HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, is a natural hormone produced by an embryo once it is implanted into the mother’s uterus. Its primary purpose is to help maintain the pregnancy and to help the baby grow. This is most widely known as the hormone that pregnancy tests try to detect in urine. A form of this hormone is also found in pituitary glands of people of all ages.
While HCG is primarily used as a fertility treatment in both men and women, or to treat sex hormone-linked conditions, HCG has also been found to be a strong tool in weight loss. The hormone will not make you lose weight by itself, but in conjunction with a diet and exercise, the hormone changes how you lose weight. It’s a powerful tool, if you are under the safe and constant supervision of a doctor and you are open and honest with your doctor about your medical history.
Since HCG is a hormone, communication is extremely important. So if you think you might be a candidate for HCG treatments for weight loss, what do you need to know and what questions should you ask your doctor?
Medical History
Because HCG is a hormone, it’s important to tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Although used as a fertility treatment to help women become pregnant, taking HCG after pregnancy can cause birth defects. It’ also important to discuss any past or current cancer diagnosis, especially cancer stimulated by hormones such as prostate cancer. Other conditions to review are: allergies, heart disease, ovarian cysts, seizures, migraines and asthma. When you consult with your doctor about whether or not HCG is an option, additional health screenings may also be ordered to ensure safety.
Medications
It’s very important to also tell your doctor about ALL medications you are taking, both over-the-counter and prescriptions. This includes everything from drugs for blood clotting disorders and cancer drugs to vitamins, dietary supplements and recreational (illegal) drugs. HCG can interact with many other drugs and supplements, so your doctor will likely have you stop taking these while you are receiving HCG treatments.
What are the Potential Side Effects of HCG?
As with any medical treatment, there are side effects to be aware of. The common side effects of taking HCG for weight loss are headaches, irritability, restlessness, fatigue, depression, appearance of breasts in men and pain in the area where the HCG was injected.
What Else do I Need to do to See Results?
Taking HCG and forgetting about diet and exercise will not work – it’s not a magic injection or quick fix. With a complementary HCG diet, calories are usually restricted to 500-1,500 calories per day with certain food restrictions (like sugar and starches). At Pure Health and Wellness Center, we work with each patient individually to create a diet and exercise plan that he or she can adhere to.
If you’re healthy and have tried other weight loss treatments without success, you may be a good candidate for doctor-supervised HCG injection therapy. Contact the doctors at Pure Health and Wellness Center to set an appointment.