EdwardChase
Well-known member
The HCG MYTH
PART 1
The Basics
So what is HCG? HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), is a Luteinizing Hormone analogue. This essentially means that HCG mimics the action of Luteinizing Hormone. In the body, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is responsible for ordering the testicles to produce testosterone. This makes HCG extremely invaluable to anyone considering the use of steroids. When you use steroids, the body detects the unnaturally high level of circulating androgens and responds by shutting down its own production of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. This is an attempt to re-establish homeostasis (balance).
Once this happens, almost immediately your testicles begin to gradually atrophy (shrink in size) and lose function. The longer this goes on, the longer and harder it is to recover your natural testosterone production once your cycle ends. My physician once described the recovery process as akin to trying to rouse someone who is in a very deep sleep by shouting at them as loudly as possible. Slowly but surely the person will begin to rouse, but it takes time. Once the person is awake, they’re still slow and groggy for some time. Gradually, they become more and more alert and active as time goes on. Your natural testosterone can realistically take anywhere from 6 weeks up to several months to fully recover.
You may be thinking, “Well lucky HCG exists. Maybe I can use it and avoid this whole, ‘shut down’ situation altogether”. You’re right! You CAN use it to avoid testicular shutdown on cycle. Studies show (see below) that low doses of HCG successfully maintain endogenous (natural) testosterone while exogenous hormones (steroids) are being administered. HCG makes PCT obsolete because prevention is better than cure.
The Myth
There’s just one problem. There’s a lot of misinformation present within the bodybuilding community. One such piece of misinformation is what I like to call the HCG Myth. This is a myth that has been perpetuated time and time again by the bodybuilding community. The myth/misconception is that if you take hcg for too long or at doses too high, that it will permanently desensitise your testicles (Leydig cells) to your natural Luteinizing Hormone. In layman’s terms, if you take hcg for an extended period of time, your testicles will become over stimulated by hcg. As a result, the testicles are supposed to become numb to the effects of your natural Luteinizing hormone, and hence, be incapable of producing testosterone, permanently.
Sounds scary doesn’t it? It’s enough to scare any red blooded male away from HCG forever. The saddest part here is that this myth is a complete fallacy and has left HCG unfairly vilified. In reality there is NO clinical evidence to support permanent desensitisation at FDA approved dosages or less.
A brief look at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA is a federal agency that serves many different functions. The function relevant to this article is its responsibility in ensuring the safety and efficacy of new pharmaceutical drugs. All drugs have to be evaluated and approved by the FDA before they can make it to market. Drug companies collate and pass on all information from clinical trials and other tests/studies to the FDA to be independently and unbiasedly reviewed. The results of such reviews determine whether a drug is deemed safe/efficacious/suitable for public consumption and how exactly it needs to be consumed/labeled in order to maintain this safety and efficacy. It’s a very detailed and methodical process that takes into account all of the evidence about a drug before it’s made available to the public. You can read further about the FDA’s approval process here:
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/developmentapprovalprocess/default.htm
Myth vs Reality
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of HCG to treat Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (the same hypogonadism experienced by steroid users) at doses much higher and much longer than any steroid user has ever, or would ever use. If you read the two FDA links below, nowhere does it state within its warnings, contraindications or precautions anything about this “permanent desensitisation” (aka primary hypogonadism) phenomenon. If HCG caused permanent desensitisation, it would be a direct contraindication of hypogonadism treatment. The FDA would never approve such a treatment if permanent desensitisation was a real outcome. Think about it. If HCG “permanently desensitized” your testicles or hindered their ability to produce testosterone permanently, this would essentially be a form of chemical castration. If the FDA approved a treatment that lead to chemical castration, there would be global publicity about it. There would be legal ramifications. It would be absolutely scandalous. I can guarantee you that its approval for the use in men would be quickly withdrawn. Not to mention the fact that that every male in the world would be made aware not to touch such a drug with a 10 foot pole… Have you heard of anything in the media suggesting that HCG castrates men or affects their ability to produce testosterone in any way? Me either.
FDA approved dosages
So what has the FDA deemed to be a safe and efficacious treatment for hypogonadotropic hypogonadism? The following is an excerpt from the two links above:
Selected cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males.
Reasons why the myth exist
Let’s be real. Bodybuilders aren’t deliberately trying to shoot themselves in the foot. Clearly they have reasons for believing the HCG myth. The primary reason is an exaggeration and misrepresentation of the truth. There are several studies that discuss testicular desensitisation associated with HCG use. A small minority of people seek these studies out, misinterpret the data, and without putting the information into context, begin preaching rubbish about permanent desensitisation. None of these studies refer to permanent desensitisation/castration/primary hypogonadism. None of them mention any sort of permanent reduction in testosterone levels as a result of HCG. These studies do not support the myth in any way, shape or form. However, if you tell a lie often enough and loudly enough, it becomes perceived as the truth.
