Although injections of human chorionic gonadotropin have been used for infertility in women and men, the hormonal treatment recently has found its way into the world of dieting aids. The HCG diets recommended by various promoters usually consist of very low calorie intake as well as the HCG injections. You may only eat 500 calories worth of food per day on some of these diets. For that reason, MayoClinic.com nutritionist Jennifer K. Nelson, indicates there is no evidence that HCG actually has any effect on weight loss. Question your doctor about HCG for weight loss before you begin taking it.
Breast Side Effects
Taking the hormonal treatment of HCG, even you take it for weight loss, can cause the same types of side effects you might get if you took it to help you become pregnant. Taking the HCG hormone into your body may cause some non-serious side effects in your breasts. For example, Drugs.com indicates, your breasts may feel tender or painful, usually when you take the shots first. Your breasts also may swell because of this hormone associated with pregnancy. In most cases, these breast side effects will subside as you continue your HCG weight loss therapy. If not, seek your doctor's aid.
OHSS
When injected, HCG helps to stimulate your ovaries to expel eggs for impregnation. The infusion of the hormone into your body may cause a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, MayoClinic.com notes. In fact, 25 percent of the women who take HCG injections may experience OHSS during the first week of treatment, the organization states. You may take lower doses of HCG for weight loss therapy that may not produce OHSS, but if you notice the symptoms, check with your physician because the syndrome can cause life-threatening conditions. Symptoms of OHSS include pain in your abdomen, nausea and vomiting, and mild weight gain. If you experience such problems as reduced urine production, severe pain, sudden weight gain or shortness of breath, contact your doctor immediately.
Restlessness
Taking a hormone into your body such as HCG may induce some types of mental distress when you begin your therapy. You may feel a sense of restlessness because of HCG, and you may become irritable. You also may feel down or depressed. Drugs.com indicates these kinds of HCG side effects generally end without medical care, but if any of them feel severe or cause you undue problems, go to your doctor for help.
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