akn
Musclechemistry Member
Description:
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a prescription
medication containing chorionic gonadotropin obtained
from a natural (human) origin. Chorionic gonadotropin is a
polypeptide hormone normally found in the female body
during the early months of pregnancy. It is synthesized in
syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta, and is
responsible for increasing the production of progesterone,
a pregnancy-sustaining hormone. Chorionic gonadotropin
is present in significant amounts only during pregnancy,
and is used as an indicator of pregnancy by standard overthe-
counter pregnancy test kits. Blood levels of chorionic
gonadotropin become noticeable as early as seven days
after ovulation, and rise evenly to a peak at approximately
two to three months into gestation. After this point, the
hormone level will drop gradually until the point of birth.
Although it possesses minor FSH-like (Follicle Stimulating
Hormone) activity, the physiological actions of chorionic
gonadotropin mainly mimic those of the gonadotropin
luteinizing hormone (LH). As a clinical drug, hCG is used as
an exogenous form of LH. It is typically applied to support
ovulation and pregnancy in women, most specifically
those suffering from infertility due to low concentrations
of gonadotropins and an inability to ovulate. Due to the
ability of LH to stimulate the Leydig's cells in the testes to
manufacture testosterone, hCG is also used with men to
treat hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a disorder
characterized by low testosterone levels and insufficient
LH output. The drug is also used in the treatment of
prepubertal cryptochidism, a condition in which one or
both of the testicles have failed to descend into the
scrotum. HCG is used by male athletes for its ability to
increase endogenous testosterone production, generally
during, or at the conclusion of, a steroid cycle, when natural
hormone production has been interrupted.
History:
Chorionic gonadotropin was first discovered in 1920,916
and was identified as a pregnancy hormone approximately
8 years later.917 The first drug preparation containing
chorionic gonadotropin came in the form of an animal
pituitary extract, which was developed as a commercial
product by Organon. Organon introduced the extract in
1931, under the trade name Pregnon. A trademark dispute
forced the company to change the name Pregnyl, however,
which reached market in 1932. Pregnyl is still sold by
Organon to this day, although it no longer comes in the
form of a pituitary extract. Manufacturing techniques were
introduced in 1940 that allowed the hormone to be
obtained by filtering and purifying the urine of pregnant
women, and by the late 1960's were adopted by all
manufacturers formerly using animal extracts. Over the
years the process and manufacturing protocols have been
refined, but hCG is made in essentially the same way today
as it was decades ago. While modern preparations are of
biological origin, the risks of biological contaminants are
said to be low (although cannot be completely excluded).
Early on, the indicated uses for chorionic gonadotropin
preparations were much broader than they are presently.
Product literature from the 1950's and '60's recommended
the use of these drugs for, among other things, the
treatment of uterine bleeding and amenorrhea, Froehlich's
syndrome, cryptochidism, female sterility, obesity,
depression, and male impotence. A good example of the
wide uses of chorionic gonadotropin are illustrated in the
preparation Glukor, which was described in 1958 as being,
"Three times more effective than testosterone. For tired
young men in male climacteric. For tired old men in male
senility. Beneficial in impotence, angina and coronary heart
disease, neuropsychosis, prostatitis, [and] myocarditis."
Such recommendations, however, reflect an era less tightly
regulated by government agency and less reliant on
proven clinical trials. Today, FDA-approved indications for
hCG are limited to the treatment of hypogonadotropic
hypogonadism and cryptocridism in men,and anovulatory
infertility in women.
HCG has no significant thyroid-stimulating activity, and is
not an effective fat loss agent. This is specifically pointed
out because hCG was once widely used for the treatment
of obesity. The trend seemed to have become popular in
1954, after a paper was published by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons
claiming that chorionic gonadotropin was an effective
adjunct to dieting. According to the study, patients were
able to effectively stave off hunger with severely lowcalorie
diets provided they took the hormone injections.
