And hormonal disruptions in the female body. The techniques are used for in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, hormonal or age-related changes.
The technique consists of taking hormonal drugs for development, prescribed individually, and then injecting a drug with human chorionic gonadotropin to trigger ovulation.
Stimulation of follicle development and egg release is used in cases where a couple is unable to conceive a child on their own. The gynecologist makes a decision on treatment after conducting the necessary examinations.
The length of the period (from 6 months to 1 year) during which the woman is trying to get pregnant is also taken into account.
Human chorionic gonadotropin, which is secreted by the chorion during natural processes in the initial stages of pregnancy, is used for.
Follicle rupture under the influence of this hormone occurs due to its follicle-stimulating and luteinizing properties. HCG regulates the maturation of the dominant follicle, its rupture (i.e. ovulation), the formation and development of the corpus luteum. The administration of the hormone also prevents the development of follicular cysts on the ovary.
Gonadotropin will perform its functions if the injection is given 1 - 1.5 days before expected ovulation. The fact of ovulation or its absence is confirmed by ultrasound.
Hormone injection is not a treatment method. Follicle rupture is provoked at a time, only in the cycle when the drug was administered. The injection will not affect subsequent menstrual cycles. In addition, the absence of ovulation should be recorded by a specialist during several cycles in a row.
When is it prescribed?
During an ultrasound, the gynecologist determines the “” follicle and monitors its development. for the period when it has matured and the release of the egg is approaching.
The injection is given once before ovulation. The dosage is selected individually and ranges from 5000 – 10000 units. Gonadotropin is injected into the gluteal muscle or thigh.
Sometimes repeated administration of the hormone is required to support and develop the corpus luteum, which maintains pregnancy.
ATTENTION! It is unacceptable to make an independent decision about a drug injection. Using the drug without a doctor’s recommendation will lead to serious hormonal disruption in a woman’s reproductive system.
After the injection, the doctor selects the optimal frequency of sexual intercourse for pregnancy or prescribes artificial insemination. Usually required every other day or daily, depending on the spermogram.
At what size is it done to stimulate a rupture?
Intramuscular administration is prescribed after identifying the dominant follicle. With hormonal stimulation, follicles. The doctor uses an ultrasound examination to determine their readiness for ovulation.
The gynecologist prescribes an injection for successful exit when the follicle size reaches 16–21 mm. In each individual case, the doctor individually determines readiness for ovulation.
Within 36 hours after the injection, ovulation occurs and the possibility of artificial or natural insemination occurs.
IMPORTANT! If you administer the drug before the prescribed time, then if ovulation occurs, a non-viable egg will be obtained and pregnancy will not occur.
In what cases should the injection not be used?
Contraindications to stimulation:
- hypersensitivity to the drug human chorionic gonadotropin or its component;
- the presence of a malignant neoplasm, the growth of which can be facilitated by the hormone (as well as suspicion of oncology of the ovaries, uterus, mammary glands, pituitary gland);
- menopause period;
- lactation;
- obstruction of pipes;
- thrombophlebitis;
- hypothyroidism;
- pathologies of the adrenal glands.
IMPORTANT! If gonadotropin stimulation is performed on a woman with tubal obstruction, the process may result in an ectopic pregnancy. It is necessary to eliminate the obstruction by laparoscopy.
A contraindication to the procedure may be the patient’s age over 37 years, but in this case the gynecologist makes the decision individually.
What if it doesn't burst?
Ovulation after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin occurs in the vast majority of cases. But there are situations in which the break still did not occur. The reasons may be different:
- improper stimulation of follicle development;
- absence of a dominant follicle;
- the presence of other health problems that were not previously taken into account.
An injection with a hormonal drug is given only if the patient’s ovaries are under constant monitoring and folliculometry is regularly performed using ultrasound. Otherwise, hCG will not promote ovulation, since there will be no dominant follicle.
If the follicle does not rupture 36 hours after the injection, the doctor decides to carry out one of the following measures:
- administration of an additional hCG drug (for example, 5000 U of the hormone to the already administered 10,000 U);
- repetition of stimulation during the next menstrual cycle;
- break and repeat stimulation after three menstrual cycles.
