Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
In my non-validated opinion, hCG may not elicit as great of a raise in hydrohyprogesterone, intratesticular (inside the testicle) testosterone, DHT and estradiol in some men compared to better responders (response in increased sperm, testicular volume and sex drive). In particular, hydroxygesterone (an upstream hormone) and intratesticular testosterone are decreased by TRT but increased by HCG. Is the degree of this increase what explains why some men respond better than others to HCG? No one knows.
Is there a direct effect on dopamine by a LH mimicker like HCG? Is there an effect on LH receptors in the brain? So many questions unanswered about HCG's libido and mood enhancing abilities reported anecdotally but not explored in a single study (most just look at sperm production or stimulation tests).
Two studies:
Rapid and slow response of human testicular steroidogenesis to hCG by measurements of steroids in spermatic and peripheral vein blood
"The effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on testicular steroid secretion were studied in men during operation upon inguinal hernia. To investigate the rapid testicular response, we drew blood samples from peripheral and spermatic veins at the beginning of the operation, then gave an intramuscular injection of 5000 I.U. of hCG, and took another set of blood samples 30 min after injection. The slow testicular response to hCG was evaluated by taking samples from spermatic and phcripheral veins 4 days following hCG administration. The operation alone led to a significant decrease in spermatic vein levels of pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone in 30 min. Testicular steroidogenesis responded rapidly to hCG stimulation, which was reflected in elevated spermatic vein levels of pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone at 30 min following hCG. In peripheral vein, the concentrations of pregnenolone, progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were significantly elevated at the same time. Four days following hCG administration, the peripheral serum concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesteone. testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone and estradiol were significantly increased. In spermatic vein, the steroids released after 4 days suggested a preferential release of C19 steroids and estradiol. Our results directly demonstrate that the human testis is able to respond rapidly to hCG stimulation. The first effect of hCG might be general facilitation of C21 and C19 steroid release to the circulation. Four days after hCG stimulation, the secretion of C19steroids (including testosterone) and estradiol seems to be preferred, with a relative decrease in the release of C21 steroids."
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0022473182901789
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Serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone strongly correlates with intratesticular testosterone in gonadotropin-suppressed normal men receiving various dosages of human chorionic gonadotropin
Objective
To determine if serum concentrations of testosterone precursors would correlate with intratesticular testosterone (ITT) concentration measured directly by testicular aspiration and allow for a less invasive means of inferring ITT.
Design
Controlled clinical study.
Setting
Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment.
Patient(s)
Twenty-nine normal men.
Intervention(s)
We determined ITT concentration by testicular aspiration before and after treatment in men receiving exogenous T to block endogenous gonadotropin production and randomly assigned to one of four doses of hCG (0, 125 IU, 250 IU, or 500 IU every other day) for 3 weeks.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
The association between serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OH-P), androstenedione, and DHEA and ITT.
Result(s)
With T administration alone, serum 17OH-P decreased significantly and increased significantly when 500 IU hCG was administered. End-of-treatment ITT strongly correlated with serum 17OH-P. Moreover, serum 17OH-P, but not androstenedione or DHEA, was independently associated with end-of-treatment ITT by multivariate linear regression.
Conclusion(s)
Serum 17OH-P is highly correlated with ITT in gonadotropin-suppressed normal men receiving T and stimulated with hCG. Serum 17OH-P is a surrogate biomarker of ITT and may be useful in research and in men receiving gonadotropin therapy for infertility.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028207005298
Is there a direct effect on dopamine by a LH mimicker like HCG? Is there an effect on LH receptors in the brain? So many questions unanswered about HCG's libido and mood enhancing abilities reported anecdotally but not explored in a single study (most just look at sperm production or stimulation tests).
Two studies:
Rapid and slow response of human testicular steroidogenesis to hCG by measurements of steroids in spermatic and peripheral vein blood
"The effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on testicular steroid secretion were studied in men during operation upon inguinal hernia. To investigate the rapid testicular response, we drew blood samples from peripheral and spermatic veins at the beginning of the operation, then gave an intramuscular injection of 5000 I.U. of hCG, and took another set of blood samples 30 min after injection. The slow testicular response to hCG was evaluated by taking samples from spermatic and phcripheral veins 4 days following hCG administration. The operation alone led to a significant decrease in spermatic vein levels of pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione and testosterone in 30 min. Testicular steroidogenesis responded rapidly to hCG stimulation, which was reflected in elevated spermatic vein levels of pregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone at 30 min following hCG. In peripheral vein, the concentrations of pregnenolone, progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were significantly elevated at the same time. Four days following hCG administration, the peripheral serum concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesteone. testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone and estradiol were significantly increased. In spermatic vein, the steroids released after 4 days suggested a preferential release of C19 steroids and estradiol. Our results directly demonstrate that the human testis is able to respond rapidly to hCG stimulation. The first effect of hCG might be general facilitation of C21 and C19 steroid release to the circulation. Four days after hCG stimulation, the secretion of C19steroids (including testosterone) and estradiol seems to be preferred, with a relative decrease in the release of C21 steroids."
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0022473182901789
***************************************
Serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone strongly correlates with intratesticular testosterone in gonadotropin-suppressed normal men receiving various dosages of human chorionic gonadotropin
Objective
To determine if serum concentrations of testosterone precursors would correlate with intratesticular testosterone (ITT) concentration measured directly by testicular aspiration and allow for a less invasive means of inferring ITT.
Design
Controlled clinical study.
Setting
Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment.
Patient(s)
Twenty-nine normal men.
Intervention(s)
We determined ITT concentration by testicular aspiration before and after treatment in men receiving exogenous T to block endogenous gonadotropin production and randomly assigned to one of four doses of hCG (0, 125 IU, 250 IU, or 500 IU every other day) for 3 weeks.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
The association between serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OH-P), androstenedione, and DHEA and ITT.
Result(s)
With T administration alone, serum 17OH-P decreased significantly and increased significantly when 500 IU hCG was administered. End-of-treatment ITT strongly correlated with serum 17OH-P. Moreover, serum 17OH-P, but not androstenedione or DHEA, was independently associated with end-of-treatment ITT by multivariate linear regression.
Conclusion(s)
Serum 17OH-P is highly correlated with ITT in gonadotropin-suppressed normal men receiving T and stimulated with hCG. Serum 17OH-P is a surrogate biomarker of ITT and may be useful in research and in men receiving gonadotropin therapy for infertility.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028207005298
Either my joints/body hurt and I feel like a 90 year old when trying any amount of arimidex or I my face is disfigured from HCG or I only feel good for a little while taking only test......