Dubbed the Simeons diet, people everywhere were soon
subjecting themselves to severe calorie restriction (500
calories per day) and taking hCG injections. Soon after, the
hormone itself became the main focus for fat loss. In fact,
by 1957 it was said that hCG was the most commonly
prescribed medication for weight loss. More recent and
comprehensive investigations, however, refute that there is
any anorexic or metabolic adva'ntage to the use of hCG,
and the drug has been summarily abandoned for this
purpose.91S
Back in 1962, the Journal of the American Medical
Association had already been warning consumers about the hCG-inclusive Simeons diet, stating the more basic
fact that severe calorie restriction, which causes the body
to sacrifice muscle and organ tissue to obtain necessary
protein, was more hazardous than obesity itself. By 1974,
the FDA had had enough of the hCG fat loss claims, and
mandated the following statement to be included with all
prescribing literature. /lHCG HAS NOT BEEN
DEMONSTRATED TO BE EFFECTIVE ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY
IN THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY. THERE IS NO
SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT IT INCREASES WEIGHT LOSS
BEYOND THAT RESULTING FROM CALORIC RESTRICTION,
THAT IT CAUSES A MORE ATTRACTIVE OR 'NORMAL'
DISTRIBUTION OF FAT, OR THAT IT DECREASES THE
HUNGER AND DISCOMFORT ASSOCIATED WITH CALORIERESTRICTED
DIETS./I This warning persists on all product
sold in the U.S. today.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a widely popular drug
preparation today, owing to the fact that it remains an
indispensable part of ovulation therapy for many cases of
female infertility. Popular preparations in the U.S.
presently include Pregnyl (Organon), Profasi (Serono), and
Novarel (Ferring), although many other trade names have
been popular for chorionic gonadotropin preparations
over the years. This drug is also sold widely outside of the
United States, and can be found under many additional
trade names, too numerous to list here. Owing to the fact
that this drug is not controlled on a federal level, U.S.
athletes and bodybuilders unable to find a local physician
willing to prescribe the drug to treat steroid-induced
hypogonadism often order the product from
international pharmacy sources. Given that this drug is
cheap and rarely counterfeited, most international
sources are trusted. Although recombinant forms of
chorionic gonadotropin have been introduced to market
in recent years, the vast supply and low cost of biological
hCG continues to make it a staple product for both
labeled and off-label uses.
Structural Characteristics:
Chorionic gonadotropin is an oligosaccharide
glycoprotein composed of 244 amino acids. It has an
alpha subunit that is 92 amino acids long and identical to
that of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).lt
has a beta subunit that is unique to hCG.
How Supplied:
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is widely available in
various human and veterinary drug markets. Composition
and dosage may vary by country and manufacturer, but
typically contain 1,000, 1,500, 2,500, 5,000, or 10,000
international units (IU) per dose. All forms are supplied as
a lyophilized powder, requiring reconstitution with sterile
diluent (water) before use.
Administration (General):
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is generally given by
intramuscular (1M) injection. The subcutaneous route is
also used, and has been deemed to be roughly equivalent
therapeutically to 1M injections.919 Peak concentrations of
chorionic gonadotropin occur approximately 6 hours
after intramuscular injection, and 16 to 20 hours after
subcutaneous injection.
Administration (Men):
When used to treat hypogonadotropin hypogonadism,
current FDA-approved protocols recommend either a
short 6-week program, or a long-term program lasting up
to 1 year, depending on the individual needs of the
patient. Prescribing guidelines for short-term use
recommend that 500 to 1,000 units to be given 3 times a
week for 3 weeks, followed by the same dose twice a week
for 3 weeks. The long-term recommendations call for
4,000 units to be administered 3 times weekly for 6 to 9
months, after which point the dosage is reduced to 2,000
USP units 3 times weekly for an additional 3 months.
