HCG

What exactly is the pregnancy hormone and how is it checked?

hCG: human chorionic gonadotropin
HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin. It is also called the 'pregnancy hormone'.

It is secreted by the placenta and is measured by pregnancy tests. hCG promotes the maintenance of the corpus luteum and causes it to secrete the hormone progesterone. Progesterone enriches the uterus with a thick lining of blood vessels and capillaries so that it can sustain the growing fetus. Due to its highly negative charge hCG may also repel the immune cells of the mother, protecting the fetus during the first trimester.

What are normal hCG levels in pregnancy ?
There is a large variation in a 'normal' HCG level for any given time in pregnancy. Once the fetal heart rate is seen, most doctors will monitor the fetal heart rate rather than drawing hCG Some normal pregnancies will have quite low levels of HCG - and deliver perfect babies. There is a wide variation of normal hCG levels. An hCG that does not double every two to three days does not necessarily indicate a problem. However, if the level doesn't increase enough, the pregnancy will fail. This happens for example with a tubal pregnancy. (ectopic pregnancy)

After impantation:
If your ßhCG (a subunit of hCG) is under 5 mIU/ml (milli International Units per milli-liter), you are not pregnant.
If your ßhCG is between 5 an 25 mIU/ml you are probably pregnant.
If your ßhCG is over 25 mIU/ml you most likely pregnant.

After implantation of the embryo the level of hCG increases daily. Within the first 2-4 weeks after fertilization, hCG usually doubles every 48-72 hours. HCG levels peak at about 8-10 weeks of pregnancy and then decline, remaining at lower levels for the rest of the pregnancy.

For actual numbers please see advancedfertility.com. For a nice hCG calculator see babymed.com/pregnancy-tools/hcg/

hCG in pregnany tests
Pregnancy tests measure the levels of ßhCG (a subunit of hCG) in the blood or urine to indicate the presence or absence of an implanted embryo. The urine test can detect levels of βhCG as low as 25-100 mIU/ml. The urine should be the first urine of the morning when hCG levels are highest.

The serum test, using 2-4 mL of venous bloodvcan detect βhCG levels as low as 5 mIU/ml and allows quantitation of the βhCG concentration. The ability to quantitate the βhCG level is useful in the evaluation of ectopic pregnancy (= tubal pregnancy). If you are injected with hCG (Profasi, Pregnyl) in order to increase fertilty, the tests may not be accurate in the first 2 weeks.
Read also Pregnancy tests

hCG in fertility therapy
Because of its similarity to Luteinizing hormone (LH), hCG can also be used clinically to induce ovulation in the ovaries as well as testosterone production in the testes. As the most abundant biological source is women who are presently pregnant, some organizations collect urine from gravidae to extract hCG for use in fertility treatment

HCG level question
My HCG level is not rising as quickly as it is supposed to? What is the normal range, and how worried should I be?

Answer: HCG titers double in 3 to 4 days in a normal pregnancy. If HCG titers drop, the ball game is over and the pregnancy is non-viable. HCG titers that plateau or do not double suggest either a pregnancy that is destined to abort or an ectopic. If there is any question, I like to get a serum progesterone. Progesterone of 15 ng/ml or more is compatible with a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Under 10 suggests an abnormal pregnancy.

Once the hCG titer is 1000ng/ml or more, an intrauterine gestational sac should be seen on endovaginal sonogram. If a gestational sac is seen, this rules out ectopic. By 6 weeks from the last menstrual period, a yolk sac should be seen on vaginal sonogram and by 6-7 weeks a fetal heart beat should be seen. All these parameters can be used to assess the viability of an intrauterine pregnancy. However, one must not delay too long if an ectopic cannot be completely ruled out.

