chorionic gonadotropin

American  

Or chorionic gonadotrophin

noun

1. Also called human chorionic gonadotropin.  Biochemistry. a hormone, produced in the incipient placenta of pregnant women, that stimulates the production of estrogen and progesterone: its presence in blood or urine is an indication of pregnancy.

2. Pharmacology. a commercial form of this substance, obtained from the urine of pregnant mares, used in medicine in the treatment of testicular disorders and functional uterine bleeding, and in veterinary medicine in the treatment of cystic ovaries, especially in cows and mares.

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Etymology

Origin of chorionic gonadotropin

gonadotrop(ic) + -in ²

Example Sentences

Releana contains human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone produced by the placenta.

From Washington Times • Apr. 25, 2023

So in a second experiment, they gave some rabbits the drug—but instead of having those rabbits mate with Frank, they injected the animals with human chorionic gonadotropin, a hormone that stimulates ovulation.

From Scientific American • Sep. 30, 2019

Early on, for instance, cells around the embryo produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, which causes Mom to continue making the progesterone and estrogen necessary to sustain gestation.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2011

A hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin may be to blame: female fetuses produce more of it than males.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2011

A woman whose ovaries do not release their eggs properly, for example, might be given human chorionic gonadotropin, which triggers ovulation.

From Time Magazine Archive