Bodybuilders and athletes use hCG either on cycle, in an
effort to maintain testicular integrity during steroid
administration, or after a cycle, to help restore hormonal
homeostasis more quickly. Both types of use are deemed
effective when properly applied.
Post-Cycle:
Human Chorionic gonadotropin is often used with other
medications as part of an in-depth Post Cycle Therapy
(PCT) program focused on restoring endogenous
testosterone production more rapidly at the end of a
steroid cycle. Restoring endogenous testosterone
production is a special concern at the conclusion of each
cycle, a time when subnormal androgen levels (due to
steroid induced suppression) could be very costly to the
physique.The main concern is the action of cortisol, which
in many ways is balanced out by the effect of androgens.
Cortisol sends the opposite message to the muscles than
testosterone, or to breakdown protein in the cell. Left
unchecked by a low level of testosterone, cortisol can
quickly strip much of your new muscle mass away.
Protocols for the post-cycle use of hCG generally call for
the administration of 1500-4000 Units every 4th or 5th
day, taken for no longer than 2 or 3 weeks. If used for too
long or at too high a dose, the drug may actually function
to desensitize the Leydig's cells to luteinizing hormone,
further hindering a return to homeostasis. For a more
comprehensive view of hCG's role in a proper hormonalrecovery
program, please refer to the Post Cycle Therapy
section of this book.
On-Cycle:
Bodybuilders and athletes may also administer Human
Chorionic Gonadotropin throughout a steroid cycle, in an
effort to avoid testicular atrophy and the resulting
reduced ability to respond to LH stimulus. In effect, this
practice is used to avoid the problem of testicular atrophy,
instead of trying to correct it later on when the cycle is
over. It is important to remember that the dosage needs
to be carefully monitored with this type of use, as high
levels of hCG may cause increased testicular aromatase
expression (raising estrogen levels),920 and also
desensitize the testes to LH.921 As such, the drug may
actually induce primary hypogonadism when misused,
greatly prolonging, not improving, the recovery window.
Current protocols for the use of hCG in this manner
involve administering 250lU subcutaneously twice per
week (every 3rd or 4th day) throughout the length of the
steroid cycle. Higher doses may be necessary for some
individuals, but at no point should exceed 500lU per
injection.
These on-cycle hCG protocols were developed by Dr.John
Crisler, a well-known figure in the anti-aging and
hormone-replacement field, for use with his testosterone
replacement therapy (TRT) patients. Although TRT is often
administered on a long-term basis, testicular atrophy is a
common cosmetic complaint of patients irrespective of
the maintenance of normal androgen levels. Dr. Crisler's
hCG program is designed to alleviate this concern in a
manner that is acceptable for longer-term use. For those
interested in precisely timing their hCG shots in relation to
a prescribed testosterone replacement program, Dr.
Crisler recommends the following in his paper,"An Update
to the Crisler hCG Protocol,""...my test cyp TRT patients
now take their hCG at 250lU two days before, as well as the
day immediately previous to, their 1M shot. All administer
their hCG subcutaneously, and dosage may be adjusted as
necessary (I have yet to see more than 350lU per dose
required) ... Those TRT patients who prefer a transdermal
testosterone, or even testosterone pellets (although I am
not in favor of same), take their hCG every third day."
Administration (Women):
When used to induce ovulation and pregnancy in
anovulatory infertile woman, a dose of 5,000 to 10,000
units is administered one day following the last dose of
menotropins.The timing is specific so that the hormone is
given precisely at the right moment in the ovulation cycle.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is not used by women for
physique- or performance-enhancing purposes.
Availability:
When we find hCG, we see it is always packaged in 2
different vials/ampules (one with a powder and the other
with a sterile solvent). These need to be mixed before
injecting, and any leftover drug should be refrigerated for
later use. Make sure your product matches this
description. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is widely
manufactured, and easily obtained on the black market.To
date, counterfeits have not been much of a concern,
although a couple of oddities have popped up (all in
multi-dose vials).
