HCG is the hormone produced by pregnant women. It helps to ensure a healthy, full-term pregnancy, increases metabolism, and allows the pregnant woman's stored fat to be broken down and used for her and her baby in case her food supply runs out. When a very low-calorie diet is consumed, the body is forced to use stored fat as its primary food source. Some patients report that hCG acts as an...

First, the hormone is not just for women. You can get it from your doctor and inject it into your body if you have trouble getting pregnant. Some fertility clinics also offer it as a service to help with infertility issues. Second, the hormone is called human chorionic gonadotropin and is produced in large quantities when a woman becomes pregnant. Men have it too in very small amounts. This...