Human chorionic gonadotropin
(hCG) or the pregnancy
hormone is only produced
during pregnancy by the
developing placenta. HCG
levels rise daily, and
there is a large variance
to what is considered
normal for any given time
of pregnancy, as reflected
in the chart below.
Normal
hCG Levels in Pregnancy
These numbers serve as
a guideline and caution
should be used in not
making too much of hCG
numbers. It is not always
the level that matters
but the change in the
level.
| Gestational
week (LMP) |
hCG
level (mIU/ml) |
| Week
3 |
5-50 |
| Week
4 |
5-426 |
| Week
5 |
18-7,340 |
| Week
6 |
1,080-56,500 |
| Weeks
7-8 |
7,650-229,000 |
| Weeks
9-12 |
25,700-288,000 |
| Weeks
13-16 |
13,000-254,000 |
| Weeks
17-24 (second trimester) |
4,060-165,400 |
| Weeks
25-40 (third trimester) |
3,640-117,000 |
| Non-pregnant |
55-200
ng/ml |
Pregnancy
Test
• Home pregnancy
test is qualitative
i.e. you are informed
if there is hCG present
in your urine. It is
not quantitative so
it doesn't tell you
how much of hCG is present.
• Women who test
early sometimes show negative
results (because of low
levels of hCG) but they
are actually pregnant.
As a result most home
pregnancy kits come two
to a package.
• A urine test can
be performed 12-14 days
after conception. If you
test early and your results
show negative, but if
your periods have not
begun about 10 days to
two weeks after you are
due, repeat the test.
• For the test to
be positive a certain
minimum amount of hCG
should be present in the
urine. The first urine
in the morning has the
highest concentration
of this hormone so it
does make sense to do
the test in the morning.
Done according to the
accompanying instructions,
home pregnancy tests are
very accurate, even when
performed in the early
part of pregnancy.
• Blood test is
quantitative i.e. it measures
the actual amount of hCG
in your blood stream.
• If test is performed
as early as 8-11 days
after ovulation, the presence
of hCG can be detected
indicating a positive
outcome.
In
situations
where medical
assistance
was necessary
for pregnancy,
your doctor
will want
to conduct
more tests
some days
later to monitor
hCG levels. |
|
| Reasons
behind Low HCG level |
Reasons
behind High HCG level |
| There
was a miscalculation
in dating the pregnancy |
Again,
due to miscalculation
of dating the pregnancy |
| There
is a possible miscarriage
or blighted ovum |
Multiple
pregnancy |
| Ectopic
pregnancy |
Molar
pregnancy |
More
on HCG
• Normal levels vary
from one pregnant woman
to another.
• HCG is detectable
throughout pregnancy and
for several weeks after
delivery. Pregnancy is generally
healthy if hCG level doubles
almost every other day for
the first 60-80 days of
pregnancy.
• When you are pregnant
this hormone will trigger
the production of another
hormone, progesterone which
is responsible for the thickening
of the uterine lining. With
hCG absent in the case of
the non-pregnant woman,
the uterus lining will shed
and a new menstrual cycle
will begin.
• Generally the HCG
level tends to double every
2-3 days in early pregnancy.
Statistically in about 85%
of normal pregnancies the
level is known to double
every 72 hours.
• The level of
this hormone peaks around
8th-12th week of pregnancy
and then tapers off and
remains at lower levels
for the rest of the pregnancy
period.
•
Low levels of hCG can result
in a perfectly healthy baby.
An ultrasound after 5-6
weeks gestation is more
accurate than using hCG
numbers.
•
HCG level of less than 5mlU/ml
is considered negative for
pregnancy and any figure
about 25mlU/ml is considered
positive for pregnancy.
• In twin
pregnancies a higher level
of HCG occurs on a given
day of pregnancy compared
to singleton pregnancy.
• Since
hCG levels can vary greatly,
hCG levels should not be
used to date a pregnancy.
• It is
imperative to not rely on
the values shown on the
chart to determine if your
pregnancy is viable, single,
multiple etc. Always check
with your doctor about your
own levels.
• Medications such
as antibiotics, pain relievers,
contraception etc should
not have any effect on a
test that measures hCG.
However medications containing
hCG can interfere with the
result.
Pregnancy
Videos