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a prescription
medication containing chorionic gonadotropin obtained
from a natural (human) origin. Chorionic gonadotropin is a
polypeptide hormone normally found in the female body
during the early months of pregnancy. It is synthesized in
syncytiotrophoblast cells of the placenta, and is
responsible for increasing the production of progesterone,
a pregnancy-sustaining hormone. Chorionic gonadotropin
is present in significant amounts only during pregnancy,
and is used as an indicator of pregnancy by standard overthe-
counter pregnancy test kits. Blood levels of chorionic
gonadotropin become noticeable as early as seven days
after ovulation, and rise evenly to a peak at approximately
two to three months into gestation. After this point, the
hormone level will drop gradually until the point of birth.
Although it possesses minor FSH-like (Follicle Stimulating
Hormone) activity, the physiological actions of chorionic
gonadotropin mainly mimic those of the gonadotropin
luteinizing hormone (LH). As a clinical drug, hCG is used as
an exogenous form of LH. It is typically applied to support
ovulation and pregnancy in women, most specifically
those suffering from infertility due to low concentrations
of gonadotropins and an inability to ovulate. Due to the
ability of LH to stimulate the Leydig's cells in the testes to
manufacture testosterone, hCG is also used with men to
treat hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a disorder
characterized by low testosterone levels and insufficient
LH output. The drug is also used in the treatment of
prepubertal cryptochidism, a condition in which one or
both of the testicles have failed to descend into the
scrotum. HCG is used by male athletes for its ability to
increase endogenous testosterone production, generally
during, or at the conclusion of, a steroid cycle, when natural
hormone production has been interrupted.
History:
Chorionic gonadotropin was first discovered in 1920,916
and was identified as a pregnancy hormone approximately
8 years later.917 The first drug preparation containing
chorionic gonadotropin came in the form of an animal
pituitary extract, which was developed as a commercial
product by Organon. Organon introduced the extract in
1931, under the trade name Pregnon. A trademark dispute
forced the company to change the name Pregnyl, however,
which reached market in 1932. Pregnyl is still sold by
Organon to this day, although it no longer comes in the
form of a pituitary extract. Manufacturing techniques were
introduced in 1940 that allowed the hormone to be
obtained by filtering and purifying the urine of pregnant
women, and by the late 1960's were adopted by all
manufacturers formerly using animal extracts. Over the
years the process and manufacturing protocols have been
refined, but hCG is made in essentially the same way today
as it was decades ago. While modern preparations are of
biological origin, the risks of biological contaminants are
said to be low (although cannot be completely excluded).
Early on, the indicated uses for chorionic gonadotropin
preparations were much broader than they are presently.
Product literature from the 1950's and '60's recommended
the use of these drugs for, among other things, the
treatment of uterine bleeding and amenorrhea, Froehlich's
syndrome, cryptochidism, female sterility, obesity,
depression, and male impotence. A good example of the
wide uses of chorionic gonadotropin are illustrated in the
preparation Glukor, which was described in 1958 as being,
"Three times more effective than testosterone. For tired
young men in male climacteric. For tired old men in male
senility. Beneficial in impotence, angina and coronary heart
disease, neuropsychosis, prostatitis, [and] myocarditis."
Such recommendations, however, reflect an era less tightly
regulated by government agency and less reliant on
proven clinical trials. Today, FDA-approved indications for
hCG are limited to the treatment of hypogonadotropic
hypogonadism and cryptocridism in men,and anovulatory
infertility in women.
HCG has no significant thyroid-stimulating activity, and is
not an effective fat loss agent. This is specifically pointed
out because hCG was once widely used for the treatment
of obesity. The trend seemed to have become popular in
1954, after a paper was published by Dr. A.T.W. Simeons
claiming that chorionic gonadotropin was an effective
adjunct to dieting. According to the study, patients were
able to effectively stave off hunger with severely lowcalorie
diets provided they took the hormone injections.
