Having become pregnant, a woman undergoes many tests, some even several times. This can be cause for concern: is there something wrong? One of these tests, which may have to be taken more than once, is the analysis of hCG during pregnancy.

HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone secreted by the chorion after a fertilized egg is attached to the wall of the uterus. This happens almost from the moment of conception, therefore, it is hCG that is a reliable indicator for early diagnosis of pregnancy, provided that the result of the analysis is reliable.

Then why is the level of hCG measured during pregnancy, not only in the 1st, but also in the 2nd, and even the 3rd trimester? The fact is that there are certain norms of hCG indicators in different periods of pregnancy, which make it possible to find out whether it is proceeding normally and whether the fetus has any pathologies.

HCG contains alpha and beta particles. It is the beta unit that has a unique structure, therefore, it is precisely b-hCG during pregnancy... This laboratory study can be carried out as early as 2-3 days of delayed menstruation, if conception has occurred, and since that moment 6-10 days have passed, the level of hCG will necessarily be increased. If higher accuracy is required, repeat analysis and ultravaginal ultrasound are recommended.

By the way, home express pregnancy tests (what would we do without them?) Are also based on the detection of hCG during pregnancy, however, on the hormone contained not in the blood, but in the urine, where its concentration is half as low, and therefore the accuracy of this method inferior to laboratory examination, but still quite reliable.

HCG levels in pregnancy

After fertilization of the egg, its outer membrane (chorion) begins to actively release gonadotropin, and at a very fast pace: in the 1st trimester, the level of hCG during pregnancy doubles every 2 days. At 7-10 weeks, this indicator reaches its peak, and then gradually decreases, without changing significantly in the 2nd half of pregnancy. That is why, according to the growth rate of hCG during pregnancy, doctors can judge its normal development or lag. At 14-18 weeks, this indicator can signal the development of pathology. Therefore, by prescribing this analysis again, your doctor is simply reinsured, so do not be alarmed.

As for the norms of hCG, this is a very relative concept. The fact is that practically every laboratory has its own standards. For example, we give a table of hCG norms, it will help you approximately navigate in this matter. However, remember that only a qualified specialist can say the decisive word about the conformity or deviations from the norm of your analyzes.

WEEK	HCG LEVEL
1-2	25-300
2-3	1500-5000
3-4	10000-30000
4-5	20000-100000
5-6	50000-200000
6-7	50000-200000
7-8	20000-200000
8-9	20000-100000
9-10	20000-95000
11-12	20000-90000
13-14	15000-60000
15-25	10000-35000
26-37	10000-60000

HCG levels by day after ovulation

The day after ovulation	HCG LEVEL			The day after ovulation	HCG LEVEL
	min	average	max		min	average	max
7	2	4	10	25	2400	6150	9800
8	3	7	18	26	4200	8160	15600
9	5	11	21	27	5400	10200	79500
10	8	18	26	28	7100	11300	27300
11	11	28	45	29	8800	13600	33000
12	17	45	65	30	10500	16500	40000
13	22	73	105	31	11500	19500	60000
14	29	105	170	32	12800	22600	63000
15	39	160	270	33	14000	24000	68000
16	68	260	400	34	15500	27200	70000
17	120	410	580	35	17000	31000	74000
18	220	650	840	36	19000	36000	78000
19	370	980	1300	37	20500	39500	83000
20	520	1380	2000	38	22000	45000	87000
21	750	1960	3100	39	23000	51000	93000
22	1050	2680	4900	40	25000	58000	108000
23	1400	3550	6200	41	26500	62000	117000
24	1830	4650	7800	42	28000	65000	128000

Deviations from the norm of hCG during pregnancy

But what if the analysis of hCG during pregnancy showed some kind of deviation from the norm in one direction or another? Of course, this is not very good - both an increased and a reduced indicator should alert, because all this indicates some problems and complications in the woman's body. The main thing is to make sure that the gestational age is set correctly, otherwise the comparison with the norm will lose all meaning.

Too much high hCG levels during pregnancy Is, at best, an indicator of multiple pregnancies: usually the level of the hormone in the blood increases in proportion to the number of embryos.

In addition, a higher than normal hCG level may indicate the following pathologies:

• fetal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome;
• prolongation of pregnancy.

The hCG level may increase if the expectant mother has diabetes and takes synthetic progestogens.

False positive hCG test result

If it turns out that you are not pregnant, and your hCG level is high (false positive test result), it is possible that one of the following factors influenced it:

• taking certain hormonal drugs, including oral contraceptives;
• residual phenomenon after a previous pregnancy or abortion;
• chorionic carcinoma;
• cystic drift or recurrence;
• swelling of the ovaries, uterus, kidneys, lungs.

