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 26 to 49 of about 89.
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HelluvaAngel - 169 days ago.
So I'm still freaking out because of the phone call from my Dr's nurse. It took them almost 2 weeks to get my HCG results in. The day I had the blood taken my Dr. thought I was 6 1/2 weeks along, but my levels for that day were only 996. I have no idea if that is good or not and my Dr. can't see me now until June 29th. When her nurse told me the results on the phone she just hesitated for a sec and said that maybe I wasn't as far along as they had thought. What are good numbers ladies? I was either 5 - 6 weeks at the time and no earlier or later.

redheadmama - 171 days ago.
I've just gotten my levels done for the 1st time, & it's 965 at 5w1d (yesterday). This is low but considered normal. Siiiigh. Trying not to stress but wait on the Lord for it's all I can do.

em2 stewarts wife - 172 days ago.
Mandam, I am so sorry for your loss. I have lost 3 babies in the last year and I know how difficult it is. I hope that you expel everything and dont need a D&C but I have had two D&C's and have had no problems. I know how painful the medicated miscarriage can be also as I had that before a D&C once. I know it is not fun. You will get thorugh this. Good Luck and let me know if you need anyhting!

Manda22 - 172 days ago.
UPDATE: Thank-you to everyone who gave me words of advise over the weekend. I went back to the doctor on Monday and my hcg had dropped again to 32 thousdand. the babies heart had probabyl stopped beating about 8 days ago. So they gave me medication to enduce the miscarrage and I go back on Thursday to make sure all the tissue has passed. If not they will do the D&C. Hopefully I have passed all the tissue with the medication!!! This is such a painful and sad emotional experience. The only good thing is we know we can have children, our beautiful 5 year old is proof of that and we will try again soon!

GatorNay - 175 days ago.
mandam- I had a similar experience and sadly it ended in m/c. I was supposed to be 11 wks and went to hear the heatbeat...the Dr could not find the heartbeat on the doppler so they did an u/s...still no heartbeat....the baby was only measuring at 8 wks which was totally wrong- the dr said the baby stopped developing...I was so confused because I too had no symptoms and the baby had been gone for 3 wks already....so it does take your body awhile to figure out something is wrong and break everything down...Dont worry- things will happen the way they are supposed to! Ill pray for you!

Manda22 - 176 days ago.
I went in to the Emerg. room friday because I was feeling very constipated... My OBGYN came to see me and did an ultrasound with a portable machine...he couldnt find a heartbeat so he did a vaginal ultrasound...still no heartbeat. He did blood work and my HcG levels had dropped since they were taken 10 days before this. I was 9 weeks 6 days on Friday and the baby was measuring 9 weeks 1 day.... My OBGYN said you can usually see the heartbeat by 8 weeks and hear it by 10 weeks. I have NO signs of cramping, bleeding or pain at all. He says there is a good chance that I am having a miscarriage and it just hasn't started with physical symptoms yet. OR I am off with my dates and just unable to see the heartbeat yet. The dip in HcG could be somewhat normal at this stage of pregnancy. I am going back to repeat the HcG test and another ultrasound on Monday. Does anyone think there is any hope....Im a mess...I feel awful!! Has anyone ever had an expierence like this??? Thanks....

GatorNay - 177 days ago.
HELP! my HCG levels were above 50,000 how many weeks am I???????

sheework - 179 days ago.
I had a miscarriage April 14th. I have been going in every two weeks to get my levels checked to be sure they were dropping. On the 15th they were at 95 and today the 27th they were at 219. I am trying to not get excited but do you think this means I am pregnant again. I have a feeling it does.

kristy2 - 180 days ago.
its a bit strange that thay are that high high even if u are prego with twins that shoudlnt be that high

cheyne - 185 days ago.
Just to update you all - sadly my little one didn't make it. I went for scan yesterday and today and both gave the same results: the baby's heart beat has now stopped. It put up a good fight and its heart kept beating for three weeks after it stopped growing, but it is now at peace. Thank you so much for all your kind comments, support and advice. It has meant so much to me and really helped me through this difficult pregnancy. All my love and very best wishes to you and yours xxx

Expectantmommie - 186 days ago.
Hello ladies!!! I have recieved a call from my ob/gyn today and im only sapposed to be 3 or 4 weeks preggo and my levels are at 10,000 is this twins??? Anyone have the same and already know they have twins???

cuddleybear - 186 days ago.
hi lady's. I have a quastion about de hcg. i live in the netherlands and i see that in de states the gyn works and interpretated things not the same as here in europe I dont know exactly how far my pregnancy is but my hcg levels are very low 1may was 51 7may 143 13may 253 today a have a bloodtest friday i will hear how much it is every week i had an utrasound but we haven't see a sign of life or a sac i still have hope al is okey any ladys with good stories? bye cuddleybear (europe)

gagirl80 - 187 days ago.
kimk2u2 how many days past ovluation are you? My first HCG level 14dpo was only 45 and I am 20 weeks. As long as it goes up that is a good sign. Hope it works out.