IMPORTANT! A cyst may form in place of the unruptured follicle. Monitoring the process is important both when ovulation occurs and when it does not occur.
Possible complications and adverse reactions
The alleged complications are explained by the effect of the drug on the body of a particular person. Allergic reactions in the form of a rash at the injection sites are possible.
Adverse reactions occur, which are described in the annotation for the drug used:
- nausea and vomiting;
- diarrhea;
- soreness of the mammary glands;
- pain in the ovarian area;
- thromboembolism;
- hydrothorax;
- temperature increase;
- gynecomastia.
Taking into account all possible complications, gynecologists decide whether to use the hormone to achieve a long-awaited pregnancy, or refuse it.
HCG is a hormone that is released into a woman’s blood immediately after the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus. The level of this substance in the blood is constantly growing, with its help you can find out whether everything is fine with the fetus. This hormone is prescribed when planning conception, so many women are interested in the question of who was helped by an injection of hCG to become pregnant.
The principle of action of the hCG injection
Usually this injection is prescribed only once when planning pregnancy. This hormone promotes the rupture of the dominant follicle and stimulates ovulation. This medicine is prescribed only after the woman takes hormones for the growth of the dominant follicle.
Every 2 days the follicle is monitored, and when it reaches the desired size, hCG is administered. After administration of the drug, ovulation occurs within 12-36 hours. It is during this period that you need to have sex during natural conception or inject sperm through insemination. Reviews indicate that the injection helps to get pregnant.
Indications for prescribing an hCG injection
There are two options for administering the hormone:
- stimulation of ovulation with Clostilbegit;
- with polycystic ovary syndrome, when the follicle grows, but does not burst, but develops into a cyst.
Therefore, an hCG injection is prescribed for anovulatory cycles, when the egg does not mature. Stimulation is carried out with Clostilbegit or Clomid. On days 14-20 of the cycle, the hCG hormone is administered. During insemination, sperm is injected only after follicle rupture is confirmed.
The hCG hormone helps to conceive a child and maintain a pregnancy. When artificially inducing ovulation after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin, progesterone is prescribed. Usually this is the drug "Utrozhestan" or "Duphaston". They loosen the endometrium and promote the attachment of the fertilized egg.
Indications for the use of hCG:
- anovulation;
- corpus luteum deficiency during pregnancy;
- habitual abortion;
- risk of miscarriage.
Timing of a pregnancy test after injection
It is worth considering that pregnancy test strips react specifically to this hormone. 
Therefore, before the expected date of your period, you will receive false positive results. Only after a few days of delay does it make sense to do a test.
If you don’t have enough patience and want to find out about your pregnancy as soon as possible, then donate blood for hCG. Based on the amount of hormone in the laboratory, they can judge the absence or occurrence of pregnancy.
When is there no point in injecting?
The injection must be given under specific conditions. It must be placed on a specific day of the cycle when 
full maturation of the follicle. If you administer the medicine earlier, ovulation will occur, but you will receive an underdeveloped egg that cannot lead to pregnancy.
Therefore, the substance is administered only with constant folliculometry using ultrasound. If you were not given drugs to stimulate the growth of the dominant follicle, then the injection is also useless, because there will be nothing to rupture due to the absence of the “main” follicle.
Determining the development of pregnancy by hCG level
This hormone is included in mandatory screening of pregnant women. The concentration of this substance is used to judge the health of the fetus.
At 14-18 weeks, the pregnant woman donates blood for hCG. If its level is reduced, it means that there is a threat of miscarriage or the presence of pathologies in the fetus.
Low hCG levels during pregnancy
If during testing it turns out that the concentration of this substance is low, the hormone is administered by injection to preserve the embryo. The fact is that this substance controls the release of progestins and estrogens into the blood. If there are more or less of these hormones, there is a risk of miscarriage. In addition, human chorionic gonadotropin is prescribed for insufficiency of the corpus luteum, which supplies the fertilized egg with useful substances.
An increased concentration of hCG indicates:
- about multiple pregnancy;
- about maternal diabetes;
- about taking progestins;
- about Down syndrome in the fetus;
- about an incorrectly determined gestational age.