In any case, this is a reason to see a doctor.

Lowered hCG during pregnancy may indicate an ectopic pregnancy, the threat of miscarriage, prolonged pregnancy. It can also be a symptom of such an unpleasant phenomenon as chronic placental insufficiency.

HCG with a frozen pregnancy

Also, the level of hCG falls with a frozen pregnancy. A frozen or regressing pregnancy is a case when the fetus died for one reason or another. The hormone stops being produced, and the analysis shows a drop in the level of hCG. Usually, if a frozen pregnancy is suspected, research is carried out in dynamics, that is, tests are taken several times, and the doctor can clearly determine how the level of the hormone in the blood changes.

However, do not rush to panic - it is possible that hCG values ​​are outside the normal range for your gestational age just because it was set incorrectly. This happens, therefore, to determine a regressing pregnancy, an ultrasound scan is prescribed, but a final conclusion is not made on its basis. In addition, there are cases when, during a frozen pregnancy, hCG grows, although other signs have already faded away.

Sometimes the analysis results show HCG 0 (negative) during pregnancy most likely - this is also a mistake and you will need to do the analysis again.

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone released during pregnancy. Using a laboratory blood test, the concentration of beta-subunits is determined. It is possible to detect conception by this method as early as 6-8 days. Also, the hCG test differentiates a normal pregnancy from an ectopic one. An online hCG calculator will help you with decoding a blood test. You will be able to track the dynamics of hormone growth rates and be able to determine the gestational age.

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What is hCG - "beta"?

HCG is a hormone that the fetus itself produces, or rather the fetal membrane of the embryo (chorion). The process begins immediately when the embryo is implanted into the uterus. At this moment, the fetus still looks like a small vial of liquid, consisting of an embryoblast (from which a fetus will form in the future) and trophoblast (cells that form a chorion).

Under the influence of gonadotropin, the corpus luteum produces hormones that maintain the condition of the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus) necessary for normal pregnancy. An increase in the concentration of hCG indicates that fertilization has taken place.

HCG contains:

• Alpha subunits. They are not identified, since they have no diagnostic value during pregnancy.
• Beta-subunits, allowing to determine the fact of conception and the period of development of the fetus.

That is why the concept of chorionic gonadotropin in pregnancy tests means its beta component.

How does the hCG level change during pregnancy?

For the first time, an increase in the level of beta-hCG is determined starting from the sixth day after conception. At first, the concentration of the hormone doubles every two days. Further, the increase in the concentration of hCG slows down and when the level reaches 1200 mU / ml, a doubling begins to occur every 72-96 hours. Upon reaching the rate of 6000 mU / ml, growth occurs every 96 hours.

The concentration indicator is not just boring numbers: it is he who helps to determine the length of pregnancy.

After 11 weeks, the hormone in the body becomes less, but its level is still increased. At 34 weeks, a second increase in hCG occurs. This surge, according to scientists, triggers generic activity. After childbirth, the content of beta-hCG in the blood gradually decreases.

Online HCG calculator

The calculator will help you in decoding blood tests for hCG. You will be able to track the growth dynamics of Beta-hCG and determine the gestational age. The results indicated in the tables and the HCG calculator itself are approximate. To determine this hormone, various methods can be used and indicators can differ. Therefore, the analysis is decoded where it was done. The units for measuring the concentration of beta-hCG are also different. Concentration is indicated in IU / ml, mIU / ml, U / L and IU / L as well as U / l mIU / ml, IU / l. All indicators are the same and do not need to be recalculated. U stands for units, IU stands for international units, mIU / ml and U / l stands for English units display.

Beta-hCG indicators at different stages of pregnancy

Days after your last period	Pregnancy period (days / weeks)	HCG in honey / ml
		0-50
		25-100
	14 (2 weeks)	50-100
		100-200
		200-400
		400-1000
		1050-3000
		1450-4000
		1940-5000
	21 (3 weeks)	2600-6500
		3400-8500
		4400-10800
		5700-13700
		7200-17000
		9000-21000
		10100-23300
	28 (4 weeks)	11200-2550
		13700-30900
		16600-36500
		19900-43000
		25500-50200
		27450-57650
		31700-65400
	35 (5 weeks)	36100-73200
		40700-81150
		45300-88800
		49800-96000
		54100-102500
		58200-108200
		61640-112800
	42 (6 weeks)	64000-116310

Chorionic gonadotropin concentration at a later date

Term in weeks	HCG concentration honey / ml
	65000 — 155000
	67500 — 190000
9-10	70000 — 211000
11-12	13500 — 63000
13-14	1200 — 71000
15-25	8000 — 60000
26-37	5000 — 55000

Why a beta-hCG blood test is more sensitive than a pharmacy test

Pregnancy tests are not accurate for the following reasons:

• The concentration of hCG in urine is almost two times lower than in blood, so even the most sensitive test will give a false negative result in the early stages.
• Chorionic gonadotropin tests sold in pharmacies are moody and may not work properly. Reasons: inaccurate analysis, expired reagent, incorrect storage of the test.
• If you drink a lot of water in the evening or take a diuretic, the test will not detect pregnancy. Tests also give false negative results for kidney disease.

