Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland of men and women. The pituitary gland is located at the base of your brain and functions as the main regulatory center for hormones that regulate most body functions. Elevated levels of hCG can be a signal of pregnancy but can also alert your doctor to look for some types of cancers.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a protein made up of the two sugar molecules galactose and hexosamine. The most common association of this hormone is pregnancy, during which it is produced by certain tissues of the developing fetus. The hormone produced sends a signal that a pregnancy is beginning and for progesterone to be secreted. Progesterone is a hormone that signals the body to maintain a pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotropin will also begin the signal process for production of testosterone. If the genetic makeup is male, testosterone helps to guide the pregnancy towards a male fetus.
Levels in Adult Men
The pituitary gland is responsible for the production of a wide variety of hormones such as growth and thyroid hormones. Human chorionic gonadotropin is also produced in your pituitary gland and levels are detectable in both men and women. The reference range for a normal level of hCG has not been determined and testing should show that your level is less than the normal detectable level for the lab test. According to the University of Texas, the level should be below 5 milliunits per milliliter for male and nonpregnant female patients.
Elevated Levels
The most common reason for an elevated hCG is pregnancy. The hormone can be detected by a blood test as soon as six days after conception. The benefits of using a blood test include earlier detection and the ability to quantify a level with a specific number that can be repeated. A normal gradual elevation can be tracked over time. Elevations that are above the usual can alert your physician to an abnormal pregnancy and a drop in the levels can signal a miscarriage. Urine tests can also detect hCG but are not as sensitive as a blood tests and need a higher concentration. Urine hCG can be detected as early as 14 days after conception. The benefits of using a urine pregnancy test are ease of use and affordability while drawbacks include the longer time before a result and, because results are either positive or negative, the lack of a hormone level.
Elevations not due to pregnancy may be a concern and should be evaluated by your physician. Conditions such as some ovarian, testicular and gastrointestinal tumors can secrete hCG. High levels in can be seen in 70 percent of patients and any abnormal symptom or growth should be evaluated by your physician.
Other Reasons
The structure and function of hCG has also led to its use as an adjunct treatment for low testosterone. Men who receive testosterone replacement experience decreased size of the testicles and fluctuating levels of testosterone. The structure of the hormone acts on chemical receptors that stimulate production of leutenizing hormone. Leutenizing hormone will target cells in your own body that produce testosterone, restoring the natural size of the genitals and alleviating the testosterone fluctuations. High levels of testosterone can increase the risk for prostate cancer and addition of this medication should be done by your physician.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism"; Evidence for the Presence of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) and Free Beta-Subunit of hCG in the Human Pituitary; Hoermann, et al.; 1990
- "Williams Obstetrics"; F.G. Cunningham; 2010
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center: Normal Reference Range Table
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Robert Motzer, et al.; 2008
- Center for Men's Health: HCG Update
- "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism"; Dose-Dependent Increase in Intratesticular Testosterone by Very Low-Dose Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Normal Men With Experimental Gonadotropin Deficiency; M.Y. Roth, et al.; 2010
