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Normal hCG levels during ovulation. On what day after conception can pregnancy be determined by hCG

human chorionic gonadotropin (abbreviated as HCG, HCG, HCG in English, HGL in Ukrainian) is a hormone that, in the normal state of the body, is produced exclusively during pregnancy. The hCG hormone is produced after conception - it is synthesized by a fertilized egg, and after it is formed trophoblast (this is the precursor of the placenta), this hormone is produced by its tissues. That is why the level of hCG is determined only after conception.

Chorionic gonadotropin consists of two different subunits - alpha And beta . At the same time, alpha is identical with subunits of alpha hormones. When it comes to hCG - what it is, its B-subunit is considered. It is important to understand, when considering what beta hCG is, that it is a unique subunit and therefore cannot be confused with other hormones. Speaking about the study on human chorionic gonadotropin, we mean that there is no difference between hCG and beta-hCG.

What is hCG during pregnancy? Its definition and interpretation is a very important stage in the diagnosis of a number of pathologies of both the fetus and the woman. In some conditions, which will be described in this article, hCG values are either greatly reduced or increased. Considering what kind of analysis this is, it must be taken into account that with small deviations from the norm, this study has no diagnostic value. Therefore, some diseases and conditions of the expectant mother ( prolongation of pregnancy , intrauterine infection, chronic placental insufficiency ) is determined by other methods.

After the results of hCG have been obtained, they are deciphered in dynamics, since each woman's hCG level during pregnancy changes in her own way. Therefore, one result cannot be used to judge the situation as a whole.

It is important that the result of the analysis of hCG for pregnancy must be considered by a qualified specialist. After all, decoding the hCG test is very important, as it allows you to correct some problems in the development of the fetus.

Since the free beta subunit of gonadotropin is unique, the test that determines the rate of hCG during pregnancy is also called beta-hCG. Normal - if during pregnancy HCGb appears in the blood a few days after conception. But, nevertheless, if, for example, hCG is 8, what it means, after the first analysis, it is definitely impossible to say. A repeat test will be required to confirm pregnancy. In general, the fb-HCG rate is a very important indicator of fetal development.

When handing over hCG to Invitro, Hemotest, Helix and other clinics, a woman needs to understand what kind of indicator it is, when such a test shows pregnancy, etc. This will be discussed in the article below.

What is HCG for?

When determining HCGb indicators, you need to understand why human gonadotropin is needed. Wikipedia says the following:

this hormone at the beginning of pregnancy stimulates the synthesis process and;
prevents disappearance corpus luteum ;
prevents aggression maternal organism against fetal cells;
initiates physiological and anatomical changes in the body of a pregnant woman;
stimulates the adrenal glands and gonads of the fetus;
participates in the process of sexual differentiation in male fetuses.

Why is this analysis ordered?

Analysis for women is prescribed for the purpose of:

early diagnosis of pregnancy;
monitoring the dynamics of how the pregnancy proceeds;
definition of malformations (fetal anatomy);
development exceptions ectopic pregnancy ;
the need to assess whether the artificial was completely carried out;
establishing that there is a threat;
diagnostics And tumors .

For male patients, such an analysis is necessary to diagnose testicular tumors .

HCG levels during pregnancy

The function of chorionic gonadotropin in the body is very important. Its indicators in the early stages begin to increase, as it is produced by a fertilized egg. It is hCG that makes it possible for pregnancy to develop, since it starts all the processes necessary for bearing a baby.

Already 9 days after ovulation, hCG can be determined in the blood plasma. That is, even when the fertilized egg has invaded the endometrium, there is a slow increase in the indicators of this hormone. And if its low level is determined in the early stages, then the concentration doubles every two days. What exactly should be its level in a certain week, how hCG should grow, slow or rapid growth is noted, you can find out from the corresponding tables.

The growth of hCG during pregnancy occurs up to 8-10 weeks from the last menstruation, when its peak is noted - 50,000-10,000 IU / l. Further, the level of the hormone begins to decrease, by 18-20 weeks it is already reduced by half. Then the content of hCG remains stable for the entire duration of pregnancy.

