Improve Fertility With Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
The inability to ovulate regularly is just one fertility problems that can lower the chances of getting pregnant. Problems in ovulation can occur for a number of reasons such as hormonal imbalances, ovarian abnormalities, and other health complications. But, women suffering from female fertility can increase their odds of getting pregnant by using fertility drugs, such as the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or hCG.
What is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that helps regulate the corpus lutem, a follicle that produces an egg for ovulation. hCG also stimulates the production of the two crucial hormones – estrogen and progesterone – needed to carry pregnancy to term. Normally, hCG is used in infertility treatments to trigger ovulation. hCG is extracted from the urine of pregnant women after being produced by the placenta.
How HCG Works
The HCG hormone works similar to the lutenizing hormone (LH) secreted by the pituitary gland. While the main function of LH is to the release the egg down the fallopian tube, hCG works to increase the number of eggs produced by the ovaries each month. With an increase number of eggs, the chance of fertilization increases.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Helps Treat
In women, human chorionic gonadotropin can help treat irregularities in ovulation, such as the following conditions:
- anovulation
- irregular menstruation
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
In men, hCG can be used to increase the level of testosterones and sperm.
Taking hCG and Success Rates
hCG is taken in the form of an injection. Your fertility doctor will administer one dose of hCG during each cycle of your infertility treatment. Your fertility specialist may show you how and when to administer the injections yourself. But, either way your fertility doctor will need to monitor your progress, and will give you and your partner a guideline regarding timed intercourse, to increase chances of conception.
HCG has proven effective in inducing ovulation; in fact 90 percent of the women taking this fertility drug ovulate after receiving treatment. On average, hCG increases pregnancy rate by 15 percent per a cycle. But this percentage increases with the use of the artificial insemination procedure:IUI.
Side Effects and Risks of hCG
Like most fertility treatments, hCG may cause you to experience some side effects. Some common side effects and risks of hCG include:
- abdominal discomfort
- headaches
- mood changes
- nausea
- indigestion
- sore breasts
- tiredness
- water retention
- weight gain
- risk of multiple births
If any of the symptoms continue to worsen consult your health care professional. You may also experience other side effects not listed, and if you do contact your doctor and have them checked out.
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