Important to know

Moeders voor Moeders has been fighting against the improper use of the pregnancy hormone hCG as a weight loss aid for many years.

We regret that the medication containing the hormone we collect (in very small amounts) is being used for other purposes. That’s why we are pleased that the Health Care Inspectorate announced stricter enforcement at the end of 2010 regarding the offering, application, or promotion of hCG as a weight loss aid by clinics, doctors, pharmacists, and websites. This action was coordinated with Moeders voor Moeders.

Unfortunately, the "weight loss cure" is still being promoted, even outside the Netherlands, despite scientific evidence that it does not work. We continue to raise awareness of this issue.

hCG has several approved indications:

- In women: Ovulation induction for in-vivo fertilization and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

- In men: Stimulation of testosterone production in men who produce insufficient hormone for sperm production.

- In boys: Treatment of cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) to prevent infertility later in life.

**Weight loss is NOT an approved indication for hCG administration.** There is no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of hCG as a weight loss aid. The use of hCG outside of these approved indications is strongly discouraged and actively discouraged by Moeders voor Moeders.

Fortunately, only a very small percentage of hCG-containing medications are improperly prescribed by doctors for weight loss purposes. Most of the medications are used by doctors to help women and men with fertility issues. For many pregnant women, this is the primary motivation for participating in Moeders voor Moeders.

We would like to point out that the composition inside the Moeders voor Moeders bottles ensures that the urine remains in good condition until it is processed in our factory. However, this composition is not completely without risk. The bottles contain 5 to 10 ml of preservative, consisting of 1 ml of benzoic acid dissolved in 96% alcohol.

We would like to highlight the following:

- The preservative is harmless if accidentally ingested. It is widely used in the food industry and is known as E210.

- Ethanol (alcohol), however, is not harmless, as with all alcohol-containing liquids. Think of bottles in a home bar or cleaning supplies, which should always be kept out of reach of children.

- Alcohol is flammable. Therefore, keep fire and ignition sources away from the bottles.

- All potential harmful effects, as described above, disappear once the first urine is collected in the bottle. The preservative and alcohol are diluted, which negates the effects mentioned above.

Given the very small amount of preservative in the bottles, following the first aid recommendations below will suffice:

- When in doubt, always seek medical assistance.

- Skin contamination: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse the skin, and wash with water and soap.

- Eye contamination: Rinse the eyes for at least 15 minutes with water (remove contact lenses if applicable).

- Ingestion: Rinse the mouth (spit out!) with plenty of water, then drink a glass of water. Do not induce vomiting.

- Breathing problems: Inhalation of the preservative is not expected to cause problems. If symptoms occur, ensure access to fresh air and allow temporary rest.

- Spillage: Clean the area with a neutral cleaning agent and rinse with plenty of water.

If the information provided here is insufficient, please contact us by phone or email. You can find our contact details here.