a late cycle therapy product.

Another very important point, and positive for competitors, is that human chorionic gonadotropin is not detectable during anti-doping tests on steroids. As a result, many competitors take this product before competitions to maintain a fairly high level of androgens.