Gonadotropin during pregnancy is excreted from the body by the kidneys, therefore, it is excreted in the urine. It can be determined by conducting a urinalysis, in the range of 30-60 days after the last menstruation. The highest rates are noted for 60-70 days. That is why, when hCG begins to be produced, you can do a pregnancy test strip or other urinary tests.

HCG levels during late pregnancy can reach repeated peak levels. Previously, such doctors considered a variant of the norm. However, it has now been proven that elevated hCG in the later stages may indicate a developmental pathology. In particular, a high hormone level in the last weeks of gestation sometimes means that there is a reaction of the placenta to placental insufficiency in the case of Rhesus conflict .

Therefore, it is necessary to identify this disease in a timely manner and treat it.

The main signs of hydatidiform mole are:

Constant, indomitable vomit , much more painful than with the usual.
Uterine bleeding (severe daubing) at an early stage.
The size of the uterus is larger than normal at this time.
Symptoms preeclampsia (Sometimes).
Trembling fingers, palpitations, weight loss (rare).

When the signs described above are noted, it is important to consult a gynecologist, undergo an ultrasound scan and be tested for hCG.

If the pregnancy develops normally, then the rate of this hormone rarely increases more than 500,000 IU / L. There is an approximate calculation of hormone norms for each period. But if a cystic drift develops, the level of hCG is different, several times higher than these norms.

To cure a hydatidiform mole, the entire trophoblast must be removed from the uterus. For this, curettage or other surgical interventions are carried out.

It may happen that a benign hydatidiform drift turns into malignant chorionic carcinoma . As a rule, with this tumor, metastases appear very quickly. But it responds well to treatment with chemotherapy .

There are the following indications for chemotherapy:

HCG levels above 20,000 IU/L one month after the mole was removed.
An increase in the level of this hormone after the mole has been removed.
Metastases to other organs.

chorioncarcinoma

chorioncarcinoma may appear both after hydatidiform mole, and after childbirth or abortion. If a woman develops this disease, then 40 days after the pregnancy is completed, the level of hCG has not fallen, but its increase is noted. There may also be uterine bleeding, signs that indicate metastases. In such a situation, there are indications for chemotherapy, surgery. In the future, the patient should be under observation. How long it should last, the doctor decides.

The use of drugs with human chorionic gonadotropin

Like all human hormones, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin can depend on various factors. So, the result of the tests is affected by whether a woman takes drugs containing human gonadotropin orally.

As a rule, such drugs are prescribed to women during, as well as during the period when preparations for IVF are underway, in order to increase the level of the hormone.

In rare cases, such drugs are taken if there is a threat of miscarriage. In any case, if a woman uses such medications, then before taking any measurements and analyzes, you need to warn the doctor about this.

Taking a variety of drugs, many women are interested in whether they can affect the performance of this hormone. For example, it is often asked whether to the hCG level. According to experts, Duphaston may slightly affect the level of this hormone, since this drug controls the level progesterone . However, if the hCG norms do not comply, this cannot be attributed to the effect of the drug, since we can talk about a pathological condition.

The level of this hormone is not affected.

Hormonal drugs, the active ingredient of which is human chorionic gonadotropin, these are Profazi , Humegon , Horagon , Choriogonin , Menogon . They restore the ovulatory process, activate the hormonal activity of the corpus luteum. At what size of the follicle an injection is given, the doctor determines.

Initially, studies are carried out on hormones, their norm in women and deviations. If there are certain deviations, in particular, progesterone is below normal, what this means, the doctor will explain during the consultation and prescribe a specific treatment.

If necessary, to stimulate ovulation, hCG injections are prescribed from 5000 to 10000 IU, in order to maintain pregnancy - from 1000 to 3000 IU. Individual dose selection is important. Therefore, if an injection of 10,000 was given, when ovulation, if an injection of 5,000 was given, after how much ovulation, the specialist will explain.

Currently, human chorionic gonadotropin is also used by athletes, since under its influence it increases in the male body.

False positive test result

Those who are interested in how long a pregnancy test shows for this hormone should take into account that in some situations, tests can be false positive.

