Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG for short) is a hormone that is present both in men and women but is also popular by the nickname “pregnancy hormone”. That’s because these hormone levels greatly spike after a woman gets pregnant and the levels continue to grow until about month 3 or 4. Then levels of HCG start to decrease until the woman gives birth. After conceiving, the levels of HCG spike and that’s what allows a woman to get a positive result on a pregnancy test. That test is searching for the levels specifically of this hormone. If they are high – the test is positive.
Anyway, people can use this hormone (in the form of injection) for various purposes. For example, in medical settings, doctors prescribe HCG to women for treating infertility. They can also prescribe it to men for treating infertility and/or hypogonadism. Nonetheless, this is also a popular hormone for bodybuilders (those who use anabolic steroids), in order to prevent or treat some specific side effects of anabolic and androgenic steroids (AAS) like Testosterone.
Scientists found ways to synthesize Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in laboratories using recombinant DNA. Also can be derived from the urine of pregnant females.
HCG, generally, is a hormone that has various roles in male and female sexual development. That’s why it’s helpful in treating fertility issues in both genders.
- In women, HCG is affecting ovulation, hence fertility.
- In men, HCG is affecting testosterone production, hence fertility.
That’s why physicians may prescribe hCG to both genders for fertility purposes or in men for testosterone deficiency treatment. This is also a compound that people use for weight loss. People even call it the “hCG” diet”. It’s a controversial method that I wouldn’t recommend.
We would talk about Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) for bodybuilders in more detail.
How does HCG Works?
When you administer HCG, it works like Luteinizing Hormone (LH) by mimicking its effects. That’s a very important hormone for men because LH is a hormone that stimulates Leydig cells (testicles) into producing more testosterone.
It makes a man’s body produce more testosterone naturally. Or at least, partially naturally.
Why is this important when you use testosterone (and other anabolic steroids)?
Well, those men who use anabolic steroids such as testosterone (like undergoing Hormone Replacement Therapy – HRT) with Testosterone (Testosterone Replacement Therapy – TRT) their testicles may stop producing testosterone naturally. That’s because their bodies receive signals that there’s “enough” testosterone (since they use exogenous testosterone) so there’s a need to produce more.
As a result, the testicles may reduce in size because they simply “do not function” anymore. This may result in lower fertility because of decreasing sperm count. When you introduce HCG, however, this would “remind” the testicles (gonadal glands) that they need to work and keep on producing testosterone. It may increase sperm count and testosterone levels.
Why You Can’t Use HCG instead of Testosterone during a Cycle?
Considering that HCG is so helpful at increasing testosterone levels and won’t cause fertility and testicle shrinkage issues – why can’t we just use HCG instead of testosterone for Hormonal Replacement Therapy or for bodybuilding purposes?
Because Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, like anything else in this world, comes with its own set of side effects. One of the main reasons why you can’t use HCG instead of Testosterone during the cycle is because according to studies, HCG stops the body from producing LH naturally. It desensitizes your pituitary gland.
This is also the main reason why I wouldn’t really recommend HCG during the PCT plan. Post Cycle Therapy is there to help you fully recover and stay fully naturally. Using HCG during PCT would help increase testosterone, but would still hurt your HPTA (hypothalamus pituitary testes axis).
But except for that, HCG comes with other side effects too. You need huge doses of HCG to increase levels of Testosterone to the level that actual testosterone does for bodybuilding purposes. Using such high doses would surely come with side effects.
- So, you use HCG to prevent and deal with side effects caused by testosterone and other steroids. But you can’t use it for the actual cycle. It won’t boost testosterone to required levels, still has negative effects on HPTA, and comes with its negative side effects.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – HCG Uses
Those men who suffer from androgen issues use Human Chorionic Gonadotropin to boost their testosterone production. That’s why people suffering from testosterone deficiency could get a prescription for HCG. However, steroid users run it for restarting their jump start their natural testosterone production after its suppression from the use of anabolic steroids during a cycle.
Steroid users run it during their cycle to prevent testicular shrinkage and/or fertility issues. Or they use it at the end of the cycle to boost the natural testosterone production. Some use it following an anabolic steroid cycle. Others may use it even during PCT. But because of its negative effects on natural LH production (as well as the ability to increase estrogen levels), I wouldn’t really recommend HCG during PCT. Although some people still run it during PCT.
Anyway, HCG is going to help increase sperm count, therefore, improve male fertility. It’s also helpful in keeping testicles plumped in their normal size. You can use it for preventing such issues (if you’re prone to them) or use it as a result of already developing such side effects from a steroid cycle. Not everyone experiences such issues.
So, HCG’s main purpose for bodybuilding is to prevent and/or restore the damage of anabolic steroids.
However, some people (both men and women) use Human Chorionic Gonadotropin during the “hCG Diet”.
HCG Diet
Some people use this compound in combination with a very low calorie diet in an attempt to lose weight. The diet is extremely restrictive at only 500 calories per day. Obviously, inevitably, weight loss occurs, but that’s because of very low caloric intake.
HCG’s role here is to cause body fat and not to allow the muscle to be burned for fuel.
I wouldn’t recommend HCG for such purposes for a multitude of reasons.
First off, the HCG diet is not healthy. Eating only 500 calories per day is likely to cause a lot of different issues due to heavily undereating. It can cause an overall electrolyte imbalance including numerous other issues. Moreover, HCG, as said, comes with side effects. You would decrease natural LH levels and risk estrogen related issues.
