Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFertility Treatments With hCGPreparing or Mixing hCGWhen to Take hCGFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Fertility Treatments With hCG
Preparing or Mixing hCG
When to Take hCG
Frequently Asked Questions
This article explains how hCG injections are used in fertility treatments. It also covers how and when to take hCG.
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Because hCG is similar in structure toluteinizing hormone (LH), when there is a mature egg follicle in the ovary an injection of hCG can cause the egg to mature and be released. The medication can be used alone, in an ovulation induction cycle as withintrauterine inseminationor duringin vitro fertilization.
The hCG injection will cause ovulation approximately 36 hours after you take it, allowing your healthcare provider to better time intrauterine insemination or the egg retrieval.
Many brands and forms of hCG are available. Your healthcare provider will prescribe the one most appropriate for you. Injections can be given eithersubcutaneouslyorintramuscularly, depending on the brand.
Pregnancy Tests and hCGRemember that hCG is the hormone detected in urine pregnancy tests. When you take hCG injections, it may persist in your body (and urine) for up to two weeks. If youtake a pregnancy testduring that time, it will turn positive as a result of the medication, not a pregnancy.Wait at least two full weeks from the date of administration to ensure that a positive pregnancy test is due to pregnancy and not residual medication in your system.
Pregnancy Tests and hCG
Remember that hCG is the hormone detected in urine pregnancy tests. When you take hCG injections, it may persist in your body (and urine) for up to two weeks. If youtake a pregnancy testduring that time, it will turn positive as a result of the medication, not a pregnancy.Wait at least two full weeks from the date of administration to ensure that a positive pregnancy test is due to pregnancy and not residual medication in your system.
Remember that hCG is the hormone detected in urine pregnancy tests. When you take hCG injections, it may persist in your body (and urine) for up to two weeks. If youtake a pregnancy testduring that time, it will turn positive as a result of the medication, not a pregnancy.
Wait at least two full weeks from the date of administration to ensure that a positive pregnancy test is due to pregnancy and not residual medication in your system.
HCG injections come in several forms. Some come pre-mixed, while others require mixing.
Ovidrel
One form of hCG, Ovidrel, comes in a 250 microgram (mcg) prefilled syringe.Once you open the box, the medicine is already prepared and loaded in the syringe with the needle attached.
Pregnyl or Novarel
Pregnyl or Novarel (hCG, human chorionic gonadotropin) also comes in a box with a 5,000 10,000 or 20,000 unit vial of powder and a vial of diluent (liquid) which is used to mix the powder.Your healthcare provider will tell you how many units of the medicine to take and how they prefer you to mix it.
For example, if you are taking 10,000 units, you will remove 2 milliliters (mL) of diluent and inject it into the powder. Allow the powder to dissolve and then pull the entire 2 mL back into the syringe. Inject the medication intramuscularly or subcutaneously, according to your healthcare provider’s instructions.
This medication is taken once there is a mature egg follicle in the ovary. Your healthcare provider will most likely give you a specific time or time frame to take the hCG injections. It is important to tell your healthcare provider if you do not take the medication on time in case any adjustments need to be made.
If you will be having intercourse or intrauterine insemination, ovulation will occur approximately 36 hours after you inject hCG, so the day of the injection and two days following it are your critical days. If you will be having egg retrieval as in anIVF cycle, it will occur close to that 36-hour mark so as to optimize the maturation but avoid ovulation.
Frequently Asked QuestionsAn hCG injection prompts the ovary to release a mature egg within 36 hours.Because hCG triggers ovulation, these medications are sometimes referred to as “trigger shots.“Learn MoreWhat Is Ovulation?An hCG injection medication costs around $200-250. Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t always cover fertility treatments, so often, these costs must be paid out of pocket. In addition, if a healthcare provider administers your shot, it may cost more.Learn MoreSame Sex Couples and Fertility Treatment Discrimination
An hCG injection prompts the ovary to release a mature egg within 36 hours.Because hCG triggers ovulation, these medications are sometimes referred to as “trigger shots.“Learn MoreWhat Is Ovulation?
An hCG injection prompts the ovary to release a mature egg within 36 hours.Because hCG triggers ovulation, these medications are sometimes referred to as “trigger shots.”
Learn MoreWhat Is Ovulation?
An hCG injection medication costs around $200-250. Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t always cover fertility treatments, so often, these costs must be paid out of pocket. In addition, if a healthcare provider administers your shot, it may cost more.Learn MoreSame Sex Couples and Fertility Treatment Discrimination
An hCG injection medication costs around $200-250. Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t always cover fertility treatments, so often, these costs must be paid out of pocket. In addition, if a healthcare provider administers your shot, it may cost more.
Learn MoreSame Sex Couples and Fertility Treatment Discrimination
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang W, Zhang X, Wang W, et al.The time interval between hCG priming and oocyte retrieval in ART program: a meta-analysis.J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011;28(10):901-910. doi:10.1007/s10815-011-9613-xCVS Pharmacy.Ovidrel: solution for injection (250 mcg).Drugs.com.Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (injectable).Kamel AM, Hussien AM, Salah E.The effect of delaying intrauterine insemination till 48 h after hCG injection on pregnancy rate. Middle East Fertility Society Journal. 2015;20(4):290-294.Additional ReadingUniversity of Rochester Medical Center.Home Pregnancy Tests: What to Expect.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang W, Zhang X, Wang W, et al.The time interval between hCG priming and oocyte retrieval in ART program: a meta-analysis.J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011;28(10):901-910. doi:10.1007/s10815-011-9613-xCVS Pharmacy.Ovidrel: solution for injection (250 mcg).Drugs.com.Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (injectable).Kamel AM, Hussien AM, Salah E.The effect of delaying intrauterine insemination till 48 h after hCG injection on pregnancy rate. Middle East Fertility Society Journal. 2015;20(4):290-294.Additional ReadingUniversity of Rochester Medical Center.Home Pregnancy Tests: What to Expect.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wang W, Zhang X, Wang W, et al.The time interval between hCG priming and oocyte retrieval in ART program: a meta-analysis.J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011;28(10):901-910. doi:10.1007/s10815-011-9613-xCVS Pharmacy.Ovidrel: solution for injection (250 mcg).Drugs.com.Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (injectable).Kamel AM, Hussien AM, Salah E.The effect of delaying intrauterine insemination till 48 h after hCG injection on pregnancy rate. Middle East Fertility Society Journal. 2015;20(4):290-294.
Wang W, Zhang X, Wang W, et al.The time interval between hCG priming and oocyte retrieval in ART program: a meta-analysis.J Assist Reprod Genet. 2011;28(10):901-910. doi:10.1007/s10815-011-9613-x
CVS Pharmacy.Ovidrel: solution for injection (250 mcg).
Drugs.com.Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (injectable).
Kamel AM, Hussien AM, Salah E.The effect of delaying intrauterine insemination till 48 h after hCG injection on pregnancy rate. Middle East Fertility Society Journal. 2015;20(4):290-294.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Home Pregnancy Tests: What to Expect.
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