Every year there are thousands of mothers in the world who for a long time did not imagine their "interesting position", relying on the pharmacy strips.

How is the analysis for human chorionic gonadotropin taken?

For analysis, you need blood from a vein in the morning on an empty stomach. Measurement of the concentration of beta-hCG is performed no earlier than 3-5 days after the delay in menstruation. When taking hormones, you need to inform your doctor about this - they can affect the concentration of hCG.

For the diagnosis of congenital pathologies (perinatal screening), the analysis for hCG is performed at 14-18 weeks. Determination of hCG in men and non-pregnant women () can be performed on any day.

The concentration of beta-hCG is different from the norm, what does this mean?

HCG online calculator only works to determine pregnancy. If pregnancy is not confirmed and others are absent, it is necessary. An increase in the hCG hormone can occur in both non-pregnant women and men. This speaks of (chorionepithelioma, chorioncarcinoma) or testicles. An increase in the hormone is also noted in cancer of the bladder, kidneys, intestines, lungs.

Excess hCG	Lowering hCG
Multiple pregnancy. With twins or triplets, the level is proportional to the number of embryos	Risk of miscarriage
Toxicosis	Death of an embryo or fetus
Down's disease (more research needed)	Frozen pregnancy
Incorrectly defined deadline	Placental insufficiency
Postponing pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy
Bubble drift
Pregnancy after stimulation or IVF

If a high level of hCG persists after, this indicates an incomplete abortion - incomplete removal of the ovum or ongoing pregnancy. The level of gonadotropin is also increased by taking hormonal drugs.

Where to get tested for hCG in St. Petersburg

You can pass the analysis without queues and quickly get accurate results in. When decoding, experts take into account all the factors that can affect the level of beta-hCG, which eliminates errors. Here you can, who will explain how to act in a given situation.

HCG index during early pregnancy: low, high. What does the decrease in the level indicate?

What else does low hCG say? It is not excluded. This means the following: fertilization took place, but for some reason the body recognized the fetus as unviable and rejected it even before the delay in menstruation. A woman, more often than not, does not even suspect that a new life was ripening in her. True, in some women, in this case, menstruation somewhat changes its character (due to the onset and failed implantation):

• discharge becomes profuse;
• there is soreness in the lower abdomen;
• discharge takes a little longer than usual.

There is no need to regret the termination of such a pregnancy: the body was able to recognize the defects of the future fetus that are incompatible with life and eliminated everything without consequences for the life and health of the mother.

Decreased hCG in early pregnancy

An unfavorable sign is a decrease in the hCG indicator up to 11 weeks. HCG drops in early pregnancy for reasons:

• incipient miscarriage;
• violations of the blood supply to the fetus.

If hCG is more than half the norm, this is a reason to observe a woman for a week. If there are signs of a spontaneous abortion that has begun, the woman is placed in a hospital for conservation.

Elevated hCG during early pregnancy

It would seem that increased hCG during early pregnancy is a good thing. The fetus has successfully established itself, the hormone is actively secreted, it increases rapidly - everything is fine. Indeed, more often than not, the body can increase hormone levels during pregnancy with twins or triplets. In this case, if multiple pregnancy is confirmed by ultrasound, the woman can rejoice - a physiological increase.

But large hCG also occurs in other circumstances:

• the development of tumors (including malignant);
• Down syndrome in a developing fetus;
• other developmental anomalies - in particular, neural tube defects;
• cystic drift.

What level of hCG is considered really high - in each specific situation you need to ask your doctor. It is unacceptable to diagnose yourself on your own.

It is imperative to track hCG over time, since this hormone is a marker of normal, progressive pregnancy. If you want to make sure that everything is in order, periodically get tested before 11 weeks, and then you will have much less reason to worry. And if the mother is calm, everything will be fine with the child too.

Actual video

Most of the fair sex with great joy accept the long-awaited pregnancy, and, being in a position, anxiously take care of the health of their unborn baby.

From the first days of pregnancy to delivery, the obstetrician-gynecologist prescribes a variety of tests and diagnostic examinations for women, thereby determining the health status of the woman and the fetus. One of the most significant diagnostic tests is the determination of the expectant mother and comparing it with the norm during pregnancy by weeks.