This happens in the following cases:

Some experts argue that when taking oral contraceptives, the level of the hormone may increase. However, there is no proven evidence that contraception affects hCG.
As a rule, after childbirth or abortion, the level of the hormone decreases for seven days. In some cases, the doctor waits 42 days, after which tests are taken, and he can make a diagnosis. If the analysis shows that hCG has not decreased or increased, then we can talk about a trophoblastic tumor.
The level may remain elevated when metastases occur. chorioncarcinoma , hydatidiform mole .
Other tumors can also develop from germinal tissues, but they rarely give an increase in the level of the hormone. Therefore, in the presence of education in the brain, stomach, lungs and a high level of human chorionic gonadotropin, first of all, there is a suspicion of trophoblastic tumors with metastases.

Thus, the hCG rate in non-pregnant women should not be higher than those that are normal. The norm of hCG in non-pregnant women is from 0 to 5. The level of this hormone in a non-pregnant woman may be higher in the first days after an abortion, when taking certain medications, and also with the development of certain pathological conditions.

Immunity against hCG

In rare cases (units) in the female body are produced to chorionic hormone. They are an obstacle to the normal attachment of a fertilized egg in the uterus and its subsequent development.

Therefore, if in two or more cases the pregnancy ended in a spontaneous miscarriage, it is important to take an analysis to determine antibodies to hCG and find out if there are any specific abnormalities. If the result is positive, treatment is carried out during the first trimester.

The woman is assigned glucocorticoids And low molecular weight heparins . However, it is important to consider that organisms that produce antibodies to hCG are rare. Therefore, in the absence of pregnancy, you must initially go through all the studies and exclude the influence of other factors on women's and men's health.

conclusions

Thus, an analysis for hCG is a very important study during the period of bearing a baby. It is quite understandable that after receiving the results of the studies, patients have many questions. For example, why hCG is growing, but not doubling, how to correctly decipher hCG according to DPO, etc., does fibroids affect hormone levels, etc. You need to ask a gynecologist about everything, who will help decipher the tests and give comprehensive answers to all questions.

Good morning girls!

On the 8th of August I took hCG. Was 4.5 with 5 positive tests and no menstruation for 3-4 days. The doctor said probably late ovulation or something and said to retake today.

Then the husband brought a test that determines pregnancy by hCG and shows the period after fertilization by weeks. The test showed "+" and 1-2 weeks after fertilization.

Today I'm going to take hCG again. Shaking like an aspen leaf! Very scary (((I'm angry with myself.

To help those who are also worried about their hCG for a short time, I found the indicators for the days after fertilization, so that you don’t worry too much !!

HCG growth by DPO days (day after ovulation):

No. dpo - min [average] max

7 dpo - 2 10

8 dpo - 3 18

9 dpo - 5 21

10dpo - 8 26

11dpo - 11 45

12dpo - 1765

13dpo - 22,105

14dpo - 29,170

15dpo - 39,270

16dpo - 68,400

17dpo - 120,580

18dpo - 220 840

19dpo - 370 1300

20dpo - 520 2000

21dpo - 750 3100

22dpo - 1050 4900

23dpo - 1400 6200

24dpo - 1830 7800

25dpo - 2400 9800

26dpo - 4200 15600

27dpo - 5400 19500

28dpo - 7100 27300

29dpo - 8800 33000

30dpo - 10500 40000

31dpo - 11500 60000

32dpo - 12800 63000

33dpo - 14000 68000

34dpo - 15500 70000

35dpo - 17000 74000

36dpo - 19000 78000

37dpo - 20500 83000

38dpo - 22000 87000

39dpo - 23000 93000

40dpo - 25000 108000

41dpo - 26500 117000

42dpo - 28000 128000

HCG decoding

Normally, during pregnancy, the level of hCG gradually rises. During the 1st trimester of pregnancy, the level of b-hCG rises rapidly, doubling every 2-3 days. At 10-12 weeks of gestation, the highest level of hCG in the blood is reached, then the level of hCG begins to decrease slowly and remains constant during the second half of pregnancy.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced only in pregnant women. An analysis of this hormone allows you to answer the main question: pregnant or not. HCG in the days from conception in the urine increases in proportion to the duration of pregnancy.

