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What to Expect with Male hCG Therapy

If you or your partner has been diagnosed with male factor infertility, you are not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, male infertility is a factor in about a third of couples who experience infertility. Treatment options are available for men who have certain conditions. One of these, a fertility drug called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is successful for some men.

  1. Function

    • HCG therapy often is prescribed for infertility in women, but it also can be used to help men. The same hormones that control reproductive processes in women also do so in men. While hCG is used in women to trigger ovulation, men use it to stimulate sperm production.

      HCG therapy can be effective for men with low sperm count, low sperm quality or problems with sperm movement. It also can be effective for those who have hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a disorder in which the testicles fail to receive the signal to produce sperm because of a hormonal imbalance in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. HCG signals the testes to produce testosterone and sperm.

    Process

    • Generally, the treatment begins with two or three injections of 1,500 to 2,000 IU of hCG a week. Patients are taught to self-administer these injections either under the skin or into a muscle, usually the thigh. Testosterone levels in the blood are monitored closely, and if the serum testosterone concentration isn't between 400 and 900 ng/dL, the doctor may adjust the dosage of hCG. Additionally, the sperm count is checked every two to four weeks.

    Side Effects

    • HCG therapy can involve side effects. Some common complaints include breast swelling, acne, hair loss and prostatatic hypertrophy, or an enlarged prostate. Other possible side effects include changes in mood and drowsiness.

    Time Frame

    • HCG therapy can be a slow process. Some patients achieve normal sperm levels in six months to a year. If the injections do not increase sperm production to half of normal levels after six to nine months, the doctor may prescribe other drugs, such as human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) or recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (rhFSH), in conjunction with the hCG injections.

    Considerations

    • The success rate for hCG therapy in men is lower than when women use it. There is a 20 percent to 25 percent success rate for men using hCG.

      As of 2010, the cost of hCG therapy can be about $200 per month. The cost increases significantly if hMG or rhFSH is necessary, potentially adding at least an additional $600 a month.

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