Dubbed the Simeons diet, people everywhere were soon
subjecting themselves to severe calorie restriction (500
calories per day) and taking hCG injections. Soon after, the
hormone itself became the main focus for fat loss. In fact,
by 1957 it was said that hCG was the most commonly
prescribed medication for weight loss. More recent and
comprehensive investigations, however, refute that there is
any anorexic or metabolic adva'ntage to the use of hCG,
and the drug has been summarily abandoned for this
purpose.91S
Back in 1962, the Journal of the American Medical
Association had already been warning consumers about the hCG-inclusive Simeons diet, stating the more basic
fact that severe calorie restriction, which causes the body
to sacrifice muscle and organ tissue to obtain necessary
protein, was more hazardous than obesity itself. By 1974,
the FDA had had enough of the hCG fat loss claims, and
mandated the following statement to be included with all
prescribing literature. /lHCG HAS NOT BEEN
DEMONSTRATED TO BE EFFECTIVE ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY
IN THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY. THERE IS NO
SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT IT INCREASES WEIGHT LOSS
BEYOND THAT RESULTING FROM CALORIC RESTRICTION,
THAT IT CAUSES A MORE ATTRACTIVE OR 'NORMAL'
DISTRIBUTION OF FAT, OR THAT IT DECREASES THE
HUNGER AND DISCOMFORT ASSOCIATED WITH CALORIERESTRICTED
DIETS./I This warning persists on all product
sold in the U.S. today.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a widely popular drug
preparation today, owing to the fact that it remains an
indispensable part of ovulation therapy for many cases of
female infertility. Popular preparations in the U.S.
presently include Pregnyl (Organon), Profasi (Serono), and
Novarel (Ferring), although many other trade names have
been popular for chorionic gonadotropin preparations
over the years. This drug is also sold widely outside of the
United States, and can be found under many additional
trade names, too numerous to list here. Owing to the fact
that this drug is not controlled on a federal level, U.S.
athletes and bodybuilders unable to find a local physician
willing to prescribe the drug to treat steroid-induced
hypogonadism often order the product from
international pharmacy sources. Given that this drug is
cheap and rarely counterfeited, most international
sources are trusted. Although recombinant forms of
chorionic gonadotropin have been introduced to market
in recent years, the vast supply and low cost of biological
hCG continues to make it a staple product for both
labeled and off-label uses.
Structural Characteristics:
Chorionic gonadotropin is an oligosaccharide
glycoprotein composed of 244 amino acids. It has an
alpha subunit that is 92 amino acids long and identical to
that of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating
hormone (FSH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).lt
has a beta subunit that is unique to hCG.
How Supplied:
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is widely available in
various human and veterinary drug markets. Composition
and dosage may vary by country and manufacturer, but
typically contain 1,000, 1,500, 2,500, 5,000, or 10,000
international units (IU) per dose. All forms are supplied as
a lyophilized powder, requiring reconstitution with sterile
diluent (water) before use.
Administration (General):
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is generally given by
intramuscular (1M) injection. The subcutaneous route is
also used, and has been deemed to be roughly equivalent
therapeutically to 1M injections.919 Peak concentrations of
chorionic gonadotropin occur approximately 6 hours
after intramuscular injection, and 16 to 20 hours after
subcutaneous injection.
Administration (Men):
When used to treat hypogonadotropin hypogonadism,
current FDA-approved protocols recommend either a
short 6-week program, or a long-term program lasting up
to 1 year, depending on the individual needs of the
patient. Prescribing guidelines for short-term use
recommend that 500 to 1,000 units to be given 3 times a
week for 3 weeks, followed by the same dose twice a week
for 3 weeks. The long-term recommendations call for
4,000 units to be administered 3 times weekly for 6 to 9
months, after which point the dosage is reduced to 2,000
USP units 3 times weekly for an additional 3 months.
