Chorionic Gonadotrophin 5000 IU, 20 vials: profile, composition and research
Reference page for Chorionic Gonadotrophin 5000 IU, 20 vials. Active substance: Хорионический гонадотропин человека (ХГЧ) / Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
- What it is: chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone close in action to luteinising hormone.
- Presentation: powder for solution for injection, 20 vials.
- Status: prescription-only medicine.
- Research: work in ovulation induction and male hypogonadism, links below.
- Where to buy: APV Pharmacy (price and availability there).
Key facts
| Active substance | Human chorionic gonadotropin |
|---|---|
| Form | Powder for solution for injection |
| Strength | 5000 IU per vial |
| Pack size | 20 vials |
| Category | Prescription medicine |
| Article (SKU) |
What chorionic gonadotropin is
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone. In the body it is produced by the placenta during pregnancy, and in structure and action it is close to the pituitary luteinising hormone. That likeness is what makes it usable as a medicine.
The product is supplied as a sterile powder in vials. One vial holds 5000 international units (IU) of the hormone, and a pack contains twenty vials. Before injection the powder is dissolved in the liquid supplied with it, because the ready solution does not keep.
Once dissolved the medicine is given parenterally, usually into a muscle. The route, the dose and the length of use are set by a physician: a hormonal product must not be used on one's own.
How hCG acts in the body
Binding to the receptor
hCG attaches to the same receptors as luteinising hormone. In women such receptors sit in ovarian cells; in men they are found in the Leydig cells of the testis. Through this receptor the hormone starts a chain of reactions inside the cell.
Action in women
In the ovary the signal completes the maturation of a follicle and triggers ovulation, the release of an egg. The hormone also supports the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone and prepares the lining of the uterus for a possible pregnancy.
Action in men
In the testis hCG stimulates the Leydig cells, which then begin to make testosterone. This property is used when pituitary function is insufficient and too little luteinising hormone is produced naturally.
Approved areas of use
In women the product information names ovulation induction in infertility caused by anovulation or disturbed follicle maturation, and the preparation of follicles for retrieval in controlled ovarian stimulation programmes.
In men it lists hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, infertility linked to idiopathic forms of sperm abnormality, delayed puberty from pituitary insufficiency, and cryptorchidism not caused by an anatomical obstruction.
Prescribing is always tied to medical supervision and laboratory monitoring of hormone levels and follicle growth. The treatment plan and its duration are chosen by a reproductive-medicine specialist or an endocrinologist.
What the research shows
A large body of publications covers the use of gonadotropins, though the quality of the data varies. A systematic review in the European Journal of Endocrinology (2024) gathered studies of pubertal induction in boys with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
A review in Panminerva Medica (2019) examines strategies for triggering ovulation, including the use of hCG, and notes that the choice of protocol depends on the clinical situation rather than on one universal schedule.
A paper in the Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction (2019) deals with the management of patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Its authors stress that the evidence is still too thin for firm recommendations on several points, and decisions are made case by case.
Published research
Primary sources, verified against PubMed:
- Human chorionic gonadotropin treatment: a viable option for management of secondary hypogonadism and male infertility., PubMed 33345656 (Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab, 2021).
- Gonadotropins for pubertal induction in males with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: systematic review and meta-analysis., PubMed 38128110 (Eur J Endocrinol, 2024).
- Advances in ovulation trigger strategies., PubMed 30674181 (Panminerva Med, 2019).
- Management of ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination in infertile patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism., PubMed 30930300 (J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod, 2019).
Listed for reference. Publication of a study is not a claim about this particular product.
Precautions
- This is a prescription medicine. Prescribing and monitoring belong to an endocrinologist or reproductive-medicine specialist.
- Use in hormone-dependent tumours is contraindicated; a doctor reviews the oncological history before treatment.
- Ovarian stimulation can cause hyperstimulation syndrome with enlarged ovaries, bloating and abdominal discomfort. Medical supervision is required.
- Treatment is accompanied by laboratory checks of hormone levels and follicle growth.
- Injection-site reactions, headache and mood changes are possible. Marked symptoms should be reported to a doctor.
- The medicine is not intended for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor about every other medicine you take.
Frequently asked
Is chorionic gonadotropin a prescription medicine?
Yes. It is a prescription hormonal medicine and is not intended for self-medication.
Why does this page not give a dosing schedule?
The dose, the route and the length of use are set by a physician who watches how the body responds. A reference page does not prescribe treatment.
Who should not use this medicine?
Limitations include hormone-dependent tumours, certain endocrine disorders and pregnancy. A physician decides whether treatment is possible.
Where does the order ship from?
Shipping and customs handling are described on the APV Pharmacy delivery page.