It is a gonadotropic hormone that is produced by the cells of the chorion (dense shell of the embryo). A urine test for hCG is carried out to understand whether conception has occurred. If not, then the result will be from 0 to 5 units. If the implantation of the embryo has occurred (that is, the fetus has attached itself to the wall of the uterus), then the level of the hormone will be increased.

Analysis is also needed in order to understand how the fetus feels. A sharp decrease in hCG over several days may indicate an unfavorable course of pregnancy.

At its core, human chorionic gonadotropin is a type of gonadotropin that is necessary for the normal function of the placenta.

HCG is a protein conglomerate consisting of α- and β-units. The α-unit is not specific and is found in other gonadotropic hormones (that is, it can also be found in non-pregnant women). Studies are carried out to determine the β-unit, which is part of exclusively human chorionic gonadotropin.

HCG begins to be produced on the first day after embryonic introduction into the endometrium, that is, about a week after conception. When pregnancy occurs, the hormone maintains the function of the corpus luteum until the placenta is formed. Under its influence, more progesterone and estrogen hormones are formed.

How does it affect pregnancy

During the formation of the placenta, chorionic gonadotropin improves its nutrition, increases elasticity and initiates the growth of chorionic villi. The influence of the hormone favorably affects the course of pregnancy and contributes to its preservation.

On the days after ovulation, human chorionic gonadotropin begins to grow exponentially. An increase in the level is observed until the second trimester of pregnancy. In the II and III trimester, the concentration of hCG in the urine gradually decreases to maintenance values.

In general, the level of chorionic gonadotropin shows the degree of chorionic influence on the entire body. Studies have shown that hCG increases the production of glucocorticoids by the adrenal cortex. An increased amount of steroid hormones improves the adaptive capacity of a pregnant woman. Also, glucocorticoids have a physiological immunorepressive effect, which is also aimed at maintaining the placental barrier.

How the analysis is carried out

The analysis can be done in some paid laboratories. To do this, collect the very first urine in the morning in a sterile jar or container. To eliminate the error, an average portion of urine is needed. Mistakes are possible if assembled incorrectly. Therefore, gynecologists combine the analysis of hCG in the urine with additional research methods (for example, a gynecological examination).

Be careful: it is impossible to determine pregnancy by a general urine test (OAM)! In the laboratory, it is necessary to order the analysis of hCG.

Chorionic gonadotropin is determined in the urine in the body of a woman 7-10 days after conception. A more accurate and reliable result can be obtained from the first day of the delay.

Express labs will give you an answer in two hours. The duration of the study itself is only about 30 minutes. The essence of the method is to determine the β-unit in urine using specific markers. The concentration of the hormone is proportional to the color of the test sample. The accuracy of the method is 98-99%. This method allows you to determine not only the presence of the hormone, but also its amount produced in the human body.

Keep in mind that a blood test for human chorionic gonadotropin is used to more accurately determine the concentration. Fluctuations in the level of hCG in the blood occur much faster than in the urine.

How to do an analysis at home

An analysis to determine the concentration of hCG in the urine can be done using a conventional pharmacy pregnancy test. In such tests, special reagents are used that detect human chorionic gonadotropin.

These tests are not sensitive enough to give an accurate answer immediately after conception. They are informative only from the first day of the delay in menstruation. Although some highly sensitive tests give the correct result a couple of days before the expected date of menstruation.

Most often, tests show a second strip when the hormone level reaches 25 units. And this happens about a week after implantation, that is, two weeks after conception. Some manufacturers declare a higher sensitivity of the test - from 10 units. That is, the test will show a positive result within a couple of days after implantation. But as practice shows, at such an early date there are false positive and (very often) false negative results.

A pharmacy test can only determine the presence of a hormone, but only an analysis in a special laboratory will show its amount.

Watch a video about how doctors determine early pregnancy.