General information

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a specific hormone produced in women while they are waiting for a baby. Immediately after conception, this hormone begins to be produced in the body of the fair sex: initially it is synthesized by the fertilized egg of the expectant mother, and after the formation of the trophoblast, it is produced by the tissues of the placenta precursor. Therefore, its level is determined in the body only after conception, and the hCG indicators differ by week of pregnancy.

In women expecting a baby, the definition of and (HCG in English) plays an important role, since a deviation of this indicator from the normal value may indicate an abnormal development of the fetus. Certain pathological conditions of a woman or fetus give a significant increase or decrease in its value. Even if the level of hCG by weeks of pregnancy differs significantly from normal indicators, the analysis does not have a diagnostic value, but only tells the doctor that other studies need to be done.

But it is also necessary to take into account that an increase in the hormone is sometimes observed not only in women in a position. If an increase is found in the analyzes of men and non-pregnant girls, then this may indicate the presence of an oncological process in the body. And also in women who have recently undergone an abortion, its value in the blood may increase.

Why do you need to control the level of hCG?

The indicators of the hormone in the blood enable the doctor to determine the exact date of conception. If the girl does not have menstruation already on the 2nd or 3rd day, this analysis can be carried out: if the pregnancy is more than 6 days, the analysis will show a positive result. After a few days, the study can be repeated.

And also the analysis of chorionic gonadotropin for the fair sex is prescribed in the following cases:

• early diagnosis of conception;
• determination of developmental anomalies of the unborn baby;
• diagnostics of amenorrhea;
• exclusion or confirmation of the threat of miscarriage;
• exclusion or confirmation;
• evaluation of induced abortion;
• diagnostics of malignant tumors.

Representatives of the stronger sex are prescribed such an analysis to diagnose a testicular tumor.

The degree of hCG in a pregnant woman

The function of chorionic gonadotropin in the female body should not be underestimated. Already in the first days after ovulation, this indicator increases, since the hormone is produced by a fertilized egg. It is he who launches processes in the woman's body that allow the fetus to develop normally.

In blood plasma, it can be determined as early as nine days after ovulation. As soon as ovulation has occurred, the hCG value begins to change (although slowly, it increases).

During the period of gestation, the growth of chorionic gonadotropin occurs up to 10 obstetric weeks. And then the hormone levels gradually decrease until the twentieth week. From 21 to 40 weeks, his indicators remain stable.

The hormone is excreted from the woman's body by the kidneys, so it can be determined in the urine. After the last menstrual period, a urine sample is taken within 30-60 days. Having received the test results, the obstetrician-gynecologist compares the results and norms of hCG by weeks of pregnancy. On days 60–70, the highest levels of chorionic gonadotropin are noted.

The hormone levels can reach repeated peaks in the third trimester. A few years ago, experts considered this the norm. But recently, scientists have proven that an increase in the level of chorionic gonadotropin in late pregnancy may be a sign of fetal developmental pathology. For example, at 38-40 weeks, an increase sometimes indicates placental insufficiency, which has arisen due to the Rh-conflict.

A week after delivery (or after an abortion), the hormone can no longer be detected in plasma or urine. But to get the most reliable result, it is better to wait 5 weeks after giving birth.

From the moment of conception, it allows you to see what it should be in each period. Since during gestation, monitoring the level of the hormone plays an important role in monitoring the development of the fetus, the expectant mother, checking her results with tabular data, can be sure for herself that there are no deviations. But it should be borne in mind that the deviation of the hCG level does not carry diagnostic information, but can only push the doctor to prescribe additional studies to the woman.

It is also necessary to check the indicators of the hormone in the urine in women who have undergone IVF. An increase in human chorionic gonadotropin may indicate that IVF was successful.

With multiple pregnancies, the level of hCG should not be the same as that of a woman carrying one baby.

HCG table by week of pregnancy:

Gestational age	Average value, mIU / ml	Permissible hCG limits, mIU / ml
No pregnancy		0–5
Questionable result		5–25
10-14 days	150	49–299
20-21 days	2000	1499–4999
HCG at 4 weeks gestation	2000	1499–4999
HCG at 5 weeks of gestation	20000	10001–29999
HCG at 6 weeks gestation	50000	20010–99000
7 week	100000	50111–199999
HCG at 8 weeks gestation	80000	40111–199999
HCG at 9 weeks gestation	70000	34999–144999
10 week	65000	32355–129999
11 week	60000	29999–120111
12 week	55000	27499–109999
HCG at 13 weeks	50000	24111–99999
14 week	50000	24999–99999
15-16 week	40000	19999–79999
17-21 weeks	30000	15111–59999
HCG 22-40 weeks		2699–78111