Sample hCG
is a sample listing of expected hCG levels based on time after conception:

0-1 week: 0-50 mIU/ml
1-2 weeks: 40-300 mIU/ml
3-4 weeks: 500-6,000 mIU/ml
1-2 months: 5,000-200,000 mIU/ml
2-3 months: 10,000-100,000 mIU/ml
2nd trimester: 3,000-50,000 mIU/ml
3rd trimester: 1,000-50,000 mIU/ml
Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml
Postmenopausal females: <9.5 mIU/ml

Comments: HCG

Comments 1 to 24 of about 89.
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mrsladybug - 2 days ago.
Last Friday I had a home pregnancy test done and came out positive. That same night I went to the hospital because I was having some cramping and bleeding. There they told me I was 2 weeks pregnant and that my HCG was 104, I had another blood test done 2 days later and my HCG was 126. Can someone let me know if that's normal or if Im having a miscarriage? I really want to know what's going on with my baby! Please help!

SEIM - 4 days ago.
I went for my first U/S today and to my shock there was no heartbeat!!! the baby was as small as a 6 weeks baby... the dr. adviced to do a dnc tomorrow... i am sooo sad this had to happen i was trying to get pregnant for the past 10 months :( i have a daughter that is 20 months old... i was shocked yes... but i wasnt surprised at all.. cause my hcg levels were doubling but were very low... i hope all goes well with the operation tomorrow... i m freaked out..

fallenangel32 - 26 days ago.
Proud -- Ask Dr. to do a HCG QUANT if he just did a screen it just says 'yes' or 'no'

redheadmama - 36 days ago.
PROUD- blood tests really can't be wrong. but it may be worth asking your doctor for a repeat test two days later. or call another doctor for a second opinion. urine tests can be inaccurate but blood tests really aren't.

**PrOuD MoMmIe** - 37 days ago.
OK SO I WAS SUPOSE TO START MY PERIOD OCT 10TH!! I STARTED FEELING SICK AND NOT PERIOD AND HERE IT IS 4 DAYS LATE! I TOOK URINE TEST WITH THEDOLLAR GENERAL DOLLAR TEST AND TWO SAID NEGATIVE AND 3 SAID POSITIVE WITH A VERY VERY FAIT PINK LINE...SO I TALK TO DR TOOK THE BLOOD TEST AND GOT RESULTS TODAY SD I WAS NOT PREGO.....WELL I AM NOT TO SURE OF THAT CAUSE NO PERIOD AND 3 URINE TEST SAY I AM??? BUT THIS MORNING I HAD A HAD BOWEL AND PUSHED VERY HARD AND WHEN I WAS DONE AND WIPED MY WOMEN AREA IT WAS A TINY PINK I MEAN LIGHT PINK COLOR AND SINCE THEN ITS BEEN LIKE TINY TINY SPECKLES AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT??? CAN SOMEONE HELP ME AND TELL ME IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AND HAS ANYONE HAD A NEG BLOOD TEST THAT TURNED OUT TO BE WRONG????

tobij - 86 days ago.
Please can someone give me advice...I am going crazy. I had an ultra sound last monday (I was 9 weeks to the day) and they saw a 9 wk fetus, but no heartbeat. The Dr told me my baby was 100% dead. I have had NO signs of a miscarriage. (I've had some in the past so I know what to look for). My Dr is away, so I was brought into see another Dr in his office. She has sent me for blood tests every 2 - 4 days. Aug 18 - 101,133 Aug 20 - 91,563 Aug 24 - 44,520 I went again today and go again on friday but I am going nutts. They say if you have any drop it's a MC then you read that you peak at around 8 - 10 weeks, then numbers decline. My Dr is back on the 31 so this Dr is passing my results onto him. He will probably just schedule me in for another ultra sound (I'm not sure why I haven't been sent yet), but I have one scheduled already for the 3 of september. Has anyone else gone through this. Any information would be helpful. Thanks

