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Blood test for pregnancy in the early stages - why you need and how to donate blood

Blood test for pregnancy is a procedure that is necessary to identify existing pathologies. It also allows you to determine the very presence of pregnancy, since it detects the presence in the blood of a woman of a hormone called "chorionic gonadotropin" (hCG).

In a situation where conception has not occurred, this substance is not produced in the patient's body, since its appearance is associated with the formation of the chorion. This is the tissue that occurs between the endometrium and the zygote after the attachment of a fertilized egg to the wall of the uterus.

Reasons for testing

A blood test can show pregnancy as early as six days after a successful conception. Whereas a standard pregnancy test in some cases can give incorrect results. Therefore, tests during pregnancy are prescribed to determine such conditions as:

• Establishment of the actual fact of conception
• Assessment of hormonal background for failures
• Tracking abnormal pregnancy types:
• Frozen - in this case, at a certain stage, the embryo stops its development
• Ectopic - in this situation, the zygote is not attached to the wall of the uterus, but in the fallopian tube

Also, a blood test shows the presence of infections, other types of body dysfunctions and diseases such as:

• Cytomegalovirus
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Herpes
• Chlamydia
• Hepatitis
• Ureaplasmosis
• HIV
• Mycoplasmosis
• Syphilis
• Leptospirosis
• Chlamydia

Any of these diseases is a danger not only to the body of the woman herself, but also to her unborn child. Therefore, if there are deviations in the results of the blood test, the doctor sends the patient for an additional examination.

Changes in hCG during pregnancy

After the physical onset of conception, the level of hCG in the female body begins to rise, and every two to three days its concentration almost doubles. It reaches its highest level at 8-11 weeks, and then it begins to gradually decrease.

The first analysis can be taken on the 6th day of the expected delay, but the result will be more accurate on the 11-12th day. Therefore, doctors recommend undergoing a blood test two to three times (every two days later).

Monitoring the level of hCG allows you to monitor the dynamics of pregnancy, the appearance of pathologies, etc.:

• In ectopic pregnancy, the level of the hormone practically does not increase
• If the development of the embryo has stopped, then the level of hCG drops from the moment of its death

Usually the result of the analysis is compared with a special table. In the first or second weeks, the concentration of hCG can range from 25 to 700 units, at the peak of the value it can reach 18,000–240,000 units, and at the end of the gestational age - 2,179-60,000 units.

After establishing the fact of conception, the doctor refers the patient to other blood tests:

• General
• Biochemical
• For clotting
• For hepatitis and HIV
• For TORCH infections
• For genetic pathologies
• For Rh factor and blood group (if not previously determined)
• For the content of hormones produced by the thyroid gland
• Antiphospholipid syndrome
• For STDs

Causes of deviation from the norm of the hormone hCG

Normally, after the onset of pregnancy, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin should gradually increase. If it decreases, then the doctor may assume the presence of such problems as:

• In the early stages:
• Fetal death
• Probability of spontaneous termination of pregnancy
• Missing embryo in ovum
• Late term:
• Placental abruption

In some cases, a low level of hCG may be associated with an incorrectly calculated gestational age. Therefore, in order to determine the exact cause of low hormone levels, early pregnancy tests are usually performed, as well as several types of other examinations.

Causes of an increase in hCG levels

In the results of blood tests, the level of hCG can be seriously higher than normal for the following reasons:

• Presence of toxicosis
• More than one fetus
• Occurrence of hydatidiform mole
• Presence of genetic problems
• Complication due to diabetes mellitus

The level of human chorionic gonadotropin can be increased not only due to pregnancy, but also due to some abnormalities:

• Extremely high hCG levels due to hormonal drugs
• The presence of a malignant neoplasm in various organs (kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, uterus, lungs, etc.)
• Preservation of an unstable hormonal background as a result of an abortion

In rare cases, in the presence of serious hormonal disorders, men can also be found to have elevated levels of hCG.

