Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Side Effects

Before starting treatment with Human Chorionic gonadotropin or HCG, your medical professional should explain to you the potential side effects and risks associated with the treatment. Your medical professional may have prescribed you HCG together with Clomid, as part of an IUI cycle or as part of IVF treatment.

HCG is a fertility drug which can be produced either in a laboratory using recombinant DNA technology or extracted from the urine of pregnant or postmenopausal women. It is given as an injection under the skin or into a muscle. The prescription medicine contains a hormone that helps to stimulate the ovaries to make healthy eggs. It is particularly given to women who need medical help to conceive. The treatment usually depends on the patient’s condition; your medical professional may prescribe more than one medicine as part of a pregnancy plan.

Do not use the medicine if you have just begun puberty at an early age or have had a prior allergic reaction to the hormone. This hormone treatment may cause harm to an unborn baby when given to a pregnant lady.

Risks associated with HCG

The medicine may also cause unwanted effects. In some cases, it stimulates the ovaries too much. The condition is often called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and can be a life-threatening problem for some women. OHSS may lead to pelvic pain, difficulty breathing, or cause you to urinate less. In rare cases, patients with this condition have developed serious lung issues.

OHSS happens when the ovaries and abdomen become swollen and filled with fluid. According to research, up to 10-20% of women develop a mild form of this condition, which usually resolves on its own over time. Patients are advised to report even the mildest symptoms to their medical professional so that they can be carefully monitored. If you already have Polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS, a medical condition that affects the hormone levels. Studies suggest that severe OHSS occurs in less than 1% of patients. Contact your healthcare specialist immediately if you experience severe abdominal or pelvic pain, severe bloating, or rapid weight gain.

Ectopic pregnancy as a side effect of HCG

One of the common causes of infertility in women is a constriction in the fallopian tubes. HCG stimulates egg cell production, leading to HCG side effects such as fertilisation or the implantation of the embryo in the fallopian tube. This problem can easily be handled by ruling out fallopian tube disorders before starting the treatment with HCG.

Multiple pregnancies as HCG shot side effects

HCG injections may also cause the presence of twins, triplets, and quadruplets as side effects. In this case, the ovaries become overstimulated, which can result in the production of two or more egg cells at a time, which ultimately leads to multiple pregnancies as an adverse effect of HCG.

Other possible side effects of HCG include upper respiratory tract infection, loss of appetite, mood swings, breast tenderness, pelvic discomfort, abnormal bleeding, weight gain, acidity, acne, and achiness.