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 51 to 74 of about 89.
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kristy2 - 195 days ago.
its just in the early pregnancy ward at the hospital i am at thay said the sack can bee seen at 1100 hcg but the heart beat cant bee seen till over 4500 sum cases 0ver 5500

cheyne - 195 days ago.
Your HCG will be doubling every 48 hours at this early stage of pregnancy. Seeing as they are only 872 you will need to wait at least a week and a half for a decent chance of seeing the fetal pole on an ultrasound.

kristy2 - 195 days ago.
an ultrasound can only pick up a sack at 1100hcg so if u are around the 800 go back in 3 days

cheyne - 195 days ago.
Babytimbit, I don't know much about HCG but I don't think it can accurately date pregnancy - what is more important is that the numbers rise at a good speed. (Doubling every 48 hours ideally in the early stage). I went for an ultrasound at 5 weeks 6 days and they saw only a gestational sac and yolk sac - no baby or heartbeat. I went back a week and a half later and they saw a flickering fetal pole with heart pulsations. I am going back this Thursday and hope to see a good rate of growth and a heartbeat which can be counted - and hopefully heard.

babytimbit - 196 days ago.
Hi, I am really new to this site and just found out i am pregnant after TTC for 6 months. This is my first pregnancy and we are truly excited! I had blood work and they told me my HCG was 872. From reading on this site, that would put me at 3-4 weeks. does this sound right? I had an u/s done and it did not show anything. I was told to go back in a week and repeat the u/s. Has this happened to anyone? I would really appreciate some feedback since i am completely new to this.

agummybear - 196 days ago.
Wow I was happy with my numbers until I saw what everyone else has. My hcg was 476 (at about 3 weeks) is that good??

mugs - 196 days ago.
I had a blood draw Saturday at 5 weeks 6 days (21,000) and today at 6 weeks 1 day (30, 885). Did not double but according to sources that is okay at this point. I also had an ultrasound and it's dating me exactly where it should...saw the little heart beating away too...the best sight in the world!

kristy2 - 196 days ago.
yay im so glad to stop worrying i first went to emergancy with pain to my belly thay sent for blood we first thought i was 5 weeks pregnant by my last period ....but my hcg only showd 150 wich put me around 2-3 weeks so thay left ime for 4 days to see if thay were going up or down an thay are now 1400 so thay are going up my scan today is to see if there is a pregnancy in my tubes yay i get to see my little sacky if all goes good

cheyne - 197 days ago.
Sorry for my moment of panic there - to correct myself - my HCG went from 9,300 on 28th April to 26,320 on the 8th May (10 days) giving it a doubling time of 6.66 days - At 6-7 weeks pregnant is this very bad? Should I be worried? Thanks x

cheyne - 197 days ago.
Hi, I'm 7 and a half weeks pregnant - but the ultrasound scan reckons I'm 6 weeks pregnant. My HCG was 9300 two weeks ago. It is now 23600. Isn't it supposed to climb much faster than this - how bad it this? Help!? xx

cheyne - 199 days ago.
I am CERTAIN of my dates. I should be due 24th December. I must be 7 weeks pregnant - my LMP was 19th March. My cycle was a regular 28 days. On the odd occasion it wasn't, it was never shorter than 27 days and never longer than 30. I got a strong positive pregnancy tests over 3 weeks ago on the 17th April. Two weeks ago my HCG was 10,000. Yet I went for a scan at 5 weeks 6 days and they saw nothing but the yolk sac. I went back the other day at 7 weeks exactly and they saw a fetal pole and heartbeat and gave me a hospital letter for my doctor saying they clearly saw these things - but it was so tiny I couldn't see it - barely a grain of rice. They said I am 5 and a half weeks. Impossible. What's going on? I think its stopped growing. What if it's died inside me. Help!?

huichin - 200 days ago.
I am new to this site, used femara and gonal F this month for the first time. My HCG was 149, 15 days after ovulation. Two days later it went up to 443. Doc says that I have a 50/50 chance of twins b/c I had two mature eggs this cycle. I also had a progesterone level of 46.4 eight days after ovulation, which seems pretty high to me from what I've read on the internet. I have my first ultrasound in a week, I am very curious!

kristy2 - 201 days ago.
i am 19 days past ovulation an i am at 150hcg is it normal

cheyne - 208 days ago.
Hi everyone, I went for scan yesterday to 'put my mind at rest' the doctor said. I am 5 weeks and 5 days pregnant. The scan was a vaginal scan and showed a sack, a yolk sack and...nothing else. There was no sign of a fetal pole or heartbeat. The person performing the scan said the scan was showing me to be 5 weeks and she would not expect to see anything at this point. She told me to come back in a week for another scan. However, considering my HCG level was 9300 the night before the scan do things look very bad? Am I going to miscarry a blighted ovum, or is there still hope an embryo will show up and things will be alright?

