<unk>  <unk>  is a hormone for the maternal recognition of pregnancy produced by trophoblast cells that are surrounding a growing embryo (syncytiotrophoblast initially), which eventually forms the placenta after implantation. The presence of<unk>  is detected in some pregnancy tests <unk>  pregnancy strip tests). Some cancerous tumors produce this hormone; therefore, elevated levels measured when the patient is not pregnant may lead to a cancer diagnosis and, if high enough, paraneoplastic syndromes, however, it is not known whether this production is a contributing cause, or an effect of carcinogenesis. The pituitary analog of<unk> , known as luteinizing hormone (LH), is produced in the pituitary gland of males and females of all ages. Various endogenous forms of<unk>  exist. The measurement of these diverse forms is used in the diagnosis of pregnancy and a variety of disease states. Preparations of<unk>  from various sources have also been used therapeutically, by both medicine and quackery. , the United States Food and Drug Administration has prohibited the sale of "homeopathic" and over-the-counter<unk>  diet products and declared them fraudulent and illegal. Beta-hCG is initially secreted by the syncytiotrophoblast.
Human chorionic gonadotropin
Gonadotropin
Progonadotropin
Menotropin
Estradiol
Estradiol 
Prolene
Sex hormone