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HCG levels by week during pregnancy

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HCG is a hormone produced in your body during pregnancy by the cells that will form your placenta. It can be detected early in pregnancy through a blood test or a home pregnancy test. During early pregnancy, hCG levels typically double every two to three days. HCG levels in pregnancy vary widely, so it's more helpful to look for an upward trend rather than a specific number. Low or declining hCG levels can signal a problem with the pregnancy, such as an impending miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

Photo credit: iStock.com / VioletaStoimenova

What is hCG?

HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. The letters stand for human Chorionic Gonadotropin. After an egg is fertilized and implants in the uterus, the cells that will eventually form the placenta start making hCG.

HCG is often the first indicator of pregnancy. The hormone can be detected through a blood test about 11 days after conception. However, most women first discover they're pregnant using a store-bought home pregnancy test, which measures hCG levels in the urine.

HCG is detectable in urine at around 12 to 14 days after conception, when you're around 4 weeks pregnant. (The most common way to calculate your pregnancy due date is from the first day of your last menstrual period, which is typically two weeks before conception.)

If you think you're pregnant but have a negative pregnancy test, it may be that you took the test too early, or that your urine is very diluted. Rest assured that you will have hCG in your blood and urine if you're pregnant. You may want to take the test again in another day or two – first thing in the morning, when your urine is more concentrated, is best.

In early pregnancy, hCG levels typically double about every two to three days. Levels generally peak at around 8 to 14 weeks after conception. After that they decline somewhat, and usually plateau during the second and third trimester.

It is possible – though uncommon – for hCG levels to fall instead of rise, and then rise again. While declining levels often signal a miscarriage, sometimes the levels go back up and the pregnancy proceeds normally.

What hCG levels mean in pregnancy

Your hCG levels at any particular point in time during pregnancy don't mean much. Although there are average ranges of hCG levels for different stages of pregnancy, these can vary dramatically from woman to woman, and from pregnancy to pregnancy. Even if your hCG levels are outside the "normal" range, you can still have a perfectly healthy pregnancy and baby.

That said, it is important that your hCG levels increase during early pregnancy. If your hCG levels don't continue to rise rapidly during the first few weeks or if they start to drop, this can signal a problem such as an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Higher-than-typical hCG levels can signal that you're carrying multiples or, in rare cases, have a molar pregnancy.

Often, you won't know what your hCG levels are during pregnancy. Home pregnancy tests don't give a specific hCG number. However, you may learn your hCG levels if your provider orders a blood test to confirm your pregnancy or as part of a screening test.

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Your provider may also order a series of two or more hCG blood tests if they have concerns about how your pregnancy is progressing. These blood tests, taken two to three days apart, can tell your provider whether your hCG levels are trending in the right direction.

Causes of low hCG levels

Low hCG levels in pregnancy can be a sign of the following:

• Your due date was miscalculated. Providers typically calculate your baby's gestational age and your due date based on the date of your last period. But it's common to get this calculation wrong, especially if you have irregular periods or don't remember the date of your last period. Your hCG levels may be lower than expected because your pregnancy isn't as far along as your provider thought.
• Miscarriage. If your hCG levels don't go up during early pregnancy or if they start to decline, this could signal you've had or are about to have a miscarriage. If this is the case, you may experience other signs of miscarriage, such as bleeding and abdominal pain.
• Blighted ovum. This is when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but never develops into an embryo, so the hCG levels don't rise. It's a common cause of miscarriage during early pregnancy.
• Ectopic pregnancy. This is a rare but dangerous condition in which the fertilized egg implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. It's usually accompanied by symptoms such as pelvic pain and vaginal spotting.

HCG chart: hCG levels by week

While hCG levels can vary widely from person to person and from pregnancy to pregnancy, they tend to fall within a range. Below is the average hCG range during pregnancy, based on the number of weeks since your last menstrual period (Note, if your cycle is irregular, these numbers may not apply).

HCG is measured by milli-international units of hCG hormone per milliliter of blood (mIU/ml).

Learn more:

11 early pregnancy symptoms

All about home pregnancy tests

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Karen Miles

Karen Miles is a writer and an expert on pregnancy and parenting who has contributed to BabyCenter for more than 20 years. She's passionate about bringing up-to-date, useful information to parents so they can make good decisions for their families. Her favorite gig of all is being "Mama Karen" to four grown children and "Nana" to nine grandkids.

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HCG rate during pregnancy.

hCG or beta-hCG or total hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin - a hormone produced during pregnancy. HCG is formed by the placenta, which nourishes the fetus after fertilization and implantation (attachment to the wall of the uterus).

