Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Use Goes Beyond the Manny Ramirez Suspension

Major League Baseball suspended Dodgers left fielder Manny Ramirez after he tested positive for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) use. The suspension keeps Ramirez out of play for 50 weeks beginning tonight and will cost him $7.7 million in salary.

Ramirez has waived his right to contest the suspension, after initially indicating that he would challenge it. He said that his doctor gave him the HCG as a medical treatment not realizing it was a banned substance.

Users of illegal steroids often use HCG when ending a cycle of steroid use. Steroids shut down testosterone production and HCG restores it, also reversing testicular atrophy.

What is HCG and what are its other uses?

HCG is a Pregnancy Hormone and a Cancer Marker

HCG is a hormone naturally produced in women's bodies during pregnancy. The embryo initially produces HCG, a role later assumed by the placenta. HCG is essential to the maintenance of progesterone production and may serve other roles in pregnancy as well. During the early weeks of pregnancy, the amount of HCG in a woman's body typically doubles every 24-48 hours, providing an indication that the pregnancy is progressing. Declining HCG is an indicator of miscarriage.

HCG is also a cancer marker for certain cancers in both men and women.

HCG for Weight Loss

HCG is sometimes used for weight loss, a practice that is controversial and considered by some medical authorities to be both dangerous and ineffective. The Mayo Clinic contends that HCG for weight loss is worthless.

HCG for Fertility Treatment

HCG is used with females for fertility treatment to mimic the effects of lutenizing hormone (LH). It is used both to stimulate the release of ova after controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and to prepare the uterine lining for possible embryonic implantation.

HCG to Treat Delayed Male Puberty

HCG is sometimes used medically to treat delayed male puberty. Typically such treatments would be the result of a boy not displaying male secondary sexual characteristics at the normal age.

HCG to Treat Low Sperm Count

HCG use in males stimulates testicular production of testosterone and is sometimes used to treat low sperm counts.

HCG to Treat Undescended Testes

Similar to its use for treating delayed puberty, HCG can be used in men to treat undescended testes.

While there is substantial speculation in the press that Manny Ramirez used HCG in connection with illegal steroids, there are other possible medical explanations for his use of HCG and for its use by men who are not seeking athletic glory.

Sources: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/05/07/2009-05-07_dont_listen_to_this_dope_manny_ramirez_is_a_steroid_cheat.html; http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-manny-ramirez8-2009may08,0,6324894.story; http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/30622607/; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_chorionic_gonadotropin; http://www.ultimatefatburner.com/hcg-review.html; http://www.resolve.org/site/PageServer?pagename=lrn_wamo_fm_hcg; http://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/NDARCWeb.nsf/resources/NDARCFact_Drugs3/$file/HCG+NDARC+FACT+SHEET.pdf.