joli13 - 87 days ago.
hey there! i am 5 wks 2 days pregnant and just had my hcg levels checked. it was 11,000. i was just wondering if this is normal? i had a miscarriage 5 years ago at 15wks and am stressing so much that i may have another m/c now. i am scheduled to see my OB tomorrow, and am anxious to see both sacs. i went a week ago, and no sac was visible, but i think my hcg level was too low. ahhhh! this is so stressful. any comments would be appreciated. oh, and twins run in my family, but iÂ´m guessing my levels would have been much higher than 11,000, right? :)

juliannab - 91 days ago.
I really need someone's opinion. I am 5 weeks 2 days pregnant and have and some spotting (brown discharge) with mild cramping. I went to ER where they checked HCG levels and performed an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed only an empty sac. HCG levels were over 11,000 (something like 11,160). Anyway, levels were checked again today and the results were 16,000. Shouldnt HCG levels double? Nurse at OB's office stated not to worry too much because the numbers went up. Levels will be rechecked in 2 days. Doesnt this mean miscarriage?

ch1212 - 98 days ago.
My hcg level the other day was at a 7. Has anyone had a level like this? Dr. said that it could go either way and to recheck the blood level again in 6 days. I took an otc hpt 3 days after the blood draw and it was still negative. Anyone have any thoughts?

Shellie77 - 108 days ago.
tiffy - because it can vary so much. This current pregnancy, at 10weeks I had bleeding and went to the ER, my HCG was 39,000 and I thought for sure I was miscarrying. It was at the very low end of the range, but here I am, at 31weeks now!

tiffyy - 108 days ago.
for some reason no one focus on hcg unless it's a miscariage or when where is issues. i will post mine here anyway just in case it is useful for anyone. at 4 weeks my hcg was 1543 and at 6 weeks it is 114,243

delinah - 116 days ago.
I went to the dr yesterday for some pain I'm 4 wks prg and they did an ultrasound said they saw the sac but nothing else yet said that it can be that I'm too early..going back to the dr for another blood test to see my levals...this is nerve racking with my 2 children I didn't know till I was 11 or 12 wks so I didn't have this worry stuff I did have 2 miscarages 3 yrs ago..any advice?

em2 stewarts wife - 131 days ago.
Number is 112, no more lying to myself and hoping for miracles.... I must just have some left over tissue.

em2 stewarts wife - 131 days ago.
SO I am going for yet another HCG draw for pregnanct number 4... First draw was 27 on may 22, then 404 on may 29 but then only 800 on june 5th and 507 on the 8th of June. I started to miscarry that day and bled for about 2 weeks... I have now been completely blood/spot free for 2.5 weeks but I got a BFP yesterday morning :/ I hope I dont need another D&C. I guess we will see tomorrow! Wish me luck girls!

lisaloo09 - 133 days ago.
hi, iv recently found out im about 5wk3 day pregnant and iv had an ultrasond to make sure everything is normal they found a sac but no yolk or heartbeat which so more than likely cause its to early, on wed my hcg levels where in the low 4000 and on the friday high 6000 so they have only gone up by 60% and everywhere iv read it should have doubled, my doc has booked me in 4 another ultrasound in 2 wks but i am goin crazy waiting and really wana know if anyone has had the same results and ended up ok

morethenanything3 - 147 days ago.
I have been trying to concieve for the last 5 years. I have to kids age 9&7. In the last 5 years I have miscarried 3 babies and last year I am almost died do to an ectopic pregnancy that went undetected. I just found out saturday that I am pregnant, do to my history I go in to the doctor every other day. Monday my titer level was at 54 and weds at 47! I go in tuesday for my next test but my doctor says I am losing this baby too. I am so worried I am having a hard time working and concentrating. I am not in any pain and have no bleeding, occasional dizzy and sweats. Is there in any hope??? I dont think my husband can do this any more he is so worried about me. I just want this more then anything. Since my husband has no biological kids of his own, and I know how badly he wants one. I hope I can carry one for him!