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HCG or beta-hCG or total hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin - a hormone produced during pregnancy. HCG is formed by the placenta, which nourishes the fetus after fertilization and implantation (attachment to the wall of the uterus). HCG is measured in mIU/mL (mile international units per milliliter).

HCG partially crosses the placental barrier. The level of hCG in newborns is approximately 1/400 of the level in maternal blood. And it is approximately 10-50 mIU / ml at birth. The half-life is 2-3 days. Thus, at 3 months of life, the level in newborns corresponds to the norm of hCG for an adult.

An increase in hCG in the blood can be detected a few days before the expected menstruation. The optimal time for a blood test to determine hCG is after a missed period.

A single determination of hCG cannot be used to diagnose miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

An hCG level of less than 5 mIU / ml indicates the absence of pregnancy or that the test was taken too early. The level of hCG is above 25 mIU / ml - about the presence of pregnancy.

On average, a doubling of hCG levels occurs every 36-72 hours. The level of hCG reaches its peak at 9-11 weeks of gestation (from the date of the last menstrual period) and then decreases until the 15th week of pregnancy, remaining unchanged during the remainder of the pregnancy. In 85% of cases, the level of hCG in the early stages doubles every 48-72 hours. As pregnancy progresses, the doubling time for hCG levels increases to 96 hours.

HCG level Doubling time
1200 mIU/ml 48-72 hours
1200 – 6000 mIU/ml 72-96 hours
More than 6000 mIU/ml More than 96 hours

hcg calculator

At what hCG value should an ultrasound be done?

After reaching an hCG level of 1000 - 2000 mIU / ml, a fetal egg can be visualized by ultrasound. Since the level of hCG has a large variability, and the date of conception can be erroneous, the gestational age is determined by ultrasound or IVF data, but not by hCG.
A single determination of hCG is not enough, since it is important to evaluate the growth dynamics of the hormone every 48-72 hours.

These ranges are provided as a guide and should not be used to interpret a particular hCG assay.

• Not pregnant
• Error in calculating the gestational age
• Pregnancy arrest or miscarriage, biochemical pregnancy
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Threat of spontaneous abortion

It is necessary to repeat the analysis for hCG in 1-2 days, perhaps the pregnancy came later than expected. If the level of hCG does not rise, it is necessary to look for other reasons for the delay in menstruation.

The so-called "biochemical pregnancy" is a condition in which an increase in hCG above normal was detected, but the pregnancy did not continue to develop. The level of hCG in this case rises slightly, and then in a short time decreases to zero values.

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg is outside the uterine cavity. With an ectopic pregnancy, there may be pain in the lower abdomen, spotting. The level of hCG during an ectopic (ectopic) pregnancy may not increase as quickly and not as significantly as with a normally developing uterine pregnancy. However, the low level of hCG does not allow such a conclusion to be made unambiguously. Starting with an hCG level of 1000 mIU / ml, a fetal egg can be detected in the uterine cavity. With an hCG level of 2000 mIU / ml and the absence of a fetal egg in the uterine cavity during ultrasound, the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy is significant.

• Error in calculating the gestational age
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• Complications of pregnancy (preeclampsia)
• Maternal diabetes mellitus
• Taking synthetic progestogens
• Risk of fetal malformations

HCG and multiple pregnancy. hcg and twins.

The level of hCG in a multiple pregnancy is higher than in a single pregnancy, but the rate of increase in hCG is the same in both cases.

Vesicular drift is a rare complication of pregnancy in which the level of hCG will be significantly increased, on average 2 times higher than the average value for a given period. For example, the possible level of hCG with cystic mole for 36 days from the first day of the last menstruation can reach 200,000 mIU / ml, while with a normally developing pregnancy, hCG will be from 1,200 to 36,000 mIU / ml.

An hCG test is performed approximately 2 weeks after embryo transfer (12-14 days after transfer (dpp)). Usually the level of hCG at 14 dpo is more than 100 mIU / ml.

If the hCG level is less than 25 mIU / ml, pregnancy has not occurred. If the hCG level is more than 25, the test is repeated after 2 days, with the development of pregnancy, its level should increase. The hCG level will double approximately every 48 hours until 21 days after infusion.

Higher hCG values ​​(300-400 mIU / ml) are more likely to indicate multiple pregnancy.

In patients with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, hCG levels should be interpreted with caution. These patients may develop edema, which leads to thickening of the blood, which can lead to a false increase in the level of hCG, and when the blood composition is normal, to a false absence of an increase in the level of hCG.

The test for hCG is also included in the prenatal screening of the second trimester - an analysis that allows you to assess the risk of developing fetal defects.

Outside of pregnancy, hCG can be produced by the cells of some tumors (seminoma, testicular teratoma, neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract (including pancreas, liver, colorectal cancer and stomach cancer).

