The advantages of treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin rather than testosterone.

[Nelson Vergel]

La Vignera S, Condorelli RA, Cimino L, Russo GI, Morgia G, Calogero AE.


Late-onset hypogonadism: the advantages of treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin rather than testosterone. Aging Male 2015. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/13685538.2015.1092021#abstract


The traditional pharmacological treatment of patients with late onset hypogonadism (LOH) is represented by different formulations of testosterone (T) or alternatively by the extractive human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).


The hormone replacement treatment (HRT) is associated with the potential increase of hematocrit, serum concentrations of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostate volume. Moreover, the gynecomastia represent a condition frequently associated with HRT.


Recent evidences showed the role of leydig cells in the 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D and the elevated frequency of hypovitaminosis D among LOH patients. Finally, another important aspect of LOH is represented by the frequency of secondary infertility due to age or to traditional HRT.


This study evaluated 40 LOH patients treated for 6 months with extractive HCG (n = 10 patients) and three different formulations of T: transdermal (n = 10 patients), undecaonate (n = 10 patients) and enantate (n = 10 patients).


Hormonal, anthropometric, metabolic and sperm parameters were evaluated and compared. Moreover, the main safety parameters and the results of the main questionnaires were evaluated.


After treatment, HCG group showed serum concentrations of 25-OH-vitamin D significantly higher (p < 0.05) and serum concentrations of oestrogens significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared with other groups. Moreover, they showed a mean value of hematocrit, PSA and prostate volume significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared with other groups.


Finally, all the groups treated with T showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of sperm density and of percentage of spermatozoa with progressive motility compared with HCG group.

 

[Re-Ride]

Thanks for posting Nelson. Too bad the cost is prohibitive to accessing the full text. Treatment protocol would be interesting. My experience seven months in with hCG mono is elevated E2 ( with resurgent gyno ) and elevated hematocrit. The elevated E2 seems to have dissipated as measured by gyno disappearing after a light initial course of anastrzole. What happens with the hematocrit remains to be seen as more tests are done.

Those interested in trying hCG mono should likely begin between 250 and 500 IU EOD or E3rd day as suggested elsewhere. I'm personally inclined to increase frequency even up to daily before dose. Although I am not concerned about "leydig d-senstization / damage" from higher doses, the development of purported "hCG antibodies" (and subseqeunt treatment failure) reported in the early 80's is of some concern.