Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a glycoprotein hormone produced in the embryo of pregnant women. No, hCG is not an anabolic steroid as it is often labeled, it is a glycoprotein belonging to the class of hormones known as peptides, the same class of hormones from which IGF-1 and HGH belong to. Comprised of 237 amino acids this naturally occurring peptide exhibits the action of the pituitary released Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and essential gonadotropin itself; as you may be able to see, to understand hCG fully we must understand gonadotropins.