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, on their part of an IUI cycle or as a part of IVF treatment.

HCG is a fertility drug, which can be produced either in a laboratory using recombinant DNA technology, or they can be 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 ovaries to make healthy eggs. It is particularly given to women who need medical help to conceive. The treatment usually depends on the condition of the patient; 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 cause some unwanted effects as well. In some cases, it stimulates the ovaries too much. The condition is often called as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and can be a  life-threatening problem for some ladies. OHSS may lead to pelvic pain, or difficulty breathing, or it may also cause you to urinate less. In rare cases, patients with this condition have developed serious lung issues.

OHSS happens when the ovaries and abdomen became swollen and filled with fluid. According to research data, up to 10 to 20% of women develop a mild form of this condition, which usually resolves on its own after some time. Patients are advised to report even the mildest symptoms to your medical professional so that he/she can carefully monitor you. 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, rapid weight gain or bloating.

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, which leads to HCG side effects such as fertilization or 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 its side effects. In this case, the ovaries become overstimulated, which can result in the production of two or more egg cells at a time that ultimately leads to multiple pregnancies as HCG adverse effect.

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.