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HCG, is not an anabolic/androgenic steroid but a natural
protein hormone which develops in the placenta of a pregnant
woman. HCG is formed in the placenta immediately after
nidation. It has luteinizing characteristics since it is
quite similar to the luteinizing hormone LH in the anterior
pituitary gland. During the first 6-8 weeks of a pregnancy
the formed HCG allows for continued production of estrogens
and gestagens in the yellow bodies (corpi luteum).Later on,
the placenta itself produces these two hormones. HCG is
manufactured from the urine of pregnant women since it is
exereted in unchanged form from the blood via the woman's
urine, passing through the kidneys. The commercially
available HCG is sold as a dry substance and can be used
both in men and women. In women injectable HCG allows for
owlation since it influences the last stages of the
development of the ovum, thus stimulating ovulation. It also
helps produce estrogens and yellow bodies.
The fact that exogenous HCG has characteristics almost
identical to those of the luteinizing hormone (LH) which, as
mentioned, is produced in the hypophysis, makes HCG so very
interesting for athletes. In a man the luteinizing hormone
stimulates the Leydig's cells in the testes; this in turn
stimulates production of androgenic hormones (testosterone).
For this reason athletes use injectable HCG to increase the
testosterone production. HCG is often used in combination
with anabolic/androgenic
steroids during or after treatment.
As mentioned, oral and injectable steroids cause a negative
feedback after a certain level and duration of usage. A
signal is sent to the hypothalamohypophysial testicular axis
since the steroids give the hypothalamus an incorrect
signal. The hypothalamus, in turn, signals the hypophysis to
reduce or stop the production of FSH (follicle stimulating
hormone) and of LH. Thus, the testosterone production
decreases since the testosterone-producing Leydig's cells in
the testes, due to decreased LH, are no longer sufficiently
stimulated. Since the body usually needs a certain amount of
time to get its testosterone production going again, the
athlete, after discontinuing steroid compounds, experiences
a difficult transition phase which often goes hand in hand
with a considerable loss in both strength and muscle mass.
Administering HCG directly after steroid treatment helps to
reduce this condition because HCG increases the testosterone
production in the testes very quickly and reliably. In the
event of testicular atrophy caused by megadoses and very
long periods of usage, HCG also helps to quickly bring the
testes back to their original condition (size). Since
occasional injections of HCG during steroid intake can avoid
a testicular atrophy,many athletes use HCG for two to three
weeks in the middle of their steroid treatment. It is often
observed that during this time the athlete makes his best
progress with respect to gains in both strength and muscle
mass. The reasons for this is clear. On the one hand, by
taking HCG the athlete's own testosterone level immediately
jumps up and, on the other hand, a large concentration of
anabolic substances in the blood is induced by the steroids.
Many bodybuilders, powerlifters, and weightlifters report a
lower sex drive at the end of a difficult workout cycle,
immediately before or after a competition, and especially
toward the end of a steroid treatment. Athletes who have
often taken steroids in the past usually accept this fact
since they know that it is a temporary condition. Those,
however who are on the juice all year round, who might
suffer psychological consequences or who would perhaps risk
the breakup of a relationship because of this should
consider this drawback when taking HCG in regular intervals.
A reduced libido and spermatogenesis due to steroids in most
cases, can be successfully cured by treatment with HCG.
Most athletes, however, use HCG at the end of a treatment in
order to avoid a "crash," that is, to achieve the
best possible transition into "natural training."
A precondition, however, is that the steroid intake or
dosage be reduced slowly and evenly before taking HCG.
Although HCG causes a quick and significant increase of the
endogenic plasmatestosterone level, unfortunately it is not
a perfect remedy to prevent the loss of strength and mass at
the end of a steroid treatment. The athlete will only
experience a delayed re-adjustment, as has often been
observed. Although HCG does stimulate endogenous
testosterone production, it does not help in reestablishing
the normal hypothalamic/pituitary testicular axis. The
hypothalamus and pituitary are still in a refractory state
after prolonged steroid usage, and remain this way while HCG
is being used, because the endogenous testosterone produced
as a result of the exogenous HCG represses the endogenous LH
production. Once the HCG is discontinued, the athlete must
still go through a re-adjustment period. This is merely
delayed by the HCG use. For this reason experienced athletes
often take Clomid and Clenbuterol following HCG intake or
they immediately begin another steroid treatment. Some take
HCG merely to get off the "steroids" for at least
two to three weeks.
