In the myometrium, hCG was reported to reduce the amplitude but increase the frequency of contractions of human myometrial strips collected during the proliferative phase of the cycle, providing evidence that the hCG receptors detected in myometrium are functional.73 There is abundant clinical evidence that hCG is a weak thyrotropin (TSH) agonist.74 The hormone, particularly certain glycosylated isoforms, binds to TSH receptors and stimulates thyroid adenylyl cyclase.74, 75 Hence, one of the factors contributing to increased maternal thyroxine secretion and decreased maternal thyroid stimulating hormone secretion during pregnancy may be hCG,76 which may cause hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy and clinical hyperthyroidism during molar pregnancies.74 Actions of hCG on Extraembryonic and Fetal Tissues As noted above, hCG may be an autocrine/paracrine regulator of trophoblast function in a concentration-dependent fashion.43, 44, 45 In addition to the previously described effects of hCG on its own expression, there are several reports of hCG stimulation of placental progesterone synthesis.77 LH/CG receptors have also been detected in fetal membranes and umbilical cord, but the physiologic functions of the receptors in these locations are unknown

Organ Transpl
I'm excited to do this for the rest of my life. His Stack: Testosterone | Diindolylmethane (DIM) | Fish Oil | Magnesium | Multivitamin | Vitamin D | Vitamin K2 | Zinc Interviews: Lindsay Berra, Rachel Epstein, Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Julie Stewart Photographs: Cory Vanderploeg Grooming: Walton Nunez Deputy Visual Director: Muzam Agha Art Director: Gillian MacLeod Features Director: Rachel Epstein A version of this story originally appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Mens Health.
Presented for research literature review only Prohaska JR et al