Decoding indicators

When comparing your results with tabular values, you should take into account some of the nuances:

• The HCG table shows the obstetric weeks of pregnancy, which are determined based on the last day of your period. That is why the norms of the hormone for a period of less than two weeks are not presented in the table - after all, conception occurs at the end of the second week or at the beginning of the fourth. In order not to get confused, take it as a rule that the embryonic conception period lags behind obstetric one by about 2 weeks.
• If the analysis showed a hormone level of less than 25 mIU / ml, but more than 5 mIU / ml, then after a few days it is better to retake the analysis in order to fully make sure that ovulation has occurred.
• If the result does not fit into the norms of hCG during pregnancy by week, do not immediately worry. The obstetrician-gynecologist will prescribe additional studies. It is quite possible that everything is in order with the health of the woman and the unborn baby, and the deviations are caused by the individual characteristics of the organism.
• It is necessary to compare the results obtained with the standards of the laboratory where the tests were taken. Each laboratory uses a different method for calculating hormone levels, so the data may vary.

A deviation of the hormone level from the norm by twenty percent, most often, requires a retake of the test. If a repeated test showed an even greater deviation from normal values, the doctor may assume the presence of a pathological process in the body of a pregnant woman. If the repeated result remains the same as the initial one, and the picture of the course of pregnancy does not cause fear in the doctor, then the doctor may consider the increased level of chorionic gonadotropin as an individual feature of the organism.

Very rarely, a single analysis of hormone levels is used - only to determine pregnancy at an early stage. And if a doctor wants to identify or refute the pathological conditions of a woman or fetus, then the level of chorionic gonadotropin is monitored over time.

It is worth considering that not every doctor prescribes tests for his patients to determine this indicator. Do not worry if the obstetrician-gynecologist has not ordered tests. Probably, everything is fine with you, but the doctor simply does not see a reason to prescribe an examination.

The reasons causing a decrease in the level of the hormone:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus;
• death of the fetus in the womb;
• the threat of miscarriage or.

The reasons for the increase in the degree of the hormone:

• taking hCG for medicinal purposes;
• trophoblastic neoplasm;
• several fruits;
• increased blood sugar;
• some fetal malformations.

Fetal abnormalities leading to a change in degree

With the following pathology of fetal development, the level of hCG may change:

• an increase is observed with Down syndrome;
• a low level is observed in Edwards and Patau syndrome;
• with Turner syndrome, the degree, as a rule, remains unchanged throughout the entire period of bearing the baby;
• serious pathologies of the neural tube or heart of the unborn baby.

If a woman is at risk of developing fetal abnormalities, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations (chorionic biopsy, invasive diagnostics, amniocentesis or cordocentesis).

How is the research done?

In order for the laboratory to determine the level of beta-hCG, the woman needs to donate blood. It is advisable to take the analysis in the morning. It is recommended to take tests no earlier than on the fifth day of a delay in menstruation.

If the hCG rate at the 5th week of pregnancy or at another period does not correspond to your results, it is better to repeat the analysis after 2-5 days. The doctor should decipher the results obtained.

In addition to blood, chorionic gonadotropin is determined in urine and in amniotic fluid.

At 14-18 weeks, an analysis is performed to determine the level of free hCG. As a rule, the expectant mother receives the result the very next day after the test.

You can take tests a few days after the delay in menstruation. But if the test is passed on the thirteenth day after ovulation (and later), then you can get a reliable result, indicating 100% of the onset of ovulation.

The day before donating blood for determining the level of hCG, it is strictly forbidden to use alcohol and drugs. It is advisable to give up excessive physical exertion. Two hours before the test, you must not smoke, drink coffee or tea. Minimize emotional instability and physical activity. Calm down and get a good rest before donating blood or urine.

It is not advisable to take a hormone test after x-rays, ultrasounds, physical procedures, or massage. If you need to retest, try to donate blood at the same hours as the first time.

False positive result

The laboratory can give false positive results in the following cases:

• After an abortion or delivery, the hormone level will decrease only after 7 days. But to get more reliable results, some healthcare professionals recommend waiting 42 days and then testing.
• It is believed that the use of certain contraceptives affects the level of the hormone. But there is no scientific evidence for this.
• With cystic drift or metastases of chorionic carcinoma, its level may increase.
• A high level of the hormone in non-pregnant women and men is observed with trophoblastic malignant neoplasm and its metastases.

In other words, in women who are not expecting a baby, the level of chorionic gonadotropin rises in the first days after a medical abortion, with certain diseases and when taking contraceptives.

Immunity against human chorionic gonadotropin

In some women, hCG is produced. Thanks to these antibodies, women cannot get pregnant and bear a baby.

