Editing Human chorionic gonadotropin (section)

==hCG forms==
Three major forms of hCG are produced by humans, with each having distinct physiological roles. These include regular hCG, hyperglycosylated hCG, and the free beta-subunit of hCG. Degradation products of hCG have also been detected, including nicked hCG, hCG missing the C-terminal peptide from the beta-subunit, and free alpha-subunit, which has no known biological function. Some hCG is also made by the [[pituitary gland]] with a pattern of [[glycosylation]] that differs from placental forms of hCG.<ref name="pmid19171054"/>

Regular hCG is the main form of hCG associated with the majority of pregnancy and in non-invasive molar pregnancies.  This is produced in the [[trophoblast]] cells of the placental tissue. Hyperglycosylated hCG is the main form of hCG during the implantation phase of pregnancy, with invasive molar pregnancies, and with [[choriocarcinoma]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Cole LA | title = Biological functions of hCG and hCG-related molecules | journal = Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | volume = 8 | pages = 102 | date = August 2010 | pmid = 20735820 | pmc = 2936313 | doi = 10.1186/1477-7827-8-102 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

[[Gonadotropin preparations]] of hCG can be produced for pharmaceutical use from [[animal]] or [[chemical synthesis|synthetic]] sources.{{cn|date=September 2023}}