HCG Shots Medical Information
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by the placenta when a woman becomes pregnant. Pregnancy tests look for the presence of hCG and become positive if hCG is detected. The hCG shot is most often used in infertility treatments.
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Benefits
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The hCG shot is used to trigger ovulation in a woman undergoing infertility treatment because it helps the egg mature. Dr. A.T.W. Simeons claimed hCG shots can also make people lose weight. Since 1975, the Food and Drug Administration has required hCG packages to carry a warning that states there is no scientific evidence that hCG can cause weight loss, according to the website Diets In Review.
Ovulation
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After carefully monitoring hormone levels that precede ovulation, you will give yourself the hCG shot. It takes 24 to 36 hours for the egg to finish maturing and release.
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Half-life
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The half-life of hCG is about 28 hours, meaning the levels in your body reduce by half of the previous amount every 28 hours.
Time Frame
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If you are using hCG shots to trigger ovulation, you should wait 12 to 14 days before taking a home pregnancy test. If any hCG from the shot remains in your system, it can give you a false positive so it is important to wait long enough for the hCG trigger to clear your system.
Considerations
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The hCG trigger shot is used for several infertility protocols, but is particularly useful for in vitro fertilization to ensure the eggs release to be harvested by the reproductive endocrinologist, according to the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago.
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