Therefore, if a woman has spontaneous miscarriages, she must definitely pass an analysis to determine antibodies to chorionic gonadotropin. If the study has confirmed the presence of antibodies, then the woman is prescribed medication (the first three months of pregnancy).

To summarize the above, I would like to note that determining the level of the hormone in the body of a woman expecting a baby is an important examination that must be carried out. But only a specialist should decipher the results obtained, make hasty conclusions and even more so get upset if the results do not correspond to the norm, the future mother should not.

A certain level of certain hormones in the human body ensures its vital activity and the normal functioning of all organs and systems. The same applies to the so-called pregnancy hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

What is hCG, its concentration in the human body

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a specific pregnancy hormone that is produced by the cells of the trophoblast (outer cell layer of the embryo) and regulates the production of other hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that help maintain pregnancy.

The role and function of chorionic gonadotropin during pregnancy is to maintain the existence and subsequent development of the corpus luteum. It also inhibits the production of follicle-stimulating hormone, which prevents the appearance of cyclical menstrual changes and preserves pregnancy.

Normally, human chorionic gonadotropin begins to be produced in a woman's body during pregnancy. If there is no pregnancy, then the level of chorionic gonadotropin should be practically at zero. However, in most cases, the normal value of this test in women without pregnancy can range from 0 to 5 IU / L. In healthy men, the level of hCG in the blood should be in the range of up to 2.5 IU / L.

A not very large increase in the level of chorionic gonadotropin may be present in women of a certain age, whose body is undergoing menopause.

A significant increase in hCG in the blood and urine is determined starting from the 8th day after fertilization. The concentration of the hormone in the blood serum is the same as in the placental tissue, which indicates its continuous flow into the blood. Chorionic gonadotropin is excreted in the urine unchanged.

Analysis of blood and urine for hCG during pregnancy

An increase in hCG levels makes it possible to detect early pregnancy. Significant changes in the level of the hormone contained in the blood can be detected as early as on the second day after implantation of the embryo into the uterus (7 days after fertilization). Its concentration in urine is twice lower, therefore, for correct results, it is necessary to wait at least another week. But laboratories are not needed to determine hCG in urine - this can be done independently at home using special pregnancy tests, which can be purchased at any pharmacy. With a blood test, it will not be possible to avoid laboratory manipulations with taking blood from a vein and waiting for the result. But this method is more reliable.

Preparation for research

To analyze urine for hCG content, you must purchase a pregnancy test at the pharmacy. It is better to take a few to rule out possibly false results. Tests differ in sensitivity: the higher the sensitivity of the test, the more accurate the result. Also, the tests are different in the way they are used: there are those that need to be lowered into a container with urine, and there are those that need to be placed under the stream, etc.

Whichever test is chosen, it is better to conduct it with the first, morning urine, since it contains the highest hCG content. If the woman has taken any medications that may affect the result, they should be discontinued one week prior to testing. It is also not recommended to consume diuretics, alcohol or large amounts of liquids, as these can distort the study results.

The timing of the analysis for hCG usually depends on the sensitivity of the test and is indicated in the instructions for it. It is usually recommended to start testing no earlier than the first day of your missed period.

For a blood test for hCG, it is necessary to donate blood from a vein. It is better to do this also in the morning and preferably on an empty stomach. The last meal is recommended 8-10 hours before the delivery of the biomaterial.

If a woman is taking any medications, she should inform her doctor in advance. Although only medications that contain this hormone can affect the level of hCG.

To diagnose pregnancy, it is better to conduct a laboratory test no earlier than 4–5 days of delayed menstruation; to clarify the results, you can repeat the test after 2–3 days.

The approximate norms for the concentration of hCG in urine will help determine from what period it is better to start the study, and what should be the dynamics of its change in case of a positive result, in order to exclude a false-positive or false-negative result.
DC - day of the cycle; DPO - the day after ovulation

The dynamics of the hCG content must be monitored only in relation to the same organism. Since, despite the established norms for the content of the hormone in the urine in the first days of pregnancy, their normal range is too large. Therefore, in one pregnant woman, the test may react on the 10th day after ovulation, and in another, only on the 20th.

For example, even a gynecologist doubted my own pregnancy until the 4th week of pregnancy (30 days after ovulation), until an ultrasound examination showed that the ovum was in the uterus. Before that, the level of hCG was so low that even on the 5th day of missed period on a pregnancy test with a sensitivity to hCG of 20-25 IU / L, the second strip was barely noticeable. After another couple of days, the second stripe became brighter. Already pleased at least the fact that the level of hCG is still increasing. To celebrate, I made an appointment with a gynecologist. Before going to the doctor (on the 10th day of the delay) I did the third test, in which the second strip was even brighter, but still pale. When examined on a gynecological chair, the doctor felt a seal on the left (before, sometimes a follicular cyst came out) and noted that the uterus was not enlarged. All this, plus a dim second stripe, may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Having said that at such a time, the ultrasound will still not show anything, she ordered to come in a week. A week later, an ultrasound scan showed that the embryo was in the uterus, and the pregnancy at this time was proceeding without pathologies. The hCG level according to the blood test was normal, corresponding to the gestational age.

