In the article, we consider drugs containing hCG.
In the case when the result of ultrasound examination shows that the follicles have the necessary dimensions or they have grown to 25 millimeters, then to achieve fertilization, the doctor prescribes special injections of hCG, that is, the so-called human chorionic gonadotropin. This is, first of all, hormonal drugs that help to get pregnant. HCG drugs are allowed to be administered only a day after the use of "Puregon", "Menogon" and other similar drugs.
What is hCG?
Human gonadotropin is a unique hormone that has special functions. It is produced, as a rule, in pregnant women, since the bearing of a child acts as a kind of state, which suggests an additional regulation mechanism along with a restructuring in the body's work.
Responding briefly to the question of what is hCG, it should be said that this is, first of all, the hormone produced by fetal tissues, it supports the growth of the child and has a direct effect on the course of all pregnancy processes. Given that gonadotropin is synthesized by the embryo membrane, there is no way to detect it outside of pregnancy. Thus, when the hormone in question is not found during gestation or in males, this indicates the presence of a pathological condition, in particular, the presence of a tumor in the body.
HCG Functions
At the end of the first seven days after the sperm is connected to the egg, the embryo attaches to the uterine wall, however, at this stage it is only a small bubble. Already during this period, his cells begin to actively produce chorionic gonadotropin, aimed at ensuring normal growth. The main part of the placenta is represented by the chorion formed by the endometrium, to which the outer part of the embryo is attached.
It is the chorion that has been engaged in the synthesis of hCG for the entire nine months to develop the child and support a certain condition in the mother. After conception, the main regulatory hormone in the female body becomes progesterone, which is produced initially by the corpus luteum. In order to ensure the functions of the last and continuous increase in the progesterone content in the presence of pregnancy, a woman needs hCG hormone.
Thus, it is explained why the corpus luteum does not disappear during the period of gestation, as is always the case with menstruation. The structure of the hormone in question is represented by units of beta and alpha. The latter is completely identical to a similar unit in some gonadotropic components, while the former is considered absolutely unique. This explains the features of the functions that hCG performs, and, in addition, the possibility of its detection in urine and blood. So, human chorionic gonadotropin performs the following main functions:
- Ensuring the normal adaptation of the pregnant woman to the bearing of the child.
- Corpus luteum support and progesterone production.
- Helping the chorionic membranes to form properly.
- Help in increasing the number of chorionic villi.
- Providing nap nutrition.
Under the influence of gonadotropin, the production of adrenal hormones is further increased, which allows the pregnant woman to adapt to a new state. Thanks to glucocorticoids, immune responses to the tissues of the developing fetus are suppressed (the fact is that at the genetic level, the embryo that is born is partly considered by a woman’s body as a foreign body).
List of drugs
The list of drugs containing hCG includes drugs called "Horagon", "Profazi", "Gonakor", "Putril", "Puregon", "Menogon" and others. They are prescribed, as a rule, with one injection. A day after the introduction, ovulation begins to occur in the female body. In order for this or that medication to help well, exactly one day before the injection is performed and after twenty-four hours after it, you must have sex.
Dosage form "Gonakora" - lyophilisate for the manufacture of a solution for intramuscular injection.
It is a hormonal drug excreted in the urine of pregnant women. It has luteinizing and follicle-stimulating effects. It is indicated for hypofunction of the gonads (due to a violation of the pituitary and hypothalamus). Women with dysmenorrhea, ovarian dysfunction, anovulatory conditions.
“Rotnil” can be found in the lyophilisate format for the manufacture of a solution for intramuscular administration. It is also considered a hormonal drug that is isolated from the urine of a pregnant woman. It has a luteinizing and follicle-stimulating effect.
It is prescribed for violation of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, as a result of which the functions of the sex glands are reduced. It is indicated for women suffering from dysmenorrhea, ovarian dysfunction.
Medications "Profazi" and "Horagon" are absolute analogues of the drugs described above. Issued in the same format, the indications and pharmacological effects of them coincide.
When to use?
Chorionic gonadotropin is widely used parenterally instead of the well-known luteinizing hormone as a kind of ovulation inducer. In the presence of one or several mature follicles in the ovary at once, ovulation can be caused by the administration of the hCG drug. When this process is performed between the thirty-eighth and fortieth hours after the injection, intercourse can be scheduled. In addition, patients undergoing in vitro fertilization typically use hCG drugs to trigger ovulation processes. But against the background of this, oocyte recovery can be observed in the period from the thirty-fourth to thirty-sixth hours after the injection.
Given the fact that hCG supports the corpus luteum, the introduction of this hormone in certain circumstances is used to increase progesterone production in the body. For men, drugs with hCG are used to stimulate the so-called Leydig cells, which form testosterone. Intratesticular testosterone is required for spermatogenesis. As a rule, hCG in men is used in case of hypogonadism and in the treatment of infertility. In the first few months of pregnancy, HIV transmission from a woman to the fetus is rare. This is believed to be possible due to the high concentration of hCG. It is worth noting that the beta subunits of the hormone are active against the HIV virus.
