High-frequency uterine contractions at the time of non-cavitating embryo transfer influence adversely IVF-embryo transfer outcome. This prompted us to quantify prospectively the possible decline in uterine contraction frequency occurring during later stages of the luteal phase of ovarian stimulation, up to the time of blastocyst transfers, in 43 IVF-embryo transfer candidates. Contractility was...

Introduction Though the human fetus is exposed to placentally derived human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) throughout gestation, the role of hCG on the fetal brain is unknown. Review of the available literature appears to indicate that groups of women with higher mean levels of hCG during pregnancy tend to have offspring with lower cerebral palsy (CP) risk. Given that newborn cerebral injury ofte...

BACKGROUND Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) is measured in serum and urine for the early detection of ectopic pregnancy, patients with higher risk of miscarriage, embryos or fetuses with chromosome abnormalities, prediction of pre-eclampsia or fetal growth restriction and identification or follow-up of trophoblast neoplasia. This review examines basic knowledge on the heterogeneity of hCG pr...

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone composed of two dissimilar subunits, alpha and beta. Nicks or missing peptide linkages have been found in the beta 44-52 region of the beta-subunit of hCG, whether from pregnancy or trophoblast disease. This article reviews recent reports about the location of nicks in hCG, their origin and occurrence, their effects on the steroidogen...

OBJECTIVES To provide clarity on the use of qualitative and quantitative human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) tests for the assessment of pregnancy. METHODS A case scenario and a brief review of the relevant literature describing clinical and analytical considerations regarding hCG testing are presented. RESULTS In pregnancy, hCG is nearly always detectable in serum and urine within 16 days a...

It is now evident that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is not a single molecular entity but consists of a number of different biologically active components [l-4]. By means of gel isoelectric focusing 6 hCG forms recently could be isolated and characterized [2-41. Furthermore it is well established that hCG is composed of 2 subunits: hCG-a (common to other proteohormones) and hCH-fl (hormone...

Pregnancy success and embryo survival are low with the use of assisted reproduction in felids treated with exogenous gonadotropins. In this study, the pharmacokinetics and ovarian-stimulatory effects of eCG and hCG were evaluated in the domestic cat. Catheterized anestrual queens (n = 4 per treatment [Trt] group) were given 100 IU eCG i.v. (Trt 1), 100 IU eCG i.m. (Trt 2), 75 IU hCG i.v. (Trt 3...

STUDY QUESTION Does prolonged exposure of the endometrium to hCG, as experienced after ovulation induction in an assisted reproduction technology (ART) cycle, affect functional measures of endometrial receptivity? SUMMARY ANSWER Prolonged endometrial hCG exposure detrimentally affects the manner in which the endometrium can respond to hCG secreted by the blastocyst. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Pr...