Preparation for procedure

The following preparations are required before taking hCG tests for pregnant women:

• Fasting for 7-8 hours before the procedure
• Limiting the intake of any liquid a few hours before the examination

Also tell your doctor if you are taking any medications.

Statistics show that the highest concentration of hCG in the blood is observed in the first half of the day, so the doctor usually prescribes such an analysis in the morning.

If the recommendations are not followed, the study may show an unreliable result, so additional procedures will have to be carried out.

How blood sampling is performed

Blood tests for pregnant women are taken from a vein in the area located on the inside of the arm at the elbow. The procedure is as follows:

• The patient sits on a couch or chair and exposes her left or right arm
• Medic applying a tourniquet above the elbow
• After that, the woman performs several clenching of the palm into a fist
• The doctor lubricates the area of ​​the future puncture with a disinfectant
• He then inserts the needle into the vein and fills the syringe (about 10 ml of blood is needed for the test)
• After that, the tourniquet is removed, and a cotton swab is applied to the puncture area, which the patient must hold with her arm bent at the elbow (this helps to stop the release of fluid from the wound)

After these manipulations, the blood in the test tube is sent to the laboratory for analysis. The results of the analysis can be transferred directly to the attending physician, or issued to the patient. A woman can independently compare these indicators with the values ​​​​in the tables, but it is recommended to entrust this process to professionals.

Advantages of the procedure at MEDSI

• Highly qualified doctors work in the clinics, who not only develop comprehensive examination and treatment programs, but also help to properly prepare for childbirth in case of pregnancy
• Special consultation mechanisms have been established for prospective parents
• Clinics have their own laboratory for receiving and checking tests, which allows you to get an accurate result in the shortest possible time
• For examinations and therapy, modern devices from leading manufacturers from countries such as Japan, USA, Germany, etc. are used.
• Originator drugs (not generics) are used

To make an appointment, call 8 (495) 7-800-500 or contact one of the many registries located in Moscow, the region and regions of the Russian Federation.

Do not delay treatment, see a doctor now:

• Pregnancy test
• Gynecological appointment
• Planning and management of pregnancy
• Reproductive health

Pregnancy planning - hormonal tests

Comprehensive examination of the hormonal background of a woman planning a pregnancy, which allows to assess the function of the ovaries and exclude endocrine diseases that prevent pregnancy.

Synonyms Russian

Hormonal background before pregnancy.

Synonyms English

Hormonal Checkup before Pregnancy;

Pre-pregnancy Hormonal Panel;

Preconception Hormonal Panel.

What biomaterial can be used for research?

Venous blood.

How to properly prepare for the examination?

General information about the study

Ovarian, pituitary and hypothalamic hormones play an important role in the onset and maintenance of pregnancy and natural childbirth. Normally, in the body of a woman of reproductive age, a cyclic and synchronized change in the concentration of these hormones occurs, which ensures the preparation of her reproductive system for pregnancy. When hormonal disruptions occur, reproductive function is impaired. In some cases, hormonal imbalances can cause infertility. For this reason, in preparation for pregnancy, hormonal tests are performed to (1) assess functional ovarian reserve and (2) exclude endocrine causes of infertility.

