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 162.
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vpfm74 - 914 days ago.
Hi all, I could use some advice. I took two preg test on Wednesday the 17th both positive. Went to hospital the 18th for minor cramping. U/S shows a empty sac and measures about 5 weeks 3 days. My HCG levels were 2600 had to go back Saturday the 20th for more blood work. The results went up to 2900. I know this is not much but it went up. Where I am confused is how could I only be 5 weeks 3 days when I haven't had intercourse since October 14th. Could this be a false pregnancy or am I really pregnant?

*2beamommy* - 920 days ago.
Okay ladies, I just found out that I was pregnant last week. I went to the Dr. and my HCG levels read 2228 on Thursday and 3536 on Saturday. According to my Dr. I should be 6-7 weeks with those numbers. On top of that she has prescribed me Prometrium to take 3 times a day. Does anyone know anything about the medication and should I be worried about a ectopic pregnancy with those high numbers and I am only 4 weeks pregnant?

katerseal - 922 days ago.
Thats incredinle GREENEYES84

GreenEyes84 - 923 days ago.
6 weeks, 1 day and my hCG levels came in at 78,000!!! That seems really high :-s

BeccyA - 938 days ago.
Im worried, I will be 7 weeks pregnant tomorrow and my hcg was 2614 at 5w3d and I had an ultrasound two days later that showed the hb. I havent had any morning sickness but have had cramps nearly the whole way. Do I need to worry a lot about m/c? Im getting really paranoid cus everyone talks about them. Please help this is my first

Stickybean2011 - 953 days ago.
Ok.. so i've got a question.. last wednesday my HCG levels were at 208 and then on friday they were at 541 and then i tested on monday and they are at 1989. Are thoes acceptable levels? Please let me know i'm experiencing horrid anxiety.

rose baby - 954 days ago.
Just FYI ...I miscarried last night :( ... it was just my body rejecting an unhealthy pregnancy....

rose baby - 960 days ago.
So I got call about my bloodwork.... she said my HCG was low and the #s weren't rising properly and was like I am sooo sorry...but told me to come next week to take another blood test.... Now I researched the crap out of it... Last Tues at 4 weeks my HCG was 564 this Tues my 5th week it was 1164. They said it really should double every 2-3 days... so I really should have been between 2250-4500... but everywhere I am looking it says 1164 is ok for the 5th week... In any case, this preggo may not stick now :(

heatherl33 - 981 days ago.
Need some help. I am 7 weeks pregnant. My family practice doctor is telling me my levels are not increasing enough it was 884 last thursday and 1157 on Monday. They ran another today so I will get the results tomorrow. She said it is nonviable or ectopic. I called my OB today to let her know what was going on and she said not to worry she wasn't concerned about the pregnancy as I do not have any cramping or bleeding. Now I don't know who to believe and all this waiting around and different options is stressing me out. Any suggestions?

jubba - 1004 days ago.
Here is some info i found for anyone that is concerned about their HCG levels: * Within the first 2-4 weeks after fertilization, hCG usually doubles every 48-72 hour * An increase of 60% in 48 hours is still considered normal * Below 1,200 mIU/ml, hCG usually doubles every 48-72 hours * Between 1,200 and 6,000 mIU/ml serum, the hCG usually takes 72-96 hours to double * Above 6,000 mIU/ml, the hCG often takes over four days to double * 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

jubba - 1007 days ago.
I need some help. I posted this message in TTCAL and PGAL too, cos I'm freaking out ! If anyone that has had a ectopic/tubal pregnancy can please message me, i would really appreciate it. Ok, so here's my story..... Accrording to my LMP i should be 5 weeks 5 days today. On wednesday (5 weeks 3 days) i went for a transvaginal ultrasound and my doctor couldn't find anything. So he said i could have either ovulated late, so i'm a week or 2 earlier than i thought, so wouldn't be able to see anything, or it could be ectopic. I went for a quantitative blood test and my levels were 2684. Went for another one today and they are 3982. I'm very concerned cos aren't they supposed to double in 48 hours. I read that if the levels don't it might be ectopic. So anyway, i just wondered if any of you could share your experiences with me about what happened to you if you had an ectopic pregnancy. What were your HCG levels like? What symptoms did you have that alerted you to knowing about your ectopic pregnancy? Did you have to go for an op to terminate the pregnancy or did you miscarry naturally? I'm really stressed about this

thinktink78 - 1018 days ago.
Hi I am new to this site...I am coming here for advice, i found out I was Preggers about 2 wks ago, thru home pg test and blood test. My first doctor appt is tomorrow, but I started bleeding yesterday (7 wks) it is not heavy at all as a matter of fact I have had the same pad on all day bcuz it's not a lot. I have some slight cramping also mixed w/alot of gas...I don't know what my hcg level was for my first blood test but I had a second one done here at my work and it shows 376...should I be concerned? Thanks!

res - 1024 days ago.
Yes, it could still be early. It should double every 72 hours. HCG stars off really low and is usually detected by really early result pregnancy tests at 15 or so.

pregnant with number 3 :) - 1024 days ago.
lat Thursday i got two home test and came back pregnant and then went and got blood work done and they said my levels are low but i dont know the number they said i could just be really early i would of been only like 2 or 3 weeks does this sound normal i have to go back on the 9th for more blood work

tones99 - 1058 days ago.
mamalita .. your number is great .. I would be very happy with that .. relax and enjoy your pregnancy .. what will be will be x

mamiita2b - 1060 days ago.
my blood work came back..im 4w5d and its at 3000 thousand is that ok> im worried sick!

Court1008 - 1111 days ago.
Tones - I just happened to see your post and thought I would share what happened with my HCG levels. My first level was 100 