HCG is a hormone produced by the placenta that maintains the corpus luteum during pregnancy.

HCG is given as an injection into a muscle. If you use this medicine at home, your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist will give you specific instructions on how and where to inject this medicine. Do not give yourself an injection if you do not understand these instructions. Call your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist for help with injection instructions.

Side effects that you should report to your health care professional as soon as possible:

Any symptoms of rare allergic reactions:
•difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
•itching
•skin rash or hives
•swelling of the areas of the mouth or throat

For boys:
•acne (pimples)
•enlargement of penis and testes
•development of facial or pubic hair
•a sudden increase in height

For women on fertility treatments:
•indigestion
•nausea, vomiting
•passing small amounts of urine
•shortness of breath
•stomach area or pelvic pain or bloating
•swelling
•rapid weight gain

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•breast enlargement in men or teenage boys
•headache
•mood changes, such as irritability, restless feelings, or anger
•pain, irritation or inflammation at the injection site
•tiredness

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines that you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Herbal supplements like Blue Cohosh, Black cohosh and Chasteberry may interact with this drug. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of HCG is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

Using this medicine can increase your chances of having a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets, quadruplets, etc). A multiple pregnancy is a high-risk pregnancy for the mother and for the babies.

Contact your doctor if you miss a dose of HCG.

HCG is used to cause ovulation and to treat infertility in women, and to increase sperm count in men. HCG is also used in young boys when their testicles have not dropped down into the scrotum normally. This can be caused by a pituitary gland disorder.

HCG can also be used for other purposes; please discuss those with your health care provider.

Store unmixed HCG at room temperature away from light, moisture, and heat.
After mixing the HCG, you must keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready for your injection. Throw away any mixed medicine that you have not used within 30 days after mixing.

Before receiving this medicine, tell your doctor if you have:
· a thyroid or adrenal gland disorder;
· an ovarian cyst;
· premature puberty;
· cancer or a tumor of the breast, ovary, uterus, prostate, hypothalamus, or pituitary gland;
· undiagnosed uterine bleeding;
· heart disease;
· kidney disease;
· epilepsy;
· migraines; or
· asthma.
If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to use HCG or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
Although HCG can help you become pregnant, this medication is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that using the medication once you are pregnant can cause birth defects in the baby. Do not use this medication if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether HCG passes into breast milk. Do not use HCG without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.