Therefore, if you are taking Duphaston or Utrozhestan when there is a threat of miscarriage, tell the laboratory about it. Usually, it is not the concentration of hCG itself that is analyzed, but its relationship to AFP and estriol. Based on the data obtained, a diagram of the risk of genetic defects in the fetus is constructed, because An increased level of the hormone is an indication for analysis of amniotic fluid, which is collected by puncturing the mother’s abdomen. This increases the risk of infection and miscarriage.
Anna Mironova
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The level of the pregnancy hormone produced by the placenta (hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin) increases in the female body every day from the moment of fertilization. Thanks to modern medicine, this hormone is created artificially to help treat anovulation in women (a disorder of the menstrual cycle, as a result of which the long-awaited conception does not occur). What is a hCG injection, and in what cases is this method of treatment used? When to do tests after an hCG injection? How many days does it take for the hCG 10,000 injection to be completely eliminated from the body?
Why is an injection of hCG 10,000 prescribed?
With regular absence of ovulation
A woman who seeks medical help is often recommended to do so. A few days after stimulation, the first procedure is prescribed Ultrasound
, after which this examination is repeated every few days to monitor follicle growth
to the required dimensions (twenty to twenty-five mm). Once the required follicle size is reached, an hCG injection is prescribed.
- The hormone “triggers” ovulation.
- Prevents follicle regression that can develop into follicular cysts.
Injection dose taken - from 5000 to 10000 units
. Ovulation usually happens one day after the injection
.
HCG and its effect on pregnancy
The production of the hCG hormone begins from the moment the embryo is implanted in the uterus and continues for all nine months. Based on the presence of the hormone in the female body, we can say about pregnancy . Further, based on its quantitative content, possible violations of the ongoing pregnancy are judged. Thanks to hCG test , you can confirm the fact of pregnancy as early as possible (already on the sixth day after fertilization). This is the most reliable and early method of determining pregnancy, in comparison with traditional test strips. The main function of hCG is to maintain pregnancy and control (in the first trimester) over the production of estrogen and progesterone. Stopping the synthesis of hCG leads to disruption of the production of substances necessary for the fetus. In these cases, the hCG deficiency is replenished artificially, through intramuscular injection. These hCG injections are prescribed in the following cases:
- For nutrition and maintaining the viability of the corpus luteum until the placenta begins to independently produce the hormones necessary for a successful pregnancy.
- To form the placenta itself .
- To stimulate ovulation and supporting the viability of the corpus luteum during pregnancy planning.
- To prepare for .
Indications for hCG injection
Contraindications for hCG injection
When is an HCG injection given?
When to do ovulation tests after an hCG injection?
The onset of ovulation after an hCG injection occurs within a day (maximum thirty-six hours), after which additional support for the ovaries is prescribed with the help progesterone or utrogestan
. Based on the male factor, the timing and frequency of sexual intercourse are assigned individually. If the spermogram is normal - one day (every day) after the hCG injection and until the formation of the corpus luteum. When to do tests?
- The day of testing depends on the cycle. As you know, the first day of the cycle is the first day of menstruation, and its length is the number of days from the first day of menstruation until the first (inclusive) day of the next one. With a regular cycle, tests begin seventeen days before the start of the next menstruation (after ovulation, the corpus luteum phase lasts about two weeks). For example, with a cycle length of twenty-eight days, testing is carried out starting from the eleventh day.
- For different cycle durations, select the shortest cycle in six months. Its duration is used to determine the testing day.
- If there are delays of more than a month, and the cycles are not at all constant, then it is irrational to use tests (given their high cost) without control over follicles and ovulation.
- Preferably start applying tests daily immediately after diagnosis by ultrasound, achieving the desired follicle size (twenty mm).
It should be remembered that ovulation tests are not informative immediately after hCG injections due to the possible influence of TSH, FSH hormones and dietary habits on the results. Therefore, you should not rely only on tests. It is preferable to use more reliable diagnostic methods (for example, ultrasound
).
When to take pregnancy tests after an hCG injection?