The second reason the HCG Myth exists, is simply because the majority of people in the bodybuilding community blindly believe anything they’re told. They don’t question where the information that they’re presented with is originally sourced from, and as a result, continue the cycle of misinformation. Essentially, the people in this category are a victim of their own failure to dig deeper. However… can you blame them? Studies can be extremely convoluted and difficult to read. The majority find it far easier to take the minority at their word and limit their hcg use as a precaution. The issue with this, is that it’s far more harmful/taxing to the body to continually shut down and restore testicular function as opposed to simply maintaining it. This is why the HCG myth is so detrimental.
Lab Studies vs Clinical Trials
The people advocating permanent desensitisation commonly reference lab studies in an attempt to persuade the rest of the community to their way of thinking. What I’d like to point out is that there is a vast difference in the quality of data obtained from lab research versus clinical trials. Most people aren’t aware of the differences and assume all studies are equal. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Pharmaceutical lab research is any research done without the involvement of an actual human being (and obviously performed within a lab). These studies employ the use of animals to obtain their data. The following research article discuss the pitfalls associated with animal based pharmaceutical studies:
https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2008.08k033
Clinical trials on the other hand are studies that utilize a cohort of human beings (usually with shared medical conditions). These trials are heavily regulated (which generally translates to a superior study design), and are created with the explicit goal of obtaining data that will yield some sort of practical application in relation to treating a condition. The biggest practicality is that the data obtained from these trials is directly applicable to human beings (animal reactions to pharmaceutical agents can be diverse from humans). Drug companies use clinical trials to obtain the most accurate data. This data is then evaluated by the FDA pending an approval status. As mentioned earlier, HCG has been approved for the treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism by the FDA based on such data. No permanent desensitization has ever been cited.
Regardless of this reality, some bodybuilders still favour lab studies decades old, mentioning the words, “testicular desensitization” (amusingly with no mention of permanency). When you consider the aforementioned information, it makes you wonder why they would do this. The only logical explanation, is that these people simply have an unpragmatic concept of the studies that they’re referencing, and in addition, may be stubborn to let go of their personal beliefs on the matter.
The HCG Myth Part two Steroid Profiles
PART 1
The Basics
So what is HCG? HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), is a Luteinizing Hormone analogue. This essentially means that HCG mimics the action of Luteinizing Hormone. In the body, Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is responsible for ordering the testicles to produce testosterone. This makes HCG extremely invaluable to anyone considering the use of steroids. When you use steroids, the body detects the unnaturally high level of circulating androgens and responds by shutting down its own production of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. This is an attempt to re-establish homeostasis (balance).
Once this happens, almost immediately your testicles begin to gradually atrophy (shrink in size) and lose function. The longer this goes on, the longer and harder it is to recover your natural testosterone production once your cycle ends. My physician once described the recovery process as akin to trying to rouse someone who is in a very deep sleep by shouting at them as loudly as possible. Slowly but surely the person will begin to rouse, but it takes time. Once the person is awake, they’re still slow and groggy for some time. Gradually, they become more and more alert and active as time goes on. Your natural testosterone can realistically take anywhere from 6 weeks up to several months to fully recover.
You may be thinking, “Well lucky HCG exists. Maybe I can use it and avoid this whole, ‘shut down’ situation altogether”. You’re right! You CAN use it to avoid testicular shutdown on cycle. Studies show (see below) that low doses of HCG successfully maintain endogenous (natural) testosterone while exogenous hormones (steroids) are being administered. HCG makes PCT obsolete because prevention is better than cure.
Loading…
academic.oup.com
The Myth
There’s just one problem. There’s a lot of misinformation present within the bodybuilding community. One such piece of misinformation is what I like to call the HCG Myth. This is a myth that has been perpetuated time and time again by the bodybuilding community. The myth/misconception is that if you take hcg for too long or at doses too high, that it will permanently desensitise your testicles (Leydig cells) to your natural Luteinizing Hormone. In layman’s terms, if you take hcg for an extended period of time, your testicles will become over stimulated by hcg. As a result, the testicles are supposed to become numb to the effects of your natural Luteinizing hormone, and hence, be incapable of producing testosterone, permanently.
Sounds scary doesn’t it? It’s enough to scare any red blooded male away from HCG forever. The saddest part here is that this myth is a complete fallacy and has left HCG unfairly vilified. In reality there is NO clinical evidence to support permanent desensitisation at FDA approved dosages or less.