Bodybuilders and athletes use hCG either on cycle, in an
effort to maintain testicular integrity during steroid
administration, or after a cycle, to help restore hormonal
homeostasis more quickly. Both types of use are deemed
effective when properly applied.
Post-Cycle:
Human Chorionic gonadotropin is often used with other
medications as part of an in-depth Post Cycle Therapy
(PCT) program focused on restoring endogenous
testosterone production more rapidly at the end of a
steroid cycle. Restoring endogenous testosterone
production is a special concern at the conclusion of each
cycle, a time when subnormal androgen levels (due to
steroid induced suppression) could be very costly to the
physique.The main concern is the action of cortisol, which
in many ways is balanced out by the effect of androgens.
Cortisol sends the opposite message to the muscles than
testosterone, or to breakdown protein in the cell. Left
unchecked by a low level of testosterone, cortisol can
quickly strip much of your new muscle mass away.
Protocols for the post-cycle use of hCG generally call for
the administration of 1500-4000 Units every 4th or 5th
day, taken for no longer than 2 or 3 weeks. If used for too
long or at too high a dose, the drug may actually function
to desensitize the Leydig's cells to luteinizing hormone,
further hindering a return to homeostasis. For a more
comprehensive view of hCG's role in a proper hormonalrecovery
program, please refer to the Post Cycle Therapy
section of this book.
On-Cycle:
Bodybuilders and athletes may also administer Human
Chorionic Gonadotropin throughout a steroid cycle, in an
effort to avoid testicular atrophy and the resulting
reduced ability to respond to LH stimulus. In effect, this
practice is used to avoid the problem of testicular atrophy,
instead of trying to correct it later on when the cycle is
over. It is important to remember that the dosage needs
to be carefully monitored with this type of use, as high
levels of hCG may cause increased testicular aromatase
expression (raising estrogen levels),920 and also
desensitize the testes to LH.921 As such, the drug may
actually induce primary hypogonadism when misused,
greatly prolonging, not improving, the recovery window.
Current protocols for the use of hCG in this manner
involve administering 250lU subcutaneously twice per
week (every 3rd or 4th day) throughout the length of the
steroid cycle. Higher doses may be necessary for some
individuals, but at no point should exceed 500lU per
injection.
These on-cycle hCG protocols were developed by Dr.John
Crisler, a well-known figure in the anti-aging and
hormone-replacement field, for use with his testosterone
replacement therapy (TRT) patients. Although TRT is often
administered on a long-term basis, testicular atrophy is a
common cosmetic complaint of patients irrespective of
the maintenance of normal androgen levels. Dr. Crisler's
hCG program is designed to alleviate this concern in a
manner that is acceptable for longer-term use. For those
interested in precisely timing their hCG shots in relation to
a prescribed testosterone replacement program, Dr.
Crisler recommends the following in his paper,"An Update
to the Crisler hCG Protocol,""...my test cyp TRT patients
now take their hCG at 250lU two days before, as well as the
day immediately previous to, their 1M shot. All administer
their hCG subcutaneously, and dosage may be adjusted as
necessary (I have yet to see more than 350lU per dose
required) ... Those TRT patients who prefer a transdermal
testosterone, or even testosterone pellets (although I am
not in favor of same), take their hCG every third day."
Administration (Women):
When used to induce ovulation and pregnancy in
anovulatory infertile woman, a dose of 5,000 to 10,000
units is administered one day following the last dose of
menotropins.The timing is specific so that the hormone is
given precisely at the right moment in the ovulation cycle.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is not used by women for
physique- or performance-enhancing purposes.
Availability:
When we find hCG, we see it is always packaged in 2
different vials/ampules (one with a powder and the other
with a sterile solvent). These need to be mixed before
injecting, and any leftover drug should be refrigerated for
later use. Make sure your product matches this
description. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is widely
manufactured, and easily obtained on the black market.To
date, counterfeits have not been much of a concern,
although a couple of oddities have popped up (all in
multi-dose vials).