For those who want to lose weight – fill up a cycle advice form on our site. But I would recommend keeping calories under your own maintenance calories at approximately 10-30% on a daily basis. Keep working out and training and also don’t forget about avoiding junk food and consuming enough protein. It’s a much safer and healthier way to lose weight!
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – HCG Benefits
HCG is helpful for improving sperm production and increasing testosterone levels.
Physicians could prescribe it to men suffering from low testosterone levels in specific cases. Or to those suffering from infertility in specific cases.
Women can also get a prescription if they suffer from fertility issues related to ovulation issues.
But bodybuilders and steroid users rely on hCG for stabilizing their testosterone levels after the steroid use. Also, they can use it to prevent or treat testicle shrinkage and/or fertility issues (by boosting sperm count).
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin – HCG Side Effects
As I already mentioned – prolonged use (or too high doses) of HCG is likely to suppress natural LH production. Your HPTA balance can’t fully recover and your pituitary gland is “hurt”. That’s why, while using HCG, I recommend you to be very careful.
Except for this, HCG increases testosterone levels, but testosterone converts into estrogen via a process of aromatization. This leads to high estrogen levels and high estrogen symptoms. This is another reason why I wouldn’t recommend using Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) during the PCT protocol. You need to avoid high estrogen symptoms during PCT.
While you can deal with high estrogen with the help of Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) such as Exemestane – Aromasin- your HPTA still can’t fully recover. But that’s exactly what you’re searching for during a PCT plan.
Common high estrogen symptoms include:
- Breast development in men (gynecomastia)
- Excessive water retention (edema)
- Bloating
- Erectile dysfunction (can’t get or maintain an erection)
- And numerous others
Remember this is a product that comes only in the form of injection. Therefore, typical issues that are possible with injectable medications are possible. For example, redness, pain, or swelling at the injection site.
Also, avoid if you have hypersensitivity to this product (extreme reaction even in low doses).
Rarely do people tend to be allergic to HCG. It includes the common allergic symptoms.
Since it increases testosterone, there are also possible high testosterone side effects such as acne, hair loss, aggression, and numerous others.
Other HCG side effects are possible to occur: nausea, dizziness, stomach issues, fatigue, and others.
HCG Availability
Regardless if you get a prescription for hCG or you want to use it because you’re running anabolic steroids – hCG is a product that you need to inject subcutaneously. The product comes in powder form. Then, before injecting, you need to mix it with a special liquid. Most commonly, with bacteriostatic water, but there are other liquids to mix it with too (such as sodium chloride and others).
You may also find it available in filled syringes and vials, but that’s rare. Mostly because the already reconstituted (mixed) solution has a much shorter shelf life than the powder substance. Plus, you need to store the mixed solution in the fridge.
Most commonly, the hCG powder vial (a white powdery substance) comes as 5,000 IU per vial. However, there are other versions too with lower or higher amounts per vial.
To understand dosage: calculate your total dosage of hCG per vial and the total amount of solution. If you mix a 5,000 IU vial with a 10 ml solution it means that 1 ml = 500 IU. If you mix a 2,000 IU vial with a 10 ml solution it means that 1 ml = 200 IU. Mixing 2,000 IU or 5,000 IU with, for example, 20 ml then offers 100 IU or 250 IU per ml, respectively. I guess you got the point.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is usually very cheap. Its price is around $30 – $80 per 5,000 IU.
How to Use HCG?
So, you got the HCG powder and you reconstituted it. You also have a plan on when exactly to use it (throughout the cycle, during PCT, the bridge between cycle and PCT, or maybe during all this time) – it’s up to you, your needs, goals, and response to hCG). But you are not sure how to do it and what dosage to use.
So, this solution is injected subcutaneously (SubQ). That’s why you would need an insulin needle (usually). You should inject it into fat, usually, into stomach fat.
You need to use HCG 1-3 times a week. Usually, the frequency of administration depends on the severity of the issue. If you only want to prevent testicular shrinkage then 1-2 times a week is enough. If you want to deal with the already occurring issues then you may want to increase it to 2-3 times a week.
The exact same thing applies to the dosage. Usually, the dosage is ranging from 250 IU up to 1,000 IU per injection. This means the total weekly dosage ranges between 250 IU and 3,000 IU per week. But rarely when someone goes over 2,000 IU per week. In fact, most commonly, dosages are within the 1,000 IU/week range.
Most people use it during the last 2-4 weeks of the cycle. Starting with 2x 500 IU per week for the first 2 weeks and then increasing to 3x 500 IU per week for the last 2 weeks.
Usually, only people noticing testicular shrinkage use HCG. But not everyone notices it. Usually, it only occurs when there are higher doses of steroids, lots of steroids stacked together, and/or long cycle lengths involved. Unless you’re naturally prone to experience testicle shrinkage.
Conclusion
Ensure you buy HCG of high quality if you want to experience the best results and keep side effects at bay.
Moreover, it’s worth knowing what to expect from HCG because, unfortunately, there are sources of HGH that offer HCG instead. Because HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is very expensive while HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is very cheap. Make sure you know the differences!
At HGH.to you’ll get maximum quality anabolic steroids for the lowest prices. Including HGH, HCG, and all the ancillaries required for a full cycle.
