Some doctors prescribe a daily dose of 250IU HCG instead of the usual ~125mg test per week. They argue that this is a safe dose at which no desensitization occurs. Are they correct? Probably, but there aren't any long term studies that would prove the safety of such dosages.
One study over 2 years found some evidence of desensitization, though the dosage used was rather high and it is unclear if the desensitization was permanent and whether it actually is detrimental given that physiological levels of T could still be maintained.
The kinetics of the T and E2 responses to 2000 U hCG, evaluated after 23 months of therapy, indicated that the testicular response was markedly reduced. No increment in T levels was observed at 24 h; the maximal response occurred at 48 h. This pattern of T response supports the idea that partial testicular desensitization occurs in HH patients receiving chronic treatment with hCG
http://www.anabolicsteroidcalculator.com/resources/articles/pct/article11.pdf
Another study (on rats) found that at a single, human-equivalent dose of 1300IU lead to gonadotropin-desensitized Leydig cells through downregulation of the enzyme 3beta-HSD. They did not observe this at a single dose of 52IU. But it's unclear at what point in between those values it begins to become a concern and what the cumulative effect repeated doses might be.
Regulation of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in gonadotropin-induced steroidogenic desensitization of Leydig cells. - PubMed - NCBI
Regarding the claim of testicular inflammation made earlier in the thread:
Twenty-two cryptorchid boys previously unsuccessfully treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were operated. Testicular biopsies were taken and a routine orchidopexy was performed in each case. As controls eight cryptorchid boys without prior hormonal treatment were operated in the same way. A mild inflammation-like reaction was found in the cryptorchid testes in the period immediately following the last hCG injection. However, in testes studied 6 to 12 months after the last hCG injection there were no apparent signs of hCG-induced tubular damage.
Does HCG treatment induce inflammation-like changes in undescended testes in boys? - PubMed - NCBI
And:
[Link niet meer beschikbaar]
Not sure if it's problematic though unless someone has something rare like autoimmune orchitis or anti-sperm antibodies.
Some other potential disadvantages:
- The way HCG increases estrogen production also makes it more difficult to keep estrogen side effects under control in people that already have high T to E conversion and/or are very prone to E side effects. Basically should use a SERM instead of AI, some users may miss that and end up with boobies.
- More frequent injections
- More expensive
- Permanent fertility (Depends on your preferences. For myself, a lower chance of knocking up a random date is actually an advantage of TRT.)
- Does not work for people without balls
