HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is quickly catching fire as a successful hormone treatment for men. In fact, the market for hCG is expected to double in total revenue to more than $1 billion by 2025.
And despite being connected to women’s health for a long time, hCG therapy is rapidly changing the lives of men. More and more, men are seeing hCG benefits and using it to boost reproductive health.
But it’s not always easy to know the details of hCG injections for men.
We’re here to help. We’ve pinned down the ins and outs of hCG therapy, so men can know once and for all if it’s a good option.
What is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin?
HCG is a hormone that has long been correlated with women and pregnancy. That’s because it’s an active part of developing a fetus and turns out to be an influential part of fertilization.
But there’s even more to hCG, including benefits for men. The reason for these male hCG benefits sits at a microscopic level.
A closer look at hCG would show it is shaped similarly to another hormone: Luteinizing, or LH. LH is put out by the pituitary gland, and it is a key part in sexual functions as well as sexual maturation. In men, this is important because hCG can grab LH receptors and stimulate them.
When these LH receptors are kicked on, they can help boost sperm and testosterone production.
The whole process is meant to use hCG to help out the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular, or HPT, system. By improving the HPT axis, hCG benefits men by regulating a crucial sexual function center in the body.
That also means hCG can kick up testosterone levels in men.
Looking at an HCG Testosterone Booster
Keeping the HPT system in mind, hCG works by improving functions in the testes. It helps by telling these testosterone makers to produce more of the important hormone.
That’s also important because there aren’t a lot of testosterone boosters out there.
Testosterone boosters are rare because the body only produces higher levels of the hormone in a few instances:
- When people reverse the factors in the body that are lowering testosterone production
- When someone takes testosterone as a treatment
- When a person naturally stimulates testosterone production
HCG can boost testosterone through this third option, naturally increasing testosterone production.
Why is testosterone production so important for men?
The Troubles Linked to Low Testosterone
Testosterone jumps during a person’s transition during puberty. They usually hit high levels in early adulthood.
But it’s common for testosterone levels to dip as a person gets older. Usually, around age 30 testosterone starts heading downhill. That can lead to low testosterone or low T.
Unfortunately, low testosterone can trigger unpleasant symptoms. For instance, it might lead to low sperm count. That can mean a man is less fertile and might have a harder time procreating.
It also can turn into problems in both sexual performance and the desire to have sex. That’s because low testosterone can often turn into erectile dysfunction or impotence. It’s been linked to lower sex drive and a decrease in libido.
Low testosterone can also turn into a sharp decline in muscle mass. And sometimes men might see their breast size increase.
And other changes in the body can happen if a man is missing this important hormone. Low T sometimes leads to hair loss and could result in shrunken testicles.
Perhaps worse, low testosterone has been linked to things like fatigue, depression, weight gains, and heart disease.
But hCG injections for men can help turn around low testosterone and fight off a lot of these unpleasant symptoms.
A Look at HCG Injections for Men
Injectable hCG sends medication straight to the body, so it is usually reliable and effective. In fact, it’s considered to be one of the safest and most successful testosterone treatments out there.
HCG injections for men are approved by the FDA, and they travel directly to the muscle tissue. Men can usually administer injections on their own, and they tend to have injections once a week.
HCG therapy kicks testosterone levels in high gear, and it can end up solving several potential problems for men.
One common condition hCG injections can combat is undescended testicles. The treatment works by stimulating testicles so they will release testosterone. A lot of the time, that’s enough to get the testes to finish descending.
Because testosterone can affect libido, hCG injections can flip erectile dysfunction. And it’s often used as a treatment for men who want to get testosterone levels back on track after using steroids or recovering from a disease.
And even though it’s not considered a weight-loss drug, hCG still ups hormones that can improve energy and exercise performance.
The length of time it takes before hCG bumps testosterone up to the right levels depends on the person taking hCG therapy. Sometimes it takes a few weeks to notice testosterone changes. Sometimes it could take as many as 15 weeks.
Either way, it’s a good idea to have blood work done regularly to keep an eye on levels and make sure everything is going smoothly.
But hCG isn’t just for men who want to raise testosterone with one simple method. It can also work hand-in-hand with men who are taking in outside testosterone.
HCG in Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Men with low testosterone can take testosterone to add to their internal supply. They do this through testosterone replacement therapy or TRT.
But simply adding testosterone can cause big problems in the body. The system that regulates sexual function, the HPT axis, can be touchy. A lot of the time, when a person adds testosterone from the outside, their body decides it doesn’t need to produce its own testosterone naturally.
It also usually stops making two other hormones: FSH and LH. And those hormones tend to help keep testicle size consistent. Without them, men can experience shrinking testes.
