Human chorionic gonadotropin is the hormone that a woman's body begins to produce early in pregnancy. The hormone levels in the blood increase rapidly and then level out at around the 12th week of gestation. The hormone remains at a stable level in the blood for the remainder of the nine months. HCG detected in the blood when not pregnant indicates an abnormality.
Ectopic Pregnancy
HCG levels rise in a normal pregnancy. In an ectopic pregnancy, the levels are detectable but then start to drop. This may occur with pain, cramping and abnormal bleeding. These symptoms may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. This is a medical emergency and further investigation needs to occur to confirm the diagnosis. Ectopic pregnancies are not viable.
HCG for Weight Loss
HCG has been used in the past as a supplement to speed the weight loss process. This idea has made a come back recently. HCG has a similar structure to another hormone in the body, TSH. TSH stimulates metabolism. The purpose of taking HCG as a supplement is to increase a person's metabolism and increase weight loss. According to Philip A. Mackowiak, M.D., director of medical care at the VA Maryland Health Care System, HCG can induce a condition known as thyrotoxicosis when taking large quantities over a period of time. The condition causes the body's metabolism to speed up, causing sudden weight loss, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating and irritability. This is a very dangerous condition.
Choriocarcinoma
Choriocarcinoma is an uncommon cancer which grows in a woman's uterus and is associated with pregnancy. The abnormal cancer cells start in the placenta. A fetus may or may not develop in this type of pregnancy. This type of cancer sometimes occurs after abortion, ectopic pregnancy or genital tumor. This type of cancer causes a positive pregnancy test even if you are not pregnant. HCG levels will continue to be persistently high. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, most women whose cancer has not spread can be cured and will maintain reproductive function.
Fertility
HCG is used as an injectable medication to support fertility. It increases ovulation in women and it can increase sperm production in young men. HCG is often used when a women chooses to donate her eggs to another woman or during in-vitro fertilization. Using HCG can increase your chances of having a multiple pregnancy. Multiple pregnancies are considered high-risk both for the mother and for the babies.
Other Considerations
HCG is sometimes used in boys when their testicles have not dropped down into the scrotum normally by school age, this may be caused by a pituitary gland disorder. HCG should not be used in cases or early puberty or when there is a high risk of developing a hormone related cancer. Caution should be taken when considering HCG therapy if you have a thyroid or adrenal gland disorder, an ovarian cyst, cancer or a tumor of the breast or ovary, undiagnosed uterine bleeding, heart disease, kidney disease, epilepsy, migraines or asthma.