How many days does it take for the hCG 10,000 injection to be completely eliminated from the body? This question worries many. For ten to twelve days after ovulation, those used after an hCG injection may produce false positive results. Accordingly, it is necessary wait one or two weeks . Second option - take a blood test for the hCG hormone in dynamics . The doctor who prescribes treatment and performs stimulation must determine the exact time at which the use of tests can be started.
Hello, dear ladies.
It makes sense to do a test or take hCG 12-14 days after the hCG injection; all tests or analyzes done earlier are NOT RELIABLE!
If after 12 days a second line is visible, it is most likely pregnancy.
Post date: 10.02.2015 13:52
Olga
Thank you doctor!
Post date: 10.02.2015 16:54
Post date: 13.02.2015 10:49
Elena
Hello, Doctor! Help me understand my doubts... On 02/03/15 I took a hCG injection of 5000 units. Today, 02/10/15, the test showed a weak second line. My stomach feels tight for several days. Could this be pregnancy? thanks in advance.
Post date: 13.02.2015 20:13
Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich
Hello, dear Elena.
It makes sense to do a test or take hCG 12-14 days after the hCG injection; all tests or analyzes done earlier are NOT RELIABLE!
If after 12 days a second line is visible, it is most likely pregnancy.
Sincerely, Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich, fertility specialist
Post date: 19.02.2015 19:14
Katerina
Hello, Doctor! Please tell me, I took a 10 thousand hCG injection on 02/05, then insemination on 02/06, they said 2 follicles began to leak. After the procedure, I still have pain in my lower abdomen and chest pain to this day. And on February 18 I donated blood for hCG, the result was 7. Tell me, is this a residual effect from the injection or is it already my result? Critical days should be the 26th
Post date: 20.02.2015 06:23
Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich
Hello, dear Katerina.
Abdominal pain is a reason to see a doctor.
The hCG that you did on February 5 had already completely left the body on the 12th, but 7 is not the value at which we can safely say that pregnancy has definitely occurred.
You need to retake the hCG test in 2-3 days and everything will become clear from the dynamics; if it grows, it means the pregnancy has taken place.
Sincerely, Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich, fertility specialist
Post date: 21.02.2015 22:38
Catherine
Hello, doctor, today 6 days have passed since the hCG injection of 10,000 units. The simplest test shows one strip, and the expensive one with readings for a number of weeks shows a positive result, is it worth taking an hCG test and what to do if you currently have an acute respiratory illness with a high temperature, taking medications is somehow scary, due to the fact that there is reliable positive result. thanks for the answer
Post date: 22.02.2015 09:21
Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich
Hello, dear Ekaterina.
A pregnancy test must be taken after 2 weeks; all other tests or tests for hCG done earlier are not informative.
Acute respiratory infections and high fever need to be treated urgently. At the therapist.
Sincerely, Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich, fertility specialist
Post date: 26.02.2015 19:09
Svetlana
Good afternoon! On February 19, I had a hCG injection of 10,000 units. Yesterday (7th day) I had an ultrasound. There was ovulation. There was a corpus luteum on the right ovary, and on the left they said there was a corpus luteum cyst. The doctor prescribed an appointment and a hCG blood test in a week. But I’m constantly cramping lower abdomen. Is this normal? I told the doctor about this at my appointment yesterday, but she didn’t say anything about it. I’m very worried.
Post date: 26.02.2015 21:01
Maria
Good afternoon. Please tell me my last period was on January 27, 2015, after stimulation with puregon. On 02/14/15 I received an injection of hCG 10,000 units. The follicle burst. Today, 02/26/15, the test was negative. Maybe it’s too early, I’m very worried. :-(until what date should I wait? Or should I go to the doctor already? Thank you very much in advance.
Post date: 26.02.2015 21:13
Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich
Hello, dear Svetlana.
Similar symptoms occur in that condition. which you described.
Sincerely, Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich, fertility specialist
Hello, dear Maria.
HCG must be taken after 2 weeks; all other tests or tests for hCG done earlier are not informative.