1. Tests to assess functional ovarian reserve:

• Estradiol is the main sex hormone of a woman of reproductive age, produced by the ovaries. Its main function is to prepare the endometrium of the uterus for implantation of the embryo and the development of pregnancy. Violation of the production of estradiol by the ovaries leads to anovulatory cycles and NMC and, as a result, to the complete cessation of menstruation. A gradual decrease in the level of estradiol is observed with the natural extinction of the reproductive function of a woman with aging.
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is an adenohypophysis hormone and a well-known indicator of a woman's "reproductive age". With a decrease in ovarian function, an increase in the concentration of FSH occurs. The FSH level is considered elevated if its concentration exceeds two or more times the average concentration of FSH in a woman of reproductive age, measured in the early follicular phase.
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is a hormone of the adenohypophysis, one of the roles of which is to stimulate ovulation. As with FSH, when ovarian function decreases, LH levels increase. A persistent increase in the level of FSH and LH with a decrease in the level of estradiol indicates menopause. Menopause before the age of 40 is referred to as premature ovarian failure (previously known as early menopause).
• Progesterone - is a steroid hormone produced in large quantities by the corpus luteum of the ovaries and during pregnancy by the placenta. Just like estradiol, progesterone prepares the endometrium for implantation of the embryo and promotes the development of pregnancy. The level of progesterone is examined to indirectly assess the process of ovulation: a low level of this hormone in the luteal phase (less than 3 ng / ml) indicates the absence of ovulation.

2. Tests to exclude diseases leading to infertility:

• Thyroid diseases: T4, TSH.

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can interfere with ovulation and cause infertility. On the other hand, timely diagnosis and treatment of these diseases can fully restore fertility. In addition, the study of thyroid function is also carried out for the early detection and treatment of hypothyroidism in the future mother (including subclinical) - a condition that is associated with the development of cognitive impairment in the fetus (an extreme case is cretinism).

• Hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate ( DEA -SO4)

Although androgens play an important role in a woman's reproductive health, their excess can lead to negative consequences. In addition, hyperandrogenism is one of the markers of dysregulation of the pituitary-adrenal-ovarian system. An increase in testosterone levels can be observed in PCOS, congenital hyperplasia and tumors of the adrenal glands, as well as hormone-producing ovarian tumors, and therefore does not allow us to judge the source of hyperandrogenism. Unlike testosterone, an increase in the concentration of DEA-SO4 is a more specific sign indicating that the source of hyperandrogenism is the adrenal glands.

• Pituitary tumor (prolactinoma): prolactin.

Prolactin is one of the adenohypophysis hormones, structurally similar to growth hormone and human chorionic somatomammotropin. One of the functions of prolactin is to counteract the gonadotropic hormones FSH and LH. A physiological increase in prolactin levels is observed during pregnancy and lactation and is of evolutionary importance, as it leads to temporary anovulation and, to some extent, "protects" a woman from the onset of the next pregnancy until her body recovers after childbirth. Diseases that lead to a persistent and significant increase in prolactin can also cause anovulation, in this case pathological. The most common causes of hyperprolactinemia are pituitary tumors (prolactinoma and others) and hypothyroidism. Timely detection and correction of these diseases leads to a complete restoration of fertility.

It is important to note that the concentration of many hormones in the female body is highly dependent on the phase of the menstrual cycle, which should be taken into account when interpreting the result of this comprehensive study. This is especially important for FSH, LH and estradiol (which are preferably measured at the beginning of the cycle - day 2-3) and prolactin and progesterone (one week before the onset of menstruation - on day 21 in a 28-day cycle). More complete information about the health status of a woman planning a pregnancy can be obtained by conducting additional comprehensive tests ("Planning pregnancy - necessary tests" and "Planning pregnancy - mandatory tests").

What is research used for?

• To assess functional ovarian reserve and exclude endocrine causes of infertility.

When is the examination scheduled?

• In preparation for pregnancy.

What do the results mean?

Reference values ​​

• Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DEA-SO4): http://www.helix.ru/kb/item/08-110#subj12
• Luteinizing hormone (LH): http://www.helix.ru/kb/item/08-111#subj12
• Progesterone: http://www.helix.ru/kb/item/08-112#subj12
• Free thyroxine (T4 free): http://www.helix.ru/kb/item/08-116#subj12
• Testosterone: http://www.helix.ru/kb/item/08-117#subj12
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): http://www.helix.ru/kb/item/08-118#subj12
• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH): http://www.helix.ru/kb/item/08-119#subj12
• Estradiol: http://www.helix.ru/kb/item/08-122#subj12
• Prolactin: http://www.

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