cheyne - 209 days ago.
My HCG level was 2300 on Friday. Three days later (Yesterday) it was 8012. Today I had a strange thumping/knocking pulse-type sensation low in my abdomen. I went to the hospital to get it checked out to be on the safe side. They just discharged me after about two hours, saying I seemed fine and not to worry. Yet they gave me my HCG level just before discharging me - and it is 9300. Considering my level was 8012 thirty six hours ago does this mean I am definitely going to miscarry - or is there still some hope?

cheyne - 210 days ago.
Hi everyone, I'm new here. I recently found out I'm pregnant and am having my HCG levels monitored due to a previous miscarriage and stillbirth. I don't know anything about HCG and maybe you guys could help me out? - My HCG at 5 weeks 2 days was 2300. Then at 5 weeks 5 days it was 8012. Is this a healthy level? and is it climbing at a healthy rate? Is it too high or low? I'm very worried.

gagirl80 - 215 days ago.
lafo your hcg looks great I did IVF in Jan and my RE likes to see the hcg above 50 on 14dpo plus yours more than doubled! My hcg was only 45 on 14dpo and I am 16 weeks pregnant good luck:)

lafo - 215 days ago.
hey can someone tell me if these levels are ok? im nervous they are too low. 12 dpo=30 14 dpo=109

babynguyen2 - 232 days ago.
Ok I have taken 3 hpt in the last 2 weeks all neg. Im 8 days late. January I was 6 days late, February was a normal period and still waiting for this period to show up for march even though we are in April now. I plan on testing again in a couple of days, my DD is 8 months old and I still breastfeed. I have been have periods for the last 5 months. Could I be prego and just have low hcg levels or am I going to miss a period all together for breastfeeding even I have had periods for the last 5 months? Any advice would be great!

militarymommy06 - 235 days ago.
Found I am pregnant. Went to ER for what i thought was ruptured ovarian cyst. LMP 16 March. Blood and Urine came back positive. HCG is 31. Is this good for being about 2 weeks pregnant? I didn't think you find out this early!? Vaginal u/s didn't show anything but a thick endometrial lining.

Mossy1966 - 243 days ago.
Hi all, I am concerned and hope someone can help me out. I am 7 weeks pregnant and on Monday I did a blood test for HCG levels, then again on the Wednesday. I went to the docs today and they said that on Monday it was 12500 then on Wed it was 13000, is that a normal reading? I mean, it has only risen like 500!! Just a week ago I had an ultrasound and saw the heart beating away at 120. I have had no bleeding, no pains, all has been normal. 2 years ago I had a miscarriage and the fetus stopped growing at 6 weeks. Does this reading mean the same thing will happen? I had pain etc back then though..I feel good and am worrying that it is starting to stop growing. I am getting another blood test tomorrow(friday)

jess6009 - 253 days ago.
HELP!!!! i gave birth 16 weeks ago, i just did a home pregnancy test and i got a faint posaitve. could this just be left over hormones or am i pregnanct again??????

gamama31791 - 257 days ago.
pinkypink - I cant believe your dr would even tell you that!! Honey as long as your numbers are rising that is a really good thing. Its better when their multiplying (just like yours are doing) i've heard all the time of dr's not being to find a heartbeat- well just b/c the baby may have been hiding. 8 wks empty sac? i never heard of that. I wish you all the luck girl and I know that everything will be ok. here is a link to a site that helped me when I miscarried. Its lots of stories I think you will be impressed with about other moms. some stories when the dr says they miscarried and never did, in fact there is some where the dr was going to do a D&C and thank god they didnt b/c like i said before the baby was hiding and dr couldnt find a HB. so read up on this site and i know it will make you feel a lot better. http://www.misdiagnosedmiscarriage.com/

pinkypink - 257 days ago.
Well ladies today marks my first day in 8 weeks! Iâ€™m not sure what it going on with my lil bean, the doctors is telling me that there isnâ€™t even a bean in there! Just an empty sac. I have had plenty of blood work to check my HCG levels; my arms are so bruised my BF is calling me a druggie. LOL. But the blood work as came back with high levels, but they are just not going up fast enough. The first tests were 15,783 and 2 days later it was 22,237 then they did the vaginal ultra sound when they didnâ€™t see a heart beat. So they sent me for another test and it was 27,152 and then 34,588. It is so hard! My doctor is telling me that he would be surprised if this turned into a normal pregnancy, I have had a MC back in July â€™08 so I am at high risk to have another. I just wish this would make up its mind to go one way or the other and not stay in the middle. Sorry so much ladies, I just have a lot on my mind! Has any of you ever heard of anything like this?

chris - 262 days ago.
15 dpo my HCG was 888...is this high?