Sincerely, Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich, fertility specialist
Post date: 28.02.2015 10:18
Maria
Good afternoon Gary Zelimkhanovich. Thank you for answering us in difficult times. I asked you a question about
"Please tell me the last menstruation was on 01/27/2015, after which there was stimulation with puregon. On 02/14/15 there was an injection of hCG 10,000 units. The follicle burst. Today on 02/26/15 the test is negative. Maybe it’s too early, I’m very worried. :-(until when should I wait? Or should I go to the doctor already? Thank you very much in advance."
But still, I took an hCG test, and it turned out to be negative. All 2 weeks I measured my rectal temperature. She was 37 all this time. But on the day I took the hCG test. The temperature dropped to 36.6. And in the evening, terrible pain began in the lower back, stomach, severe dizziness and it did not subside, malaise. My period has started. But for some reason it seems to me that there was still a pregnancy. I'm worried. How can I find out if it’s my period or if I’ve had a miscarriage? What should I do?
She saw the doctor and said if the hCG test is negative, then it’s your period; if not, then take Utrozhestan.
Thank you.
Post date: 28.02.2015 17:52
Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich
Hello, dear Maria.
Your doctor told you everything correctly. What kind of miscarriage can happen with negative hCG?
And basal temperature only indicates good progesterone. Only.
Please trust your doctor more, you double-check him, this is not right, either you completely trust the doctor or you don’t.
The Internet is a great evil for anxious patients; no one and nothing can replace live communication with the treating doctor.
I wish you a speedy pregnancy.
Sincerely, Dostibegyan Gary Zelimkhanovich, fertility specialist
Post date: 03.03.2015 09:05
Natalia
Hello! Please tell me how informative is BT after transfer in a cryoprotocol? At 3 dpp it was 37.1, at 5 dpp it was 36.8 in the support of duphaston 3 times a day, vaginal utrozhestan 400 per day, proginova.
- a hormone produced by the embryo after its attachment to the endometrium. It promotes the normal progression of pregnancy and ensures its smooth course. The main functions performed by the hormone are:
- Stimulation of the functioning of the corpus luteum. As a result, a sufficient amount of progesterone is provided, which remains the main substance that supports the development of pregnancy.
- Activation of growth and formation of the placenta, due to which contact between mother and child occurs.
- General control of metabolic processes in the body of a pregnant woman and fetus.
Considering the above functions of hCG, it becomes obvious that it is one of the main regulators of normal gestation. That is why its synthetic analogue is used in medicine to increase the chance of getting pregnant and prevent a number of pathological conditions. An injection of human chorionic gonadotropin can help you conceive and carry a healthy baby. However, everything depends on the specific circumstances of each individual case.
The standard determination of pregnancy occurs by using a classic pharmacy test. When the urine of a pregnant woman gets on it, the treasured 2 stripes appear on the tablet, which confirm the fact of the development of a new life in the womb.
The chemical reaction is based on interaction with the hormone in the urine. An alternative is to test the blood for the presence of a bioactive substance. In the absence of pregnancy, there is very little or no hormone in the body, however, if conception occurs, the hormone will begin to sharply increase its concentration in the blood. For the study, venous blood is used, in which hCG itself is looked for. The first positive results usually appear on days 7-10 in the blood and on days 10-14 in the urine.
Does an HCG injection affect the chance of getting pregnant?
Considering the functions of the hormone, as well as its fairly widespread use in medicine, women often ask: “Should we expect pregnancy after an hCG injection?” To answer, you need to understand a little more about the features of its application.
The hormone injection actually helped more than one woman get pregnant. However, there are only a limited number of situations in which it is effective.
HCG injections are prescribed for:
- Continued functioning of the corpus luteum. If it is insufficient, the endometrium may be inferior and the uterus will not be ready to accept the fetus. HCG changes this situation for the better.
- To speed up the process of placenta formation.
- To stimulate ovulation. This is what hCG is most often used for.
- To prepare for in vitro fertilization.
Considering the goals pursued by doctors, a number of indications for the use of hormone injections can be identified:
- Insufficient functional activity of the corpus luteum.
- Infertility caused by anovulatory menstrual cycle.
- Habitual miscarriage.
- High risk of miscarriage.
- As part of the process when using a variety of assisted reproductive technologies.
In all these situations, the use of hCG injection will be justified. This is confirmed by the many years of experience of doctors and reviews of those who have been helped by such an injection to become pregnant.
How is hCG used?
If a representative of the fair sex experiences anovulatory infertility, then an hCG injection may be one of the ways to solve the problem. It will also help those who, for one reason or another, have a hormonal imbalance, which leads to insufficient maturation of the follicles in the ovaries.
Those women who could not get pregnant for a long time note the positive effect of gonadotropin. Often, even with the progression of anovulatory infertility, it was possible to successfully conceive a child.
If the hormone is used during pregnancy planning, then a single injection of hCG 10,000 is considered standard. This dose is prescribed for a reason. Before the actual injection, an appropriate preparatory stage is carried out, which includes the use of hormones to stimulate follicle growth. Only after they develop and the dominant follicle reaches a size of 20-25 mm, can an HCG injection be used. This is usually days 14-20 of the cycle. The size of the follicle is monitored using ultrasound.
This procedure stimulates ovulation, the follicle ruptures, and the mature egg begins its journey towards sperm. HCG in this case “helps” natural conception occur. Typically, ovulation occurs 12-36 hours after the injection. Therefore, to achieve the desired result, it is necessary to actively try to conceive a child during this period of time. In most cases everything goes well.
Sometimes, to stimulate ovulation, it is enough to give an injection of hCG 5000. However, you need to understand that only the attending physician should calculate the dose. He will be able to comprehensively assess the patient’s condition, her hormonal balance and prescribe the appropriate amount of hCG.
The most popular drugs:
- Gonal (also Gonal F);
- Chorionic gonadotropin;
- Puregon;
- Menogon.
After successful conception, progesterone is additionally prescribed to maintain pregnancy.
What will a blood test show after an hCG injection?
Many women are interested in when they can perform an ovulation test after an hCG injection, and whether it is worth doing it at all. Basically, doctors recommend monitoring the process of the release of the egg from the follicle using ultrasound. However, if you want to use the appropriate tests, then they should be carried out virtually every day after the injection itself to monitor ovulation.
The dynamics of the increase in hCG in the blood after the intended act of conception will help determine its success. It is reasonable to do a pregnancy test after an hCG injection after 1-2 weeks. It takes approximately this long for a fertilized egg to begin to synthesize its own hCG. If you carry out diagnosis earlier, you can get a false-positive result, which is due to the preliminary administration of the drug in the form of an injection. In any case, you should consult your doctor to receive appropriate recommendations.
Individual reviews
Examples include reviews from visitors to one well-known clinic who were given an hCG injection (the survey was conducted anonymously, names have been changed):
- Anna: “At first I was stimulated with Clostilbegit. In the 1st cycle, the follicle reached 18 mm, but did not rupture. On the second attempt it was 19 mm, and then they gave an hCG injection. We waited more than a year for pregnancy, and after hCG it came! We are now six months old.”
- Victoria: “We couldn’t have a child for a long time. We've already tried everything. They studied these follicle sizes, tried different methods, stimulated me with whatever they could, and injected me with hCG, but without effect. Although the follicles matured, it still did not come out. In general, gonadotropin and nothing previously used helped us. I ignored the doctors’ recommendations and decided to adjust my weight. And it really helped me."
- Sofia: “We conceived from the first injection of hCG. Tests were taken 10 days after the injection. They immediately showed 2 stripes. It’s sad, but we were unable to maintain the pregnancy. Now we want to try again."
As you can see, the hCG injection is not a panacea. Yes, it significantly increases the chance of conception, but much depends on the individual characteristics of each woman’s body and the specific situation.
Bibliography
- Women's consultation. Management, Editor: Radzinsky V.E. 2009 Publisher: Geotar-Media.
- Emergency care in obstetrics and gynecology: a short guide. Serov V.N. 2008 Publisher: Geotar-Media.
- Atlas of ultrasound diagnostics in obstetrics and gynecology. Dubile P., Benson K.B. 2009 Publisher: MEDpress-inform.