Why is an analysis prescribed if pregnancy is confirmed

For dynamic monitoring of the course of pregnancy, sometimes (most often in stationary conditions) an analysis of hCG in the urine is prescribed by day. At the same time, a change in the hormonal background of pregnant women under the influence of treatment is traced. The concentration of hCG determines whether it is possible to continue therapy with hormonal drugs. When normal hormone levels are reached, the dose of hormonal agents used in treatment is gradually reduced.

Sometimes studies of hCG by days from conception are often carried out to determine the degree of implantation of the embryo during artificial insemination (IVF).

According to indications, laboratory tests are prescribed in the following cases:

confirmation of pregnancy;
monitoring of pregnancy throughout its duration;
threatening abortion;
suspicion of a hormone-producing neoplasm.

In some cases, determining the exact concentration of the hormone allows you to find out the expected date of birth.

Norm by week and by day

The results of urine tests for hCG and its content vary with respect to the gestational age.

As can be seen from the table, the indicator drops from the 10th week of pregnancy, which is associated with the ongoing aging process of the chorionic villi. Such a decrease is called physiological.

For the most meticulous, there is also a table that displays the hormone level by day from ovulation.

Of particular importance is the determination of hCG in ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the embryo is in the fallopian tubes. The level of chorionic gonadotropin in the first days is increased, as in normal pregnancy. But it grows slowly, with a delay of 1-3 weeks. Therefore, if the growth dynamics of hCG is reduced, it is necessary to undergo an ultrasound scan to exclude an ectopic pregnancy.

Low and high results in pregnancy

In women during pregnancy, this indicator may be low or high at the current gestational age. The level of hCG can drop sharply during the following processes:

localization of the embryo in the fallopian tube (that is, with an ectopic);
threatening condition of the fetus;
premature aging of the placenta with the development of insufficiency;
intrauterine death of a child;
spontaneous miscarriage;
arrest of fetal development.

A high level can be defined in the following cases:

multiple pregnancy;
diabetic angiopathy of placental vessels;
preeclampsia;
the use of female hormonal drugs;
some fetal anomalies.

But there is no need to be afraid ahead of time. Laboratory studies of hCG in the urine are not the main ones in the diagnosis of pregnancy pathologies. Any deviation from the norm should be carefully analyzed taking into account the overall clinical picture. You can determine the cause of a decrease or increase in hCG using additional research methods:

collection of anamnesis and external examination of the pregnant woman;
screening ultrasound results;
dopplerography of the vessels of the placenta;
perinatal screening for congenital anomalies.

Why is hCG found in the urine of men and non-pregnant women

Normally, in non-pregnant women and men, a slight concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin can be determined. At the same time, its concentration is very low, which does not exceed the measurement error. If the level is high, this may indicate serious pathologies.

In non-pregnant women and men, the level of hCG in the urine is determined under the following circumstances:

hormone-producing tumor of the reproductive system;
cancerous diseases of the visceral organs;
cystic drift, when the villi of the chorion grow in the form of bubbles with liquid;
malignant tumor of the chorionic villi.

Watch a video about what diseases masquerade as pregnancy.

So, according to this urine test, pregnancy can be determined at the very beginning of its development. The general availability and speed of the research method made the analysis of hCG almost indispensable in the early detection of pregnancy.

If you have a delay in menstruation, the test strip gives an ambiguous result, and the ultrasound still does not show whether conception has occurred, then an analysis for hCG will help clarify the situation. He will confirm or deny fertilization and tell you the date of birth. The level of hCG by day from conception must be kept under control throughout the pregnancy. Why do this and what will he report?

Pregnancy hormone: why is it important and why plot its growth?

Chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced by cells of the embryonic germinal membrane. If the egg is fertilized and it is attached to the uterine mucosa, then its number begins to actively increase. There are 2 variants of this compound - alpha and beta. The second substance is unique, it is found in the blood only during pregnancy. And it is beta-hCG that makes it possible for a woman to save the fetus at the earliest possible time, when the immune system regards it as a foreign “object and tries to do everything to get rid of it. Chorionic hormone suppresses this reaction and makes possible the development of the fetus.