But men can offset this side effect through hCG therapy. HCG can help maintain testicle size and fight off the pain that is usually caused by missing LH.
And hCG helps the body produce testosterone naturally within the body.
Boosting Fertility with HCG
Testosterone Replacement Therapy can also lower a person’s sperm count. It’s a big reason that men who plan on starting a family often put it off.
There are many things that can lead to infertility or low fertility in men. One common cause is low testosterone. Another is erectile dysfunction, which can sometimes be linked to low testosterone.
But there are several other factors that can cause low fertility:
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Injuries
- Undescended testicles
- Hormonal imbalances
- Psychological issues
- Sexually transmitted diseases
When it comes to fertility, hCG benefits some men and can’t necessarily help others. For instance, it wouldn’t work as a fertility treatment if the main root of infertility is something like drug abuse.
But hCG can increase fertility in many cases. That’s because of the way it interacts with LH receptors. Since hCG is able to improve natural sexual function, it can fight off a lot of the problems that can come from TRT and lead to infertility.
HCG can up sperm count and combat the testicle shrinkage that’s caused by testosterone replacement therapy.
The Different Types of HCGÂ Therapy
Treatments can vary depending on a person’s body and situation. But there are two main types of hCG therapy: hCG monotherapy and combination therapy.
HCG monotherapy is when someone just wants to use hCG as a treatment by itself. This treatment usually means injecting hCG, sometimes several times a week. And it’s done by the patient on their own most of the time.
This type of therapy is the go-to for men who are worried about becoming infertile. But it can be physically demanding, and it won’t boost testosterone as vigorously as testosterone treatments.
That’s why combination therapy is a more common method for testosterone treatment. This combines an injection of testosterone with hCG, and it is usually closer to a weekly injection.
In this second hCG therapy, the hGC in male patients can help protect fertility. And it can fight off some negative side effects of testosterone treatments, like testicular atrophy.
At the same time, men can maintain their normal sexual functions with an internal hCG testosterone booster leading the way.
HCG Side Effects in Males
As is the case with most medical treatments, hCG therapy can cause some side effects. People react differently to different doses, so it’s a good idea to monitor how frequently hCG is being injected and how much is going in the body.
One of the most common side effects is pain or swelling at the injection site. In rare cases, a man might be hit by symptoms like the growth of male breasts. That could be an indication of high estrogen and should be treated.
Here are some other potential side effects associated with hCG:
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Increases in acne
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
A lot of these side effects can be reduced by cutting back dosages. But patients with major side effects should see a physician, especially if they’re associated with high estrogen.
How to Use HCG Injections for Men
A little hCG can go a long way. In fact, in many cases, it’s good to start out with low doses and increase as needed. That’s because hormones can be touchy, and using lower doses tends to reduce the frequency of side effects.
What kind of dosages are typical, and how often should they be injected?
A common dosage usually falls between 125 and 250 IU’s and is administered one to two times per week. That’s usually enough for men to see testosterone changes.
Of course, higher doses are recommended to treat some specific conditions. For instance, something like hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, or HH, usually calls for higher doses of hCG.
But as long as a person is taking in testosterone, they should keep injecting hCG throughout the whole treatment. That’s because hCG can help keep the sexual function center in check while foreign testosterone is hitting the system.
It’s always a good idea to talk to a physician to figure out the best regiment for a specific result.
Studies Surrounding the Use of HCG
There haven’t been many studies that have dove into cases where men use hCG for low testosterone. But there have been positive results in the research that is available.
In one study, men took hCG as a combined treatment with testosterone. The men in the study were able to keep their sperm counts at a solid level despite taking testosterone treatments.
And in a separate study that used this combined treatment, men were able to combat the negative effects of testosterone on fertility. Throughout the study, they maintained their natural testosterone levels in the testicles.
These studies give good evidence that hCG can counter some of the negative effects of adding outside testosterone to the body.
What about Weight Loss?
When it comes to hCG, weight loss can be a tricky subject. Many people, including those at the FDA, emphasize that hCG is not meant to be used as a traditional weight loss drug. That means it hasn’t been approved to be taken just to shave off pounds.
But hCG can boost testosterone, and adding testosterone can be an effective way to lose weight. That’s because testosterone can up a person’s lean muscle and increase metabolism.
These things can lead to better results in the gym, and that can help a person hit their weight-loss goals more effectively.
So, even though men shouldn’t use hCG as a weight-loss drug by itself, it can help men lose weight through better exercise.
More in HCG Therapy and Testosterone Health
This guide should help men know if taking on hCG therapy is a good move. But we have more help for men concerned about their health, including a step-by-step guide to testing for low testosterone.
Want to learn more about testosterone and testosterone therapy? Check out our blog here for the latest news and advice about hormone health.