Efficacy and Safety of Human Chorionic

Gonadotropin Monotherapy for Men With

Hypogonadal Symptoms and Normal
Testosterone
1 2
Isaac Zucker , Quinn Rainer 2 , Raghav K Pai 2 , Ranjith Ramasamy 2 , Thomas A
Masterson 2
Affiliations

 PMID: 35800844
 PMCID: PMC9246432
 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25543

Free PMC article

Abstract
Background Male hypogonadism has a prevalence of about 6% and is defined by two-morning
testosterone levels below 300 ng/dl associated with symptoms. This definition presents a
challenging problem for patients without other medical problems but with symptoms of low
testosterone (T) who do not meet the biochemical criteria for therapy. Objectives Our objective
was to evaluate changes in symptoms and side effects in men with T levels >300ng/dL using
human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) monotherapy for the treatment of hypogonadal symptoms.
Methods After IRB approval, 31 male patients treated with hCG monotherapy for low T
symptoms were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated changes in hormones, hypogonadal
symptoms, and the incidence of thromboembolic events before and after starting hCG. Results
We found subjective improvement in erectile dysfunction, 86% (19/22), and libido, 80% (20/25),
with no patient experiencing a thromboembolic event. In addition, no change was observed in the
follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, hematocrit, hemoglobin A1c, and
prostate-specific antigen. Conclusion Weekly treatment with hCG appears safe and can improve
hypogonadal symptoms in patients with T >300 ng/dl without changes to hematocrit, prostate-
specific antigen, and hemoglobin A1c.

Keywords: eugonadism; human chorionic gonadotropin; hypogonadism; testosterone

deficiency; testosterone therapy.

Copyright © 2022, Zucker et al.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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