A blood test for the concentration of hCG is of great diagnostic value, because pharmacy test strips react to both alpha and beta components, and only the second fraction of the hormone has informative value. Often gynecologists advise the patient to take such an analysis twice with an interval of 2 days. If the second analysis shows that the rapid growth of the hormone continues, then the fact of pregnancy will be considered proven. For several days, the content of hCG increases by 1.5-2 times. If, during re-diagnosis, it is found that a consistently low level of hCG is maintained or even decreases, then conception has not occurred.

Thus, if hCG is detected in the blood, this is a sign of pregnancy. The diagnostic accuracy of the method is 98%! The analysis will allow you to find out about your interesting position already on the 8th day, while the tests give a reliable result only from the 5th week.

HCG norms by day from conception to childbirth

Usually (in 95% of women), hCG begins to rise in the blood from 7-10 days after conception, and reaches its maximum at 11-12 weeks. That is, the hormone will rise somewhere until the 13th week, then its level will begin to decrease and stabilize by the middle of pregnancy. Before childbirth, the amount of the hormone will drop a little more.

The result of a blood test for hCG is estimated as follows:

in non-pregnant women, its content is about 5 mIU / ml;
in pregnant women - over 20 mIU / ml;

And what does it mean if the result is within the specified limits (for example, it is 14 mIU / ml)? In this case, you will have to conduct a test later to trace the dynamics of hCG growth.

Read also:

To check whether fertilization has occurred, whether there is an ectopic pregnancy, and how viable the embryo is, you can use the table that shows the hCG norms by day from conception. But you should be careful, because after the embryo transfer, the concentration of this hormone by day is higher than in the case of normal conception, and it will be incorrect to count it from ovulation. If on the 14th day after the transfer the hormone content is below 25 mU / ml, then fertilization has not occurred, and a level above the average norm is observed in multiple pregnancies.

In the first weeks after conception, the hormone grows very actively, its amount doubles every couple of days. The highest concentration of hCG by day from conception is observed between 60 and 90 days (at 10-12 weeks). It can range from 50 to 100 mIU / ml. If a woman has her first birth, then hCG can reach 100-200 mIU / ml. Then the increase will stop, and the amount of the hormone will begin to fall. By about day 140, from 1-3 to 20 mIU / ml will be found, and then hCG will not change until almost the moment the baby is born.

In the normal course of pregnancy, hCG in the urine by day from conception (as well as in the blood) appears on the 5-7th day. By this time, its concentration in urine will be from 50 (or more) mIU / ml. It will reach its highest level in urine (200 mIU/ml) in the 1st trimester.

Building a graph of the increase in hCG will allow you to get a reliable picture of the course of pregnancy and respond in time to emerging pathologies.

What does it mean if the content of hCG lags behind or exceeds the norm?

The hCG level by day from conception may be too high for the following reasons:

multiple pregnancy;
toxicosis;
cystic drift (hCG at the level of 50-100 mIU / ml) or a violation of the development of the placenta;
the presence of mutations in the embryo;
pathological degeneration of the germinal placenta;
a benign or malignant tumor that has formed from blastula cells;
if other pathological symptoms are present, this may be evidence of preeclampsia or diabetes in the expectant mother.

Too low growth indicators will indicate such problems:

non-viable embryo, which threatens miscarriage or premature birth;
ectopic pregnancy;
incorrect calculation of the term;
placental insufficiency.

These are dangerous pathologies, so it is very important to detect them in a timely manner, which once again emphasizes the importance and necessity of the test. But remember: sometimes, based on its results, the doctor may suspect chromosomal mutations in the baby, although the baby will be absolutely healthy. Therefore, based on one test, final conclusions about the course of pregnancy and fetal development are never made!

Why do errors happen, what is the reason for false tests?

You need to know that even in a non-pregnant woman, a small amount of hCG (no more than 15 mIU / ml) is always present in the body. But the growth of this hormone can only take place due to conception or such factors:

if a woman is undergoing treatment for infertility, and she is given injections of this hormone in order for ovulation to occur;
after embryo transfer during artificial insemination;
due to the development of cancer.