Manda22 - 149 days ago.
ALHOGNER- What a stressful time for you! Im so sorry! BUT great that your baby still has a strong heartbeat! Keep us posted! ~HUGS~

Alhogner777 - 149 days ago.
It's me again. I went to my Dr. apt. today and my HCG levels had dropped more. Now they are down to 6,300. I am still having low back pain but no cramping. The Dr. told me this then told me,'by the look on your face I think you know what that could mean'. He went through the grievance process, options such as D& C, waiting, etc. for what we could do if it is a MC. He told me if we see the baby is developing normally then we would have plently of reason for hope but still would like to know why my HCG levels are continuing to drop so rapidly. Then he set me up for a same day ultrasound & I saw the baby moving. After talking to the Dr. again. He informed me the baby had a good strong heartbeat and that we needed to stop looking at HCG levels at this point. He told me that the HCG levels do drop off (normally) at around 20 weeks. He said but maybe your not 'normal'. I have also read on the web that this starts to drop at about 12 weeks. I also learned that I had a large cyst from ovulating on one of my ovaries that did not disappear when I became pregnant. The Dr. said this could also be affecting my HCG levels. But like he said we are not going to worry about HCG anymore and rely on ultrasounds and heartrate monitoring to check on the health of the baby.

Shellie77 - 150 days ago.
Alhogner77 - I hope not. The levels do tend to lower some after a certain timeframe, and the risk of miscarriage drops considerably after a heartbeat is detected, but there is still that chance, your numbers dropping that much is definitely worrying. Are you having any cramping? I had a lot of bleeding off and on in my first trimester, and Im almost 26weeks now. I wish your Dr had done another ultrasound to make sure, but hopefully things work out! Hang in there.

Alhogner777 - 151 days ago.
I was 12 wks. on Fri, Sat. bleeding started Hcg levels were 9,900. Monday levels were 9,100. Ultrasound turned out good. Baby was kicking and moving about. We heard the heartbeat. It was an assuring relief. Mon. I stopped Bleeding Mon. Tues. heartbeat was found again - still good. One week later (today) I started bleeding again. Hormone levels are now down to 7,500. The ER Dr. would not do another ultrasound or even check the heartbeat. He set up an apt. for Wed. to check levels again. Does this idicate a miscarriage?

dsquared83 - 151 days ago.
That was my result from a blood test, but thanks for ur help

Manda22 - 151 days ago.
I guess it depends what chart you look at the one i found shows 5-426 for 4 weeks but the one on this page shows weeks would be 500-6000...if you are worried I would clal your doctor and see if he would do a blood test for you. Dont worry about it too much just yet everyone is different! Good luck and Sticky Baby Dust!!!

Manda22 - 151 days ago.
hCG levels during pregnancy (in weeks sincelast menstrual period) 3 weeks LMP 5 - 50 mIU/ml 4 weeks LMP 5 - 426 mIU/ml 5 weeks LMP 18 - 7,340 mIU/ml 6 weeks LMP 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml 7 - 8 weeks LMP 7, 650 - 229,000 mIU/ml 9 - 12 weeks LMP 25,700 - 288,000 mIU/ml 13 - 16 weeks LMP 13,300 - 254,000 mIU/ml 17 - 24 weeks LMP 4,060 - 165,400 mIU/ml 25 - 40 weeks LMP 3,640 - 117,000 mIU/ml non pregnant 55-200 ng/ml http://www.justmommies.com/articles/hcg-levels.shtml#ixzz0JDNWIfDL&D

dsquared83 - 151 days ago.
Hello Ladies I'm new here....I found out I'm pregant a couple days ago and I had a question. I took a blood test to check my HCG and I got a 237 and from my counting I'm 4 weeks pregnant 2day. Is a 237 normal or do I have something to worry about. Thanks for those who can help

redheadmama - 165 days ago.
hurray, got my 2nd set of levels - at 5w6d, I went up above 2400 which is good for me. I only double every three days. so we're excited and thankful. :)