Human chorionic gonadotropin is a natural hormone that plays a critical role in pregnancy. It is also used as a fertility treatment for both men and women, and can be used in boys as a treatment for undescended testicles, according to Drugs.com. MayoClinic.com notes that despite popularity as a weight loss tool, there is little supporting evidence on the effectiveness of this method. As taking hCG can result in side effects, caution should be exercised when choosing to use it.
Headaches
According to Drugs.com, headaches may be experienced as a side effect of human chorionic gonadotropin treatments. This is not considered to be a severe side effect of treatment, and in most cases it will not be necessary to stop treatment as a result of headaches.
Birth Defects
One of the more severe side effects of human chorionic gonadotropin is birth defects. Drugs.com notes that human chorionic gonadotropin is considered to be an FDA category X medication. As a result, becoming pregnant while taking human chorionic gonadotropin requires an immediate cessation of treatment.
Multiple Births
While human chorionic gonadotropin is used to increase fertility, the medication can increase the risk of multiple births, according to Drugs.com. This can create high-risk pregnancy situations, and will require monitoring by medical staff throughout the pregnancy.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
Human chorionic gonadotropin is designed to stimulate the ovaries of infertile women, but MayoClinic.com reports that in some cases the treatment triggers hyperstimulation of the ovaries. Known as OHSS, this condition can be life-threatening if it is not promptly treated. Mild symptoms of this side effect of human chorionic gonadotropin include diarrhea and nausea, while more severe side effects can include pelvic pain, swelling of the limbs and decreased urination, according to MayoClinic.com. Nearly 25 percent of women who take human chorionic gonadotropin will experience a mild form of OHSS, while less than 2 percent develop severe OHSS, notes MayoClinic.com.
Early Puberty
According to Drugs.com, human chorionic gonadotropin can cause early onset puberty when used in young boys. Though prescribed for some purposes, parents should monitor their children for vocal changes, pubic hair growth and acne. It may be possible to slow these symptoms of early onset puberty by stopping the treatment.