The test can be not only false positive, but also false negative. This happens in such cases:

if testing was carried out before the hormone content reached the lower threshold of sensitivity;
if a woman is expecting a girl, then a higher increase in hCG is observed. If she is pregnant with a boy, then the test will become positive a little later;
with an ectopic pregnancy.

If hCG rises, but there is no pregnancy?

Exceeding the accepted norm of hCG in a non-pregnant woman, unfortunately, is most often a signal of a malignant tumor of the genital organs, kidneys and organs of the gastrointestinal tract. High levels of the hormone are also observed in such diseases and conditions:

artificial termination of pregnancy (if you do an analysis immediately after an abortion, it will give a positive result);
miscarriage. If, after a spontaneous abortion, hCG continues to rise, it means that the tissues of the fetal membrane remain in the uterus, and they produce the hormone.

The hCG hormone is produced by the cells of the chorion (the membrane of the embryo) after the implantation of the embryo into the uterus. Based on a blood test for b-hCG, the doctor determines the presence of chorionic tissue in the body, which means that the woman is pregnant. An hCG blood test makes it possible to determine pregnancy early - as early as 6-10 days after fertilization, the hCG result will be positive.

The role of hCG in the first trimester of pregnancy is to stimulate the formation of hormones necessary for the development and maintenance of pregnancy, such as progesterone, estrogens (estradiol and free estriol). With the normal development of pregnancy in the future, these hormones are produced by the placenta.

Chorionic gonadotropin is very important. In the male fetus, hCG stimulates the so-called Leydig cells, which synthesize testosterone. Testosterone in this case is simply necessary, as it contributes to the formation of the genital organs according to the male type, and also has an effect on the adrenal cortex of the embryo. HCG consists of two units - alpha and beta hCG. The alpha component of hCG has a similar structure to the units of the hormones TSH, FSH and LH, and the beta hCG is unique. Therefore, in the diagnosis, laboratory analysis of b-hCG is of decisive importance.

You can also diagnose pregnancy with the help of home pregnancy tests based on the analysis of hCG excreted in the urine. But the reliability of the hCG result obtained by the "home" method is significantly lower than the laboratory analysis of hCG blood, since the level of hCG in the urine necessary for diagnosis is reached a few days later than in the blood.

The most common cases when a doctor prescribes an analysis for hCG:

Among women:

Amenorrhea
Diagnosis, determination of pregnancy in the early stages
Rule out the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy
To assess the completeness of induced abortion
HCG is also given for dynamic monitoring of pregnancy
With the threat of miscarriage and non-developing pregnancy
Diagnosis of tumors - chorionepithelioma, hydatidiform mole
Along with AFP and free estriol - as a prenatal diagnosis of fetal malformations

For men:

Diagnosis of testicular tumors.

HCG levels in blood serum

	The norm of hCG, honey / ml
Men and non-pregnant women	< 5
HCG levels during pregnancy:
1 - 2 weeks	25 — 300
2 – 3 weeks	1500 — 5000
3 - 4 weeks	10000 — 30000
4 - 5 week	20000 — 100000
5 - 6 week	50000 — 200000
6 - 7 week	50000 — 200000
7 - 8 week	20000 — 200000
8 - 9 week	20000 — 100000
9 - 10 week	20000 — 95000
11 - 12 weeks	20000 — 90000
13 - 14 weeks	15000 — 60000
15 - 25 weeks	10000 — 35000
26 - 37 weeks	10000 — 60000

Note!

Weekly hCG rates are given for the duration of pregnancy "from conception" (and not for the duration of the last menstruation).
The above figures are not a standard! Each laboratory can set its own hCG standards, including by weeks of pregnancy. When evaluating the results of the hCG norm by week of pregnancy, you need to rely only on the norms of the laboratory where you were tested for hCG!