Many bodybuilders, unfortunately, are still of the opinion
that HCG helps them become harder while preparing for a
competion by breaking down subcutaneous fat so that
indentations and vascularity are better exposed. The HCG
package insert states clearly that HCG has no known effect
of fat mobilization, appetite or sense of hunger, or body
fat distribution. HCG has not been demonstrated to be
effective adjunctive therapy in the treatment of obesity, it
does not increase fat losses beyond that resulting from
caloric restriction.
Athlete should iniect one HCG ampule (5000 I.U.) every 5
days.Since the testosterone level, as explained, remains
considerably elevated for several days, it is unnecessary to
inject HCG more than once every 5 days. The relative dose is
at the discretion of the athlete and should be determined
based on the duration of his previous steroid intake and on
the strength of the various steroid compounds. Athletes who
take steroids for more than three months and athletes who
use primarily the highly androgenic steroids such as
Anadrol,Sustanon Cypionate
, Dianabol (D-bol), etc. should take a relatively high
dosage. The effective dosage for athletes is usually
2000-5000 I.U. per injection and should-as already
mentioned-be injected every 5 days. HCG should only be taken
for a 4 weeks maximum.
If HCG is taken by male athletes over many weeks and in high
dosages, it is possible that the testes will respond poorly
to a later HCG intake and a release of the body's own LH.
This could result in a permanent inadequate gonadal
function. Cycles on the HCG should be kept down to around 3
weeks at a time with an off cycle of at least a month in
between. For example, one might use the HCG for 2 or 3 weeks
in the middle of a cycle, and for 2 or 3 weeks at the end of
a cycle. It has been speculated that the prolonged use of
HCG could permanently, repress the body's own production of
gonadotropins. This is why short cycles are the best way to
go.
HCG can in part cause side effects similar to those of
injectable testosterone. A higher testosterone production
also goes hand in hand with an elevated estrogen level which
could result in gynecomastia. This could manifest itself in
a temporary growth of breasts or reinforce already existing
breast growth in men. Farsighted athletes thus combine HCG
with an antiestrogen. Male athletes also report more
frequent erections and an inereased sexual desire. In high
doses it can cause acne vulgaris and the storing of minerals
and water. The last point must especially be observed since
the water retention which is possible through the use of HCG
could give the muscle system a puffy and watery appearance.
Athletes who have already increased their endogenous
testosterone level by taking Clomid and intend subsequently
to take HCG could experience considerable water retention
and distinct feminization symptoms (gynecomastia, tendency
toward fat deposits on the hips). This is due to the fact
that high testosterone leads to a high conversion rate to
estrogens. In very young athletes HCG, like anabolic
steroids, can cause an early stunting of growth since it
prematurely closes the epiphysial growth plates.Mood swings
and high blood pressure can also be attributed to the intake
of HCG. HCG is also suitable as "over bridge"
doping before a competition with doping controls.
HCG's form of administration is also unusual. The substance
choriongonadotropin is a white powdery freeze-dried
substance which is usually used as a compress. Based on the
low structural stability of this compress it can easily fall
apart, thus giving the impression of a reduced volume. This
is, however, insignificant since there is neither a loss in
effect nor a loss of substance. Each package, for each HCG
ampule, includes another ampule with an injection solution
containing isotonic sodium chloride. This liquid, after both
ampules have been opened in a sterile manner, is injected
into the HCG ampule and mixed with the dried substance. The
solution is then ready for use and should be injected
intramuscularly. If only part of the substance is injected
the residual solution should be stored in the refrigerator.
It is not necessary to store the unmixed HCG in the
refrigerator; however, it should be kept out of light and
below a temperature of 25° C.
HCG is a relatively expensive compound. Pregnyl costs
approx.$36 -45 for 3 ampules of 5000 I.U. each and the
relative solution ampules. The other compounds have a
similar price and are $12 -15 for 5000 I.U. The 5000 I.U.
ampules are the most economic and, in our opinion, also the
most sensible for bodybuilders, powerlifters and
weightlifters. There are currently only a few fakes of HCG.
Since the dry substance of HCG is somewhat similar to the
dry substance of Somatropin often "cheap" HCG is
sold as "expensive" HGH on the black market. This
circumstance was probably Ben Johnson's downfall during his
second positive doping test with his increased
testosterone/epitestosterone value in early 1993 (see also
growth hormones HGH)
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