Description of medicines
HCG level is not only an indicator for conducting diagnostic studies, various diseases are treated with gonadotropin and it is used as part of various drugs. As already noted, the most popular drugs containing hCG are the following: “Horagon”, “Puregon”, “Menogon”, along with “Putril” and “Profazi”. All these drugs are obtained either using special organisms, or by isolating components from the urine of pregnant women. Their main functions are the following actions:
- Conducting ovulation stimulation.
- Increasing the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of sperm.
- The formation of sexual secondary characteristics.
- Increased production of sex hormones in the body.
To understand the effects and methods of using drugs that affect hCG, you need to familiarize yourself with their instructions.
Indications for use
For women, such drugs are prescribed in the presence of the following disorders:
- The presence of a malfunction in the functioning of the ovaries.
- Problems with the formation of the corpus luteum.
- The presence of dysmenorrhea.
- The appearance of a risk of abortion.
- Infertility along with miscarriage.
In order to enhance the effect, chorionic gonadotropin is often combined with various reproductive techniques.
Which HCG drug is better to choose, the doctor will tell.
When are medicines prescribed for men?
Such drugs can also be prescribed to males if they have the following deviations:
- Lack of prolapse of the testicle into the scrotum.
- When there are no sperm in the ejaculate.
- In the presence of abnormalities of the gonads.
- Against the background of inhibition of the formation of sexuality.
- In the presence of adiposogenital dystrophy.
- In the presence of dwarfism.
Men are prescribed the use of the hormone and in the presence of certain genetic abnormalities.
We talked about which drugs increase hCG. But are they all allowed to use?
Contraindications
According to the instructions, hCG drugs are forbidden to use if the patient has the following pathologies and conditions:
- In the presence of neoplasms in the gonads.
- Against the background of thrombophlebitis.
- With hypofunction of the adrenal glands.
- Against the background of hypofunction of the thyroid gland.
- During periods of breastfeeding.
With great care, such drugs are prescribed to patients in adolescence, and, in addition, to patients suffering from the following disorders:
- The appearance of a malfunction in the kidneys.
- The occurrence of ischemia of the heart.
- In the presence of arterial hypertension.
In this regard, it is required to inform the attending doctor about the presence of certain pathologies and diseases before starting therapy.
Side effects
Chorionic gonadotropin in the format of drugs in some cases can cause the following undesirable diseases in patients: ascites along with the development of cysts, thromboembolism and hydrothorax. These phenomena are mainly explained by ovarian hyperstimulation, observed in rare cases with the use of drugs.
The following adverse reactions may appear in males on the background of an injection of hCG: an enlarged prostate and breast growth along with water retention and the appearance of acne on the skin. Boys may have a behavioral change characteristic of the initial stage of puberty. It is important to note that these signs are only temporary and will certainly disappear on their own immediately after completion of therapy.
Dosage and use of drugs
Chorionic gonadotropin is produced in powder format, to which a solvent is applied in the package. Enter it through intramuscular injections. Preparations with hCG are produced in the following variations: 1000 units, and, in addition, 1500, 5000 and 10000. The dosage and duration of the course of treatment are determined by the doctor for each individual case. However, there are standard dosages that are applied as follows:
- As part of maintaining the corpus luteum, doctors prescribe 1,500 units or 5,000 hCG drugs each.
- In the event that ovulation is stimulated, usually 5,000 or 10,000 units are used once.
- If there is a risk of abortion, initially a dose of 10,000 units is used, and then 5,000 twice in seven days.
- In order to maintain pregnancy, at first a dose of 10,000 hCG is prescribed, and then 5,000.
- In the treatment of disorders in sexual development in men, injections at a dosage of 5000 units for each week are carried out for three months.
Do not forget that improper use of the drug can provoke extremely serious complications. Next, we move on to the comments that people leave on the Internet about the use of drugs based on hCG, and find out how they respond to them.
Reviews
Women write about such hCG drugs from the list as “Puregon” and “Menogon” that they actually help to solve a number of problems. For example, in the reviews it is reported that the Horagon manifests itself well in the presence of a malfunction in the functioning of the ovaries, and, in addition, against the background of problems with the formation of the corpus luteum in patients.
About the medicine "Gonakor" it is said that it perfectly helps in case of dysmenorrhea, as well as in cases where there is a risk of termination of pregnancy.
Unfortunately, some complaints about these medicines can also be read online. For example, it is said that their reception is not complete without the occurrence of side effects. So, with their use, ascites may appear along with the development of cysts, thromboembolism and hydrothorax. Otherwise, in the comments, HCG-based products are praised by consumers.
Thus, in the human body, human gonadotropin is a hormone produced by a component of a fertilized egg, namely, syncytotrophoblast. Immediately after implantation to the uterine wall, hCG stimulates the further development of the placenta. But you need to know that this hormone is produced in the human body and in the presence of cancer in women or men, regardless of gender. In this regard, in medicine, an analysis of hCG is also used to diagnose oncology. The question of whether hCG is one of the causes or consequences of cancer remains open today. Therefore, in some countries, over-the-counter sales of dietary and homeopathic medicines containing this hormone are prohibited.