Norms of hCG in urine by days after ovulation - table

The day after ovulation	Average rate	Normal range	The day after ovulation	Average rate	Normal range
7	4 IU / L	2-10 IU / L	18	650 IU / L	220-840 IU / L
8	7 IU / L	3-18 IU / L	19	980 IU / L	370-1300 IU / L
9	11 IU / L	5-21 IU / L	20	1380 IU / L	520-2000 IU / L
10	18 IU / L	8-26 IU / L	21	1960 IU / L	750-3100 IU / L
11	28 IU / L	11–45 IU / L	22	2680 IU / L	1050-4900 IU / L
12	45 IU / L	17–65 IU / L	23	3550 IU / L	1400–6200 IU / L
13	73 IU / L	22-105 IU / L	24	4650 IU / L	1830–7800 IU / L
14	105 IU / L	29-170 IU / L	25	6150 IU / L	2400–9800 IU / L
15	160 IU / L	39-270 IU / L	26	8160 IU / L	4200-15600 IU / L
16	260 IU / L	68-400 IU / L	27	10200 IU / L	5400-19500 IU / L
17	410 IU / L	120-580 IU / L	28	11300 IU / L	7100-27300 IU / L

The concentration of hCG in the blood of a pregnant woman

In the absence of pathologies, the level of the hormone in the first weeks of pregnancy doubles every 2 days. Its maximum secretion is observed between the 9th and 12th weeks of pregnancy and reaches 2-3 mg per day, after which the concentration of the hormone rapidly decreases and remains at a low level until the end of pregnancy. 10 days after childbirth, the hormone is not detected in the blood and urine.

Norms of hCG in the blood during pregnancy - table

With insufficient secretion of chorionic gonadotropin, abortion may occur. Increased secretion of the hormone also occurs during pregnancy, proceeding with toxicosis, nephropathy, which is associated with chorionic hyperactivity.

HCG as a marker of fetal abnormalities

A blood test for hCG is used in screening the first and second trimesters of pregnancy to assess the risk of Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome in the fetus. Also, special indications for the appointment of a study are age over 35 years, cases of Down's disease in the families of future mothers and fathers, congenital malformations and hereditary diseases in close relatives, radiation exposure. A positive test result puts a woman at risk, but is not an absolute indicator of the development of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

Pregnant women are advised to donate blood for hCG at 8-13 and 15-20 weeks. If the level of this hormone is higher than the norm for this period, there is a risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. For example, if for a period of 12 weeks the indicator exceeds 288,000 IU / L, it is recommended to undergo a series of additional examinations for more accurate results.

HCG and gestational age

There is an opinion that the duration of pregnancy can be determined by the level of hCG. But often the time determined in this way does not coincide with the one that is calculated from the first day of the last menstruation or set by ultrasound. The fact is that in the normative tables in which the values ​​of the hCG level by week are given, fairly wide ranges of values ​​correspond to each period. And the indicators of changes in the level of the hormone are individual for each woman. Moreover, they can differ several times during the normal course of pregnancy. For example, an indicator of 3000 IU / L is normal at the 3rd week of pregnancy, and at the 4th and 5th. And also after the 22nd until the very birth.

Therefore, only a doctor observing a pregnant woman and her hCG should interpret the results of the study. And you certainly shouldn't try to determine the gestational age by analyzing hCG on your own.

False result

According to statistics, in 2% of girls who donate blood for hCG, the study shows a false positive pregnancy result. This could be evidence of hormonal imbalance or cancer. It also happens that during a confirmed pregnancy, the analysis shows a negative result. This happens if ovulation or fetal implantation occurred later than usual, or in the case of an ectopic pregnancy.

Also, the result may turn out to be false positive if a woman took medications containing hCG in its composition during the test or a week before it. For women, chorionic gonadotropin is prescribed for menstrual irregularities and infertility associated with lack of ovulation and insufficiency of the corpus luteum (but with sufficient estrogenic function of the ovaries), dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

Therefore, when taking a blood test for hCG, it is necessary to inform the doctor which medications and how long have been taken.