kimk2u2 - 187 days ago.
I went to have hgc test done cause I got a faint like and I called day and they said that my level is 65 and i know that is not good i'm going back in the morn. to see if they went up the dr said that its fine to be that low it might cause I'm only 2-3 weeks what di you guys think

cheyne - 191 days ago.
Hi Owensbaby2, I should be 8 weeks according to my own dates. I went for a scan two weeks ago and only the yolk sac was visible. The sonographer said the sac was measuring 5.5 weeks, I went back a week ago and she saw a flickering fetal pole of 3.5mm with heart pulsations. She measured me as 5.5 weeks again, but said all was fine. I went back yesterday and she said the fetal pole had not grown at all in a whole week. It was still measuring 3.5mm. However the gestational sac had increased by 11mm to a mean sac diameter of 27mm. Yet she dated me as 5.5 weeks again (I guess from the size of the fetal pole). She told me the heartbeat was very slow, but did not tell me how many beats per minute it is. She said that as the embryo had not grown it was no longer a viable pregnancy despite having a heartbeat. Yet she did not show me the screen! She turned the machine off before telling me all this! She booked me for a scan next week - but says she expects the heart to have stopped by then. Please tell me what you think - I too find this all very strange. Is there any hope my baby might start growing and catch up with the size of his gestational sac? xx

cheyne - 192 days ago.
Update: i went for the repeat ultrasound scan i had insisted upon today. They told me that the baby's heart is still beating but the pregnancy has failed. The baby has not grown and is behind dates by 3 weeks. The heart beat is very slow. The gestational sac and placenta have continued to grow - causing my hcg levels to rise and maintain the pregnancy - but as soon as the heart has stopped beating my body will recognize that the pregnancy has failed and i will miscarry. They cannot say when this will be - it could be hours. It could be weeks. I am due back for a scan next week to see if the heart has stopped, and if it has they will offer me a d&c, tablets, or the option of letting nature take its course. If not. I don't know. My little baby is still alive in me and his heart is, very slowly, beating. Is there any hope? They don't think so. But is there?

kristy2 - 192 days ago.
SEY; MAYBE ITS TWINS OR TRIPLETS COZ BOY IS THAT A HIGH READING FOR 6 WEEKS LOL

Shellie77 - 193 days ago.
Sounds perfect :)

babytimbit - 193 days ago.
Hi all, Thanks for answering my concern. I went back to do another blood test for HCG and it went up to 1500 from 872. I am taking it that that is a good sign and i am happy. My doctor told me to go in next week to go and do another ultrasound to make sure that everything is ok. I am thinking and hopefull that it will be. Do you ladies think next week should be fine?

Shellie77 - 193 days ago.
Rhonda, if you have a m/c, the hcg does take a while to go down, depending on how far you were, but IIRC, progesterone can cause some spotting? Keep in mind that spotting in the first trimester doesn't ALWAYS mean m/c. I'm currently 20w and all 1st trimester I had off and on spotting. Good luck :)

Rhonda512 - 193 days ago.
Does anyone know if a urine pregnancy test would show up positive if an embryo dies? I have been taking progesterone for 3 weeks now. I have had some really dark brown bleeding one day since I started it the progesterone and my Urine test are still positive. And if anyone has a story about being on progesterone, please let me know how it turned out.

cheyne - 193 days ago.
Hi Seymourmum, sometimes such an incredibly high HCG at 6 weeks is indicative of: i) a molar pregnancy, ii) a multiple pregnancy, ie. twins or more iii) miscalculation of your date i.e. you are further along than you think - however many people do have unusually high levels when nothing at all is wrong. I think they are giving you an ultrasound to check how far along you are, rule out a molar pregnancy and check to see if you are carrying twins.

Shellie77 - 193 days ago.
It does seem very high...maybe your dates are off. Mine was 39k at 10 weeks, but I was still within range.

seymourmom - 193 days ago.
I am 6 weeks since lmp and got my first hcg/progesterone tests. My progesterone was 20.7 and hcg was 44,000. Is this a high hcg for 6 weeks since lmp? They want me to come in tomorrow for an ultrasound, but didn't really say why. Does anyone know what is going on?

cheyne - 193 days ago.
I think you're right - with the majority of people the sac can be seen at 1100, the fetal pole at about 3000 and a measurable, definite heartbeat at 10,000. But if you would like to see all of these things - and therefore know for sure that everything is alright you should really wait until you are at least 12,000. I went for my first scan at 5 weeks 6 days and my HCG was 10,000. They could see only the sac and yolk sac - nothing else. I went back a week later and they could see the fetal pole and a flickering (not yet measurable) heartbeat. But that first scan got me more worried than it was worth. I worried myself sick for a week until my second scan. I wish I had just waited those few more days. However, I have heard of people with much higher levels seeing nothing and having to wait a week - so I think HCG can be quite high before things have developed to a visible level. Perhaps people should just avoid having scans before at least 6.5 weeks - or they risk having a bit of a fright when they might not see the fetal pole or heartbeat.