You can see the different enzymes and paths affected by LH (and possibly hCG) in the hormone cascade in the figure below where the stars are. When we start TRT, LH is shut down and these enzymes are not activated. Does hCG (an LH analog) reverse that shut down of upstream hormones? Is this hCG-induced reactivation of neuro-hormones responsible for the improvement in mood and libido that some of us have on this analog? Only research will tell.
I am trying to get an investigator interested in studying the effect of HCG on these enzymes while having patients use our App on www.TRTdata.com before and through treatment to detect any improvements in libido and mood (it would have to be a placebo-controlled study).
By the way, I think that it takes a certain dosage of hCG to increase upstream hormones. I doubt that anything under 350 IU every other day work well.
I have coached over 150 guys and I have seen how introducing hCG to their TRT brings back pregnenolone and progesterone back to normal and in some cases it also normalizes DHEA. This reversal only happens when using 500 IU at least twice per week in combination with testosterone.
AS we know, TRT and anabolics can shut down those hormones:
Anabolic steroids and TRT decrease SHBG, DHEA, pregnenolone and progesterone in men.
Here are the enzymes and poteins affected by LH and their roles.
Some people may have deficiencies in one or several of them and they usually show hormone issues.
StAR: Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein
P450scc: Cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme
17,20 lyase
3 beta HSD
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