With successful treatment of an hCG-producing tumor, the hCG level should decrease to normal.

In most cases, the level of hCG decreases. The half-life of hCG is 24-36 hours. The speed of reaching zero hCG values ​​depends on what exactly happened: spontaneous miscarriage, abortion, childbirth, curettage) and how high the hCG level was at the time of pregnancy loss. Doctors recommend continuing to assess hCG levels until levels are below 5 mIU/mL. If the hCG level remains high, you should consult a doctor.

The level of hCG is affected by drugs that contain hCG (Pregnil, Horagon).

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Elevated hCG - transcript. Elevated hCG in men and non-pregnant women

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in a woman's life. During pregnancy, the female body undergoes significant changes necessary for the normal development of a new life. Among the many changes, the restructuring of the hormonal background will play the most important role. Hormones perform key functions in the development of an unborn child. One such hormone is human chorionic gonadotropin. It is also called the “hormone of pregnancy”, since it begins to be actively synthesized during this period. According to the level of this hormone, the course of pregnancy is monitored, so it is important to know whether hCG is low or high in a pregnant woman.

hCG - what it is

Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that is synthesized in the body during pregnancy in large quantities. HCG produces the chorion (upper germinal membrane) of the fetus after it is implanted in the uterine wall. The level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the first trimester begins to increase significantly, reaching its peak at about 200,000 mIU / ml by the 12th week. Further, the level of the hormone gradually decreases, while its level remains much higher than in the absence of pregnancy.

Chorionic gonadotropin belongs to gonadotropic hormones in the same way as follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones (synthesized by the pituitary gland), but differs from them in the amino acid sequence. The hCG molecule consists of two subunits: α and β. The α subunit is identical to the α subunits of follicle stimulating, luteinizing and thyroid stimulating hormones (which is also synthesized in the pituitary gland), and the β hCG subunit is unique in its biological and immunoreactive properties. Therefore, this subunit is used for most immunometric research methods. For example, the determination of the β-subunit is one of the key markers in prenatal screenings of the first and second trimesters, as well as in the diagnosis of some tumors.

What are the functions of hCG

The main task of human chorionic gonadotropin is to maintain the functioning of the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. At the same time, under the influence of hCG, a very large amount of progesterone is produced, significantly exceeding the normal levels for a non-pregnant woman.

Progesterone is one of the most important pregnancy hormones. Thanks to progesterone, the uterus does not reject the implanted embryo. Under the influence of progesterone, the uterus stops contracting and increases in size. Decreased progesterone can cause miscarriage.

The corpus luteum is formed at the site of a ruptured follicle after ovulation (the release of a mature egg from it). In a normal menstrual cycle, the corpus luteum exists for about 12-15 days, after which it resolves. Chorionic gonadotropin prevents this from happening and the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone until the placenta matures and continues to synthesize the required amount of progesterone. Thus, this hormone is actively produced until the 11-12th week of pregnancy.

Other functions of chorionic gonadotropin include influence on the mechanisms of adaptation of the female body to pregnancy. Pregnancy is stressful for the body, and in order to speed up the processes of normalization of its work, there is an increased secretion of adrenal hormones - glucocorticoids. At the same time, hCG, having corticotropic properties, contributes to an increase in steroidogenesis.

Chorionic gonadotropin is also used to stimulate ovulation. To eliminate infertility during anovulatory cycles or during artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization protocols, hCG is used to successfully complete the development of follicles and provoke the release of an egg. An hCG injection is a mandatory part of any IVF protocol.

In Kaliningrad, you can perform IVF and other methods of assisted reproductive technologies at the IVF Center reproductive clinic. The specialists of the clinic have extensive experience in eliminating both female and male infertility.

When HCG is checked

Pregnancy is checked first with human chorionic gonadotropin. Despite the fact that hCG begins to increase from the day of implantation, it is better to do pregnancy tests 2-3 weeks after ovulation, or 1-1.5 after the onset of a missed period, or 14 days after embryo transfer during IVF. It is necessary to meet these deadlines in order to obtain reliable results.

You can test for pregnancy with a test strip that detects the presence of chorionic gonadotropin in the urine, or with a blood test. The test strip will only show the presence or absence of hCG, in addition, the level of the hormone in the urine will be much lower than in the blood, so a blood test is more informative. For research, venous blood is used, which is taken on an empty stomach.

HCG is also part of prenatal screenings. Screenings are carried out in the first and second trimesters to assess the risks of fetal genetic pathologies (Edwards syndrome, Down syndrome, etc.). First trimester screening scheduled for 11-13 weeks and will consist of ultrasound and biochemical analysis of the following indicators: