Hormone HCG (Human chorionic
gandotrophin) is a hormone produced by placenta of a pregnant woman. This
hormone can be found in the urine and can be extracted. The extracted HCG is
usually used to treat certain medical conditions, for example infertility among
women, growth disorders among young men, etc. Though not recommended, it is
also used illegally for the purpose of weight loss as well as increasing performance of athletic.
HCG
treatment for infertility problems is always given through HCG injection. There
are two ways of administering the injection, either subcutaneously or
intramuscularly. More often, HCG injection is given to the muscles at thigh or
buttock. This injection can be given by doctor at a specified day of the
fertility treatment cycle of a woman. Hormone HCG will increase the quantity of
eggs produced by ovary each month, therefore increasing the chance for getting pregnant. Due
to this fact, it is common for women treated with HCG to have multiple births.
HCG hormones are also produced naturally in small
amount by pituitary gland in men. It is needed for a proper development of
reproductive systems. HCG injection is also used in men for infertility
treatment as it can boost the production of sperm.
HCG Shots for Weight Loss
Besides
being use for infertility treatment among men and women, HCG injections are
also given to people with obesity problem illegally as a way to promote weight
loss. It is said that the hormone can help the body to burn stubborn fats while keeping the lean
muscle mass. Obese patients are usually required to follow a very low calorie
diet for a certain period while taking HCG injections. However, the U.S. Food
and Drugs Administration (FDA) have warned public of the
dangers of the popular HCG diet plan as
well as declaring all HCG diet products as
illegal on December 6, 2011. The FDA experts claim that there is still lack of
evidence in supporting the effectiveness of the HCG
injections in weight loss.
There are various side effects
associated with the HCG injection. Among the most common are
the increase risk of cancer, increase chances of birth defects as well as pain and
swelling in the arms
and legs. Therefore people
with history of cancer or tumors shall never take HCG
injections. Expecting mothers should always avoid HCG injection too as it could
harm the growing fetus.
