Human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, is a hormone produced during pregnancy. A woman's body begins to produce HCG soon after a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus, according to the Mayo Clinic. Because HCG is abundant in women during pregnancy, it is sometimes extracted for medical uses, according to obstetrician-gynecologist Rebekah Gee, M.D., an assistant professor of ob-gyn at Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans. As a prescription medicine, HCG is used mainly to treat infertility, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Function
HCG helps a woman have a healthy pregnancy. Dr. Gee says HCG triggers the release of progesterone, a hormone that keeps the uterus supplied with the calories and nutrients a fetus needs to grow and develop normally. HCG also might have other functions during pregnancy, including boosting immunity during the first trimester to help protect the fetus, Gee says, who adds that HCG levels are highest during early pregnancy. After delivery, HCG is no longer produced. HCG functions as an infertility treatment because it can trigger ovulation in a woman and increase sperm production in a man, according to Drugs.com.
Testing
Home pregnancy tests measure the amount of HCG in the urine to determine if a woman is pregnant, according to the Mayo Clinic. Blood tests to determine pregnancy measure the amount of HCG in the blood and are more precise than urine tests. After a pregnancy is confirmed, HCG might be tested to obtain information. For instance, more HCG is released if a woman is carrying twins, triplets or quadruplets, Gee explains. Slow-rising HCG might be related to an impending miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, according to Yale University-New Haven Hospital.
Infertility Uses
In some infertility treatment programs, women are given HCG in conjunction with other drugs to encourage ovulation, according to the Mayo Clinic. Women trying to get pregnant also might be given HCG to extend the cycle's luteal phase, which is the time after ovulation when a woman's body temperature rises in preparation for pregnancy, Gee says. HCG also is used to treat infertility in men. "If a man has a low sperm count, he may be given HCG because it spurs sperm production," Gee explains.
Other Uses
HCG injections or supplements are used by some people for weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic, but no high-quality studies have shown that HCG helps weight loss. HCG also has been used by athletes. On May 7, 2009, "The New York Times" reported that baseball player Manny Ramirez was temporarily banned from playing professional baseball because he had been prescribed HCG. The fertility drug can generate testosterone production after steroid use is stopped, according to the article. HCG is not approved by the FDA for any use except as an infertility treatment, Gee notes.
Misconceptions
Some pregnant women, especially those who have miscarried or had fertility issues, put a lot of store in HCG testing to evaluate whether they are having a normal pregnancy, but this can be a mistake. Gee says that many women with low levels of HCG during pregnancy have delivered perfectly healthy babies. An ultrasound is a more reliable test for determining whether a pregnancy is normal and the fetus is healthy, Gee says.
Warning
When prescription HCG is used to treat infertility in women, it increases the chance of having a multiple pregnancy, according to Drugs.com. "This can be a high-risk pregnancy for the mother and babies," Gee says. Taking this medication once you are pregnant can cause birth defects, according to Drugs.com. Using HCG for other reasons increases the risk of unwanted pregnancies in women and can cause development of breast tissue in men, Gee says. Other reported side effects include acne, hair loss and mood swings, according to Gee.
References
- Rebekah Gee, M.D., assistant professor of ob-gyn, Tulane University, New Orleans
- Mayo Clinic: Home Pregnancy Tests
- Drugs: human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
- Yale-New Haven Hospital: How Accurate Are Home Pregnancy Tests?
- Mayo Clinic: Does the HCG Diet Work and Is It Safe?