Increased and decreased levels of hCG during pregnancy

The norms of chorionic gonadotropin in the body of a pregnant woman are not a paradigm. Departure from them can be not only pathological, but also natural. For example, in multiple pregnancies, the amount of this hormone is directly proportional to the number of babies. Only a doctor should draw any conclusions regarding the hCG indicator for a certain period of pregnancy.

But there are also a number of pathological reasons that cause a deviation of the level of the "pregnancy hormone" in one direction or another.

In carrying a child, the level of hCG increases markedly as a result of:

• diabetes mellitus;
• early toxicosis, preeclampsia;
• prolonged pregnancy (an increase in the gestational age due to the slow development of the child);
• chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus;
• taking synthetic gestagens - drugs that replenish the level of the main female hormone in the body - progesterone.

Low levels of hCG in pregnant women require careful attention and immediate attention to specialists. A decrease in the level by more than 50% from the norm may be evidence of:

• ectopic pregnancy;
• threats of miscarriage;
• placental insufficiency;
• frozen pregnancy or intrauterine fetal death;
• delays in fetal development;
• post-term pregnancy.

In addition to these reasons, a low (as well as an increased) level of chorionic gonadotropin can be recorded due to an incorrect determination of the duration of pregnancy by a doctor. This situation is dangerous because during the normal course of the process of bearing a child, the woman is assigned additional diagnostics, and sometimes treatment, which she absolutely does not need. Such situations are quite rare, but it is impossible not to mention them.

In addition, the incorrect determination of the gestational age and, consequently, the incorrect diagnosis of a reduced level of hCG, can cause an unpleasant emotional load for the expectant mother.

HCG indicators after IVF

IVF - in vitro fertilization. The essence of the method is that the fertilization process takes place outside the mother's body (extracorpus). With in vitro fertilization, a woman is injected with hCG-containing preparations for the final maturation of the eggs and stimulation of ovulation. Then a mature egg is taken from a woman, fresh sperm from a man, and fertilization takes place under the supervision of doctors in a Petri dish (a special container with a nutrient medium and at a certain temperature). Then the embryo is grown up to 3-5 days (if necessary, genetic testing is carried out or frozen for the future) and placed in the uterus, where it should gain a foothold and continue to develop.

Upon completion of the embryo transfer procedure, it is necessary to wait for two weeks whether the embryo will take root or not. This can be determined by analyzing the content of chorionic gonadotropin.

The level of this hormone in the blood or urine is considered the most reliable indicator of successful fertilization, i.e., the onset of pregnancy. This is due to the fact that it is the chorionic gonadotropin hormone that will appear in the female body by the time the embryo successfully penetrates the uterine epithelium. At the same time, it is important to note that the content of this hormone in the blood will significantly exceed its values ​​in the urine. For this reason, doctors will check the level of hCG in a woman's body after IVF by blood tests.

With the successful attachment of the embryo, the content of the hCG hormone will begin to grow with a mathematical progression. And these indicators can tell a lot. For example, an exorbitantly high hCG content on day 14 should be evidence of the onset of multiple pregnancies, because each fetus causes the hCG level to double. If the pregnancy is ectopic, the level of hormone content, in the first weeks, will be significantly lower than normal, more precisely, by a third. And if pregnancy has not occurred, then the content level will not exceed 0-5 IU / L. Only in cases where embryo implantation ends with successful fertilization will this indicator express daily growth.

The presence of the hormone in the body in the absence of pregnancy

In addition, it is necessary to highlight the reasons for the high level of chorionic gonadotropin in men and women who are not carrying a child. Indeed, in these cases, a sharp increase in the content of chorionic gonadotropin indicates pathological processes in the body.

HCG can exceed 5 IU / L in the following cases:

• taking hormonal drugs;
• the presence of trophoblastic disease;
• malignant teratoma of the testicles in men;
• other malignant tumors (cancer of the lung, stomach, pancreas, mammary glands, melanoma, multiple myeloma);
• incomplete removal of the ovum after abortion or medical curettage;
• recent childbirth.

Even the slightest excess of the hCG norm in the absence of pregnancy should be the reason for immediate medical attention. The presence of dangerously high levels of pregnancy hormone in its absence will require in-depth diagnostics to determine the location of the tumor and its type. Timely identification of high numbers of the hormone will help to quickly conduct concomitant diagnostics and find the cause of the disease. The sooner this is done, the greater the chances that the disease will be completely cured, whatever its nature.

HCG immunity

Medicine knows cases when women developed immunological resistance to hCG. The fact is that hCG is not a "native" hormone for a woman, since it is not produced by her body, but by the ovum. Therefore, an immune response may appear to it - the formation of antibodies. Natural antibodies inhibit the hormone synthesis process, leading to spontaneous early abortions. As a result, antibodies against hCG become the cause of infertility, miscarriage, and unsuccessful IVF attempts.