HCG growth by DPO days (day after ovulation):

No. dpo - min [average] max

7 dpo - 2 10

8 dpo - 3 18

9 dpo - 5 21

10dpo - 8 26

11dpo - 1145

12dpo - 1765

13dpo - 22,105

14dpo - 29,170

15dpo - 39,270

16dpo - 68,400

17dpo - 120,580

18dpo - 220,840

19dpo - 370 1300

20dpo - 520 2000

21dpo - 750 3100

22dpo – 1050 4900

23dpo – 1400 6200

24dpo – 1830 7800

25dpo – 2400 9800

26dpo – 4200 15600

27dpo - 5400 19500

28dpo – 7100 27300

29dpo - 8800 33000

30dpo - 10500 40000

31dpo - 11500 60000

32dpo - 12800 63000

33dpo - 14000 68000

34dpo – 15500 70000

35dpo – 17000 74000

36dpo - 19000 78000

37dpo - 20500 83000

38dpo - 22000 87000

39dpo - 23000 93000

40dpo - 25000 108000

41dpo - 26500 117000

42dpo - 28000 128000

HCG decoding

Normally, during pregnancy, the level of hCG gradually rises. During the 1st trimester of pregnancy, the level of b-hCG increases rapidly, doubling every 2-3 days. At 10-12 weeks of gestation, the highest level of hCG in the blood is reached, then the level of hCG begins to slowly decrease and remains constant during the second half of pregnancy.

An increase in beta-hCG during pregnancy can occur with:

multiple pregnancy (hCG rate increases in proportion to the number of fetuses)
toxicosis, gestosis
maternal diabetes
fetal pathologies, Down syndrome, multiple malformations
incorrect gestational age
taking synthetic gestagens

An increase in hCG can be a sign of serious illness in non-pregnant women and men:

testicular tumors
tumor diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
neoplasms of the lungs, kidneys, uterus
hydatidiform mole, recurrence of hydatidiform mole
chorioncarcinoma
taking hCG medications
an analysis for hCG was done within 4-5 days after the abortion, etc.

Usually, hCG is elevated if the hCG test was performed 4-5 days after the abortion or due to the use of hCG preparations. A high hCG level after a mini-abortion indicates an ongoing pregnancy.

Low hCG in pregnant women may mean an incorrect definition of the term for determining pregnancy or be a sign of serious violations:

ectopic pregnancy
non-developing pregnancy
fetal growth retardation
the threat of spontaneous abortion (lowered hCG by more than 50%)
chronic placental insufficiency
true miscarriage
fetal death (in the II-III trimester of pregnancy).

It happens that the results of the analysis of hCG show the absence of the hormone in the blood. This result can be if the hCG test was performed too early or during an ectopic pregnancy.

Whatever the result of the analysis for hormones during pregnancy is, remember that only a qualified doctor can give a correct interpretation of hCG, determining which hCG is the norm for you in combination with data obtained by other examination methods.

How to take a blood test for the hCG hormone

To perform an hCG analysis, blood is taken from a vein. It is recommended to take blood for hCG in the morning and strictly on an empty stomach. If you are taking an hCG test at any other time, you must abstain from food for 4-6 hours. And you should tell your nurse or your doctor if you are taking any hormonal medications.

A laboratory test for determining pregnancy in the early stages is recommended to be carried out no earlier than 3-5 days of delayed menstruation. A blood test for pregnancy can be repeated after 2-3 days to clarify the results.

To identify fetal pathology in pregnant women, an analysis for hCG, chorionic gonadotropin, is taken from the 14th to the 18th week of pregnancy.
However, in order for the diagnosis of possible fetal pathologies to be reliable, it is necessary to pass more than one blood test for hCG. Together with hCG, the following markers are given: AFP, hCG, E3 (alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, free estriol.

Serum levels of AFP and CG during physiological pregnancy

Pregnancy period, weeks	AFP, average level	AFP, min-max	CG, medium level	CG, min-max
14	23,7	12 — 59,3	66,3	26,5 — 228
15	29,5	15 — 73,8
16	33,2	17,5 — 100	30,1	9,4 — 83,0
17	39,8	20,5 — 123
18	43,7	21 — 138	24	5,7 — 81,4
19	48,3	23,5 — 159
20	56	25,5 — 177	18,3	5,2 — 65,4
21	65	27,5 — 195
22	83	35 — 249	18,3	4,5 — 70,8
24			16,1	3,1 — 69,6