Glycoprotein hormone (LH analog; placental origin)
Human chorionic gonadotropin; a placental glycoprotein hormone that activates the LH receptor; used in IVF, hypogonadism, and HPG axis recovery.
Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; CAS 9002-61-3; alpha subunit and unique beta subunit; total molecular weight approximately 36800 Da) is a placental glycoprotein hormone composed of an alpha subunit (shared with LH, FSH, and TSH) and a unique beta subunit. The compound is the principal hormone of pregnancy, produced by syncytiotrophoblasts of the implanting embryo and detected as the basis for pregnancy tests. Pharmacologically, hCG acts as an LH receptor agonist with a substantially longer half-life than endogenous LH (approximately 36 hours versus 30 minutes), making it useful as a pharmacological tool to stimulate Leydig cell testosterone production in males or to trigger ovulation in IVF protocols. Approved indications: male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (testosterone restoration with preservation of fertility), cryptorchidism, and as ovulation trigger in IVF (single 5000 to 10000 IU injection). Off-label use in TRT users to restore testicular function or as part of post-cycle therapy after AAS or SARM use. Plasma half-life of urinary-derived (Pregnyl, Novarel) versus recombinant (Ovidrel) forms are similar; both work clinically. Used as the canonical LH receptor agonist in HPG axis research.
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