A brief look at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA is a federal agency that serves many different functions. The function relevant to this article is its responsibility in ensuring the safety and efficacy of new pharmaceutical drugs. All drugs have to be evaluated and approved by the FDA before they can make it to market. Drug companies collate and pass on all information from clinical trials and other tests/studies to the FDA to be independently and unbiasedly reviewed. The results of such reviews determine whether a drug is deemed safe/efficacious/suitable for public consumption and how exactly it needs to be consumed/labeled in order to maintain this safety and efficacy. It’s a very detailed and methodical process that takes into account all of the evidence about a drug before it’s made available to the public. You can read further about the FDA’s approval process here:
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/developmentapprovalprocess/default.htm
Myth vs Reality
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of HCG to treat Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (the same hypogonadism experienced by steroid users) at doses much higher and much longer than any steroid user has ever, or would ever use. If you read the two FDA links below, nowhere does it state within its warnings, contraindications or precautions anything about this “permanent desensitisation” (aka primary hypogonadism) phenomenon. If HCG caused permanent desensitisation, it would be a direct contraindication of hypogonadism treatment. The FDA would never approve such a treatment if permanent desensitisation was a real outcome. Think about it. If HCG “permanently desensitized” your testicles or hindered their ability to produce testosterone permanently, this would essentially be a form of chemical castration. If the FDA approved a treatment that lead to chemical castration, there would be global publicity about it. There would be legal ramifications. It would be absolutely scandalous. I can guarantee you that its approval for the use in men would be quickly withdrawn. Not to mention the fact that that every male in the world would be made aware not to touch such a drug with a 10 foot pole… Have you heard of anything in the media suggesting that HCG castrates men or affects their ability to produce testosterone in any way? Me either.
Loading…
www.accessdata.fda.gov
Loading…
www.accessdata.fda.gov
FDA approved dosages
So what has the FDA deemed to be a safe and efficacious treatment for hypogonadotropic hypogonadism? The following is an excerpt from the two links above:
Selected cases of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in males.
- 500 to 1,000 USP Units three times a week for three weeks, followed by the same dose twice a week for three weeks.
- 4,000 USP Units three times weekly for six to nine months, following which the dosage may be reduced to 2,000 USP Units three times weekly for an additional three months.
Reasons why the myth exist
Let’s be real. Bodybuilders aren’t deliberately trying to shoot themselves in the foot. Clearly they have reasons for believing the HCG myth. The primary reason is an exaggeration and misrepresentation of the truth. There are several studies that discuss testicular desensitisation associated with HCG use. A small minority of people seek these studies out, misinterpret the data, and without putting the information into context, begin preaching rubbish about permanent desensitisation. None of these studies refer to permanent desensitisation/castration/primary hypogonadism. None of them mention any sort of permanent reduction in testosterone levels as a result of HCG. These studies do not support the myth in any way, shape or form. However, if you tell a lie often enough and loudly enough, it becomes perceived as the truth.
The second reason the HCG Myth exists, is simply because the majority of people in the bodybuilding community blindly believe anything they’re told. They don’t question where the information that they’re presented with is originally sourced from, and as a result, continue the cycle of misinformation. Essentially, the people in this category are a victim of their own failure to dig deeper. However… can you blame them? Studies can be extremely convoluted and difficult to read. The majority find it far easier to take the minority at their word and limit their hcg use as a precaution. The issue with this, is that it’s far more harmful/taxing to the body to continually shut down and restore testicular function as opposed to simply maintaining it. This is why the HCG myth is so detrimental.
Lab Studies vs Clinical Trials
The people advocating permanent desensitisation commonly reference lab studies in an attempt to persuade the rest of the community to their way of thinking. What I’d like to point out is that there is a vast difference in the quality of data obtained from lab research versus clinical trials. Most people aren’t aware of the differences and assume all studies are equal. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Pharmaceutical lab research is any research done without the involvement of an actual human being (and obviously performed within a lab). These studies employ the use of animals to obtain their data. The following research article discuss the pitfalls associated with animal based pharmaceutical studies:
https://doi.org/10.1258/jrsm.2008.08k033
Clinical trials on the other hand are studies that utilize a cohort of human beings (usually with shared medical conditions). These trials are heavily regulated (which generally translates to a superior study design), and are created with the explicit goal of obtaining data that will yield some sort of practical application in relation to treating a condition. The biggest practicality is that the data obtained from these trials is directly applicable to human beings (animal reactions to pharmaceutical agents can be diverse from humans). Drug companies use clinical trials to obtain the most accurate data. This data is then evaluated by the FDA pending an approval status. As mentioned earlier, HCG has been approved for the treatment of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism by the FDA based on such data. No permanent desensitization has ever been cited.
Regardless of this reality, some bodybuilders still favour lab studies decades old, mentioning the words, “testicular desensitization” (amusingly with no mention of permanency). When you consider the aforementioned information, it makes you wonder why they would do this. The only logical explanation, is that these people simply have an unpragmatic concept of the studies that they’re referencing, and in addition, may be stubborn to let go of their personal beliefs on the matter.
Written by Edward Chase
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