Is Hcg viable as a long term mono-therapy?

[tiskilwa_unscrupulous]

I haven't got any labs yet, but I started hcg mono-therapy (1000 iu, 3x/week) and I'm already feeling better and seeing some initial signs that it's working (I have morning erections again!).
Just curious though, is this a therapy plan I could stay on long-term, or will the magic wear off eventually? Are there any risks with long-term use?

 

[Systemlord]

Just curious though, is this a therapy plan I could stay on long-term, or will the magic wear off eventually?

No, older men’s testicles only function optimally for so long. TRT is inevitable.

Are there any risks with long-term use?

HCG can stimulate the LH receptors in the breast tissue and trigger gynecomastia. The Mayo Clinic says hCG might encourage the production of androgen cells, which could result in the growth of certain types of cancers.

 

[tiskilwa_unscrupulous]

No, older men’s testicles only function optimally for so long. TRT is inevitable.

Are you saying I'm wasting my time with it, and should have jumped straight to TRT? Or that eventually, in N years, I would need TRT? If this buys me several years before shrinking my testicles with TRT, I'll take it.

 

[Vince]

Are you saying I'm wasting my time with it, and should have jumped straight to TRT? Or that eventually, in N years, I would need TRT? If this buys me several years before shrinking my testicles with TRT, I'll take it.

No, you're not wasting your time. Here's a very interesting thread that I'm sure you would like to read.

HCG monotherapy: Good first option for a Secondary case?

Long story short, we've concluded that I have symptoms and lab results that correlate with secondary hypo (failing free T, high SHBG, 90% ADAM test). Since I still have total T in the range of 380-600, I would like to try HCG monotherapy first either with/without an AI before T-Cyp...

www.excelmale.com

 

[Jerajera]

I'll repost an hCG study I read recently about smaller daily injections vs less frequent larger injections (same weekly total) that I think is very important. My advice is to read the whole thing carefully, it's not that long but there's a lot of relevant and I believe crucial information in there.


Smals AG, Pieters GF, Boers GH, Raemakers JM, Hermus AR, Benraad TJ, Kloppenborg PW. Differential effect of single high dose and divided small dose administration of human chorionic gonadotropin on Leydig cell steroidogenic desensitization. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984 Feb;58(2):327-31.

This study compared the effect of a single high dose of hCG (1500 IU) with that of the same dose administered in multiple small doses (300 IU, once daily for 5 days) on Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Administration of a single high dose of hCG to seven healthy men raised the mean plasma testosterone (T) level to peak levels 2.1 ± 0.2 (SEM) x the baseline value at 48 h. Thereafter plasma T decreased to below normal (0.7 ± 0.1 x baseline) 7 days after the injection. The mean 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) level peaked at 24 h (2.5 ± 0.2 x baseline) and then also fell to a nadir value of 0.6 ± 0.2 x baseline on day 7. Reflecting the early accumulation of 17-OHP over T, the 17 OHP/T ratio reached its maximum (1.6 ± 0.1 x baseline) at 24 h at the same time when plasma estradiol [(E2) 4.4 ± 0.6 x baseline] and the ratio E2/T (2.7 ± 0.3 x baseline) achieved their maximal values. Administration of 1500 IU hCG in five divided doses of 300 IU daily increased the mean plasma T levels to peak value of 2.1 ± 0.2 x baseline at 5 days and the levels remained elevated thereafter. The response of T as reflected by the area under the curve was almost twice as great as in the single dose study (2844 ± 360 vs. 1647 ± 214). In contrast to the single high dose experiment, mean plasma 17-OHP levels in the divided dose protocol did not peak at 24 h but only gradually increased. As the increase of T exceeded the 17-OHP increase at almost all time intervals, no accumulation of 17-OHP over T occurred as in the single dose experiment. Instead the 17-OHP/ T ratio fell to a nadir value of 0.6± 0.1 x baseline on day 7. The initial E2 peak was absent in the divided dose protocol and the E2/T ratio only marginally increased. Considering both experiments together a close relation was found between the hCGinduced increases in E2 and 17-OHP (r = +0.88, P < 0.001), as well as the ratio 17 OHP/T (r = +0.64, P< 0.02). Multiple small dose hCG administration in contrast to a single high dose does not desensitize but rather enhances Leydig cell steroidogenesis, probably by preventing the early accumulation of E2 and thereby the steroidogenic enzyme suppression which occurs after massive doses of hCG.

 

[Vince]

What is the best dose of HCG? Dr Saya presents two case studies.

Community - I am sharing and have attached the write-up of a recent small case study I have conducted on quantitative serum beta hCG concentrations relating to hCG injections. This study is limited to dosages of 150iu and 500iu, although I hope to obtain more data in the near future. P.S...

www.excelmale.com

 

[tiskilwa_unscrupulous]

What is the best dose of HCG? Dr Saya presents two case studies.

Community - I am sharing and have attached the write-up of a recent small case study I have conducted on quantitative serum beta hCG concentrations relating to hCG injections. This study is limited to dosages of 150iu and 500iu, although I hope to obtain more data in the near future. P.S...

www.excelmale.com

The study seems to refer to patients using Hcg to complement TRT. Wouldn't mono-therapy patients potentially require higher dosage? Definitely lots of inconclusive data on this topic. I can't seem to make sense of it, and it seems a bit of individual trial and error with adjustments may be needed with frequent lab work. It's a bit overwhelming to be honest. My non-scientific takeaway from skimming through these threads is that I should probably drop my dose to 2000 IU/week, spread across smaller doses. So maybe 500 IU every other day?

 

[Guided_by_Voices]

I haven't got any labs yet, but I started hcg mono-therapy (1000 iu, 3x/week) and I'm already feeling better and seeing some initial signs that it's working (I have morning erections again!).
Just curious though, is this a therapy plan I could stay on long-term, or will the magic wear off eventually? Are there any risks with long-term use?

I say congratulations on your success so far and stay the course. Systemlord is being inappropriately negative. Most of us need HCG anyway to feel optimal even on TRT. The more you can preserve normal functioning and minimize variables, the better. Nothing works forever but your protocol (I would use lower doses as Vince said) could last for many years and you even have the option to microdose something on top of it (that wouldn't shut your natural production completely down) if necessary as a fine-tuning next step down the road.

 

[Vince]

The study seems to refer to patients using Hcg to complement TRT. Wouldn't mono-therapy patients potentially require higher dosage? Definitely lots of inconclusive data on this topic. I can't seem to make sense of it, and it seems a bit of individual trial and error with adjustments may be needed with frequent lab work. It's a bit overwhelming to be honest. My non-scientific takeaway from skimming through these threads is that I should probably drop my dose to 2000 IU/week, spread across smaller doses. So maybe 500 IU every other day?

Yes, that small study was done with patients using testosterone along with HCG.

 

[madman]

I haven't got any labs yet, but I started hcg mono-therapy (1000 iu, 3x/week) and I'm already feeling better and seeing some initial signs that it's working (I have morning erections again!).
Just curious though, is this a therapy plan I could stay on long-term, or will the magic wear off eventually? Are there any risks with long-term use?

Using Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) alone for the treatment of men with low testosterone.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin monotherapy for the treatment of hypogonadal symptoms in men with total testosterone > 300 ng/dL. Madhusoodanan V, Patel P, Lima TFN, Gondokusumo J, Lo E, Thirumavalavan N, Lipshultz LI, Ramasamy R Human Chorionic Gonadotropin monotherapy for the treatment of...

www.excelmale.com

Treating Low Testosterone with Clomid, hCG and Aromatase Inhibitors: A Review of the Data

Abstract Testosterone deficiency is defined as a total testosterone level

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Pros and cons of using TRT vs HCG for treatment low-t symptoms

Human chorionic gonadotropin treatment: a viable option for management of secondary hypogonadism and male infertility (2020) Julius Fink, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Anthony C. Hackney, Takahiro Maekawa & Shigeo Horie Abstract Introduction: Low testosterone and its symptoms is a condition affecting...

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Alternatives for TRT in Men with Central Hypogonadism

Treatment of Men with Central Hypogonadism: Alternatives for Testosterone Replacement Therapy Abstract: Central hypogonadism is a clinical condition, characterized by sexual symptoms and low serum testosterone levels, due to an impaired function of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland...

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Gonadotropin Treatment for the Male HH

Abstract: Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is caused by a dysfunction in the hypothalamus and/or the pituitary gland and it can be congenital or acquired. This condition is biochemically characterized by low or inappropriately normal gonadotropin levels along with low total testosterone...

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Efficacy of Non-T Based Treatment in Hypogonadal Men

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although testosterone replacement therapy is an effective treatment for hypogonadism, there are safety concerns regarding potential cardiovascular risks and fertility preservation. Objective: To assess the effect of selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), an...

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HCG: OPTIMIZING BODY COMPOSITION IN MEN WITH LOW TESTOSTERONE

HCG: OPTIMIZING BODY COMPOSITION IN MEN WITH ANDROGEN DEFICIENCY SECONDARY TO HYPOGONADOTROPIC HYPOGONADISM Florence Comite, Madeleine Heard, Emma Bednarski, Aalin Izhar Objective: Precision Medicine utilizing N-of-1 can detect, predict, stop, and reverse aging and disease to optimize the...

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Safety of hCG for Men with Hypogonadal Symptoms and Testosterone >300 ng/dL

Safety of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Monotherapy for Men with Hypogonadal Symptoms and Testosterone >300 ng/dL (2022) QRainer, RPai, TMasterson Introduction Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is homologous to luteinizing hormone (LH) and is known to stimulate endogenous testosterone (T)...

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Alternatives to Testosterone Replacement Therapy

While testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has become more popular and has been proven to be an effective treatment for male hypogonadism, it raises several safety concerns. In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Joshua A. Halpern, MD, assistant professor of Urology at Northwestern...

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EXTENDED-RELEASE FORMULATIONS OF HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN (HCG)

I. BACKGROUND Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the syncytiotrophoblast cells of the human placenta and gonads. hCG interacts with the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) (also known as lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor (LCGR) or luteinizing...

www.excelmale.com

 

[madman]

I haven't got any labs yet, but I started hcg mono-therapy (1000 iu, 3x/week) and I'm already feeling better and seeing some initial signs that it's working (I have morning erections again!).
Just curious though, is this a therapy plan I could stay on long-term, or will the magic wear off eventually? Are there any risks with long-term use?

Watch this when you have time!

hCG: An alternative approach for the treatment of low testosterone

www.excelmale.com

 

[tiskilwa_unscrupulous]

That's a lot of info @madman, thank you!
Can I kindly ask for a tldr? It's honestly too scientific for me to digest all this...