PREGNYL (HUMAN CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN) – Hilma Biocare

Pregnyl is the brand name for injectable human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone naturally present in the female body. Pregnyl is manufactured by Schering Plough and is a gonadotropic drug. The active ingredient in Pregnyl is an ultra-purified preparation obtained from the urine of pregnant women and is essentially identical to the leutenizing hormone (LH), produced by the pituitary gland in men, which signals the testes to begin producing natural testosterone.

While Pregnyl certainly has a place in bodybuilding, it is not used for bulking or for cutting. Pregnyl is not a synthetically produced steroid, but is instead a hormone commonly used by bodybuilders at the end of steroid cycles to restart testosterone production. Pregnyl also increases the androgens in the body and can help testicles descend, which helps bodybuilders who find that their testicles move higher in the body, as well as the common shrinkage associated with synthetic hormone use.

How does Pregnyl work?

Because Pregnyl’s active ingredient is essentially the same as pituitary LH, a Pregnyl injection stimulates the Leydig cells in the testicles to produce testosterone, with the added side effect of restoring gonadal size to normal if suppressed by steroid cycles. The active hormone in Pregnyl is naturally present in the male body during puberty and causes the testicles to shrink and grow, as well as stimulating secondary sexual characteristics. Although it is normally a female hormone, present during ovulation and pregnancy, it is easily absorbed and utilized by the male body. Because it is not a synthetic hormone, under the right circumstances, Pregnyl can be absorbed almost immediately, resulting in a rapid increase in testosterone levels.

How is Pregnyl used?

While Pregnyl can be used alone, it is most commonly used at the end of a cycle in combination with anabolics and other steroids. Used alone, Pregnyl has little effect on the normal male body, which naturally produces testosterone, other than increasing testicular size. Pregnyl has no proven effect on fat distribution, weight loss, or hunger pangs, and since it isn’t even a true steroid, but rather a natural female hormone, it’s not an ideal choice for bulking or cutting. Its real benefit is increasing gonadal size and boosting testosterone levels when pituitary LH production has been disrupted by other steroid use. Pregnyl is used by most bodybuilders at the end of a steroid cycle, just before post-cycle therapy, to help restore the body’s testosterone levels. Pregnyl is also commonly used by bodybuilders who run particularly long or heavy cycles, because it can help the body recover more quickly and get the gonads to produce their own testosterone.

How to take Pregnyl?

Pregnyl can be administered as an intramuscular or subcutaneous injection and is very easy to store and self-administer. It is available in 1500IU and 5000IU vials and can be mixed with bacteriostatic water for injection. Although it can be injected subcutaneously, most bodybuilders prefer to inject it very deeply, directly into the muscle, for the fastest and most effective results. Subcutaneous injection is easier because it can be administered anywhere in the body and reduces the risk of scarring, but the absorption rate will be slower than intramuscular injection. If administered intramuscularly, it should be injected as deeply into the muscle as possible, without allowing blood to enter the syringe. If a blood vessel is hit during the injection, simply remove the syringe and apply pressure to the junction to stop the bleeding, then change the needle and choose another site. When used as an intramuscular injection, Pregnyl is a very fast-acting hormone, so much so that some bodybuilders see increases in testosterone levels within hours. It helps the body maintain high androgen levels and repairs gonads that may have been suppressed during a steroid cycle, in addition to stimulating testosterone production.

Precautions for Pregnyl

Bodybuilders who supplement with Pregnyl at the end of their cycles typically recommend stopping Pregnyl use 10 days to a week before starting post-cycle therapy. Continuing to use Pregnyl too long before starting post-cycle therapy risks overriding the body’s natural processes and causing a delay in the pituitary gland’s LH production. Ideally, Pregnyl should be used to bridge the gap between the end of the cycle and the start of post-cycle therapy, when natural testosterone production takes over. Combining Pregnyl with other supplements that boost the pituitary gland’s natural LH production can help ease the transition to post-cycle therapy. Pregnyl can also increase estrogen levels in the body and cause gynecomastia or worsen existing symptoms. Estrogen levels are most commonly increased by Pregnyl when testosterone levels rise too rapidly and the body begins to aromatize excess testosterone into estrogen. These negative effects can be counteracted by combining Pregnyl with an anti-aromatizing agent or an estrogen receptor blocker.

Pro

• Can be stored unmixed indefinitely at the recommended temperature
• It acts quickly and is efficient
• No known contraindications with other drugs
• Naturally occurring human hormones rather than synthetic ones
• Helps the body produce natural testosterone

Against

May cause a false positive pregnancy test
May cause estrogen production and gynecomastia
Should not be used alone
May block natural LH production during use

Summary: While Pregnyl alone is not an effective program for either bulking or cutting or for post-cycle therapy, when used in conjunction with other drugs, it can help reverse some of the negative effects of other steroids and facilitate the body’s return to normal function after a heavy or prolonged cycle. Pregnyl is not safe enough to be used for every cycle, but the effects will be more noticeable for bodybuilders undergoing an advanced cycle. While Pregnyl can cause or exacerbate high estrogen levels and gynecomastia, using it in combination with the right supplements can counteract this effect. Pregnyl is one of the most effective methods for restoring natural testosterone production to normal levels during the crucial period between the end of a cycle and the start of post-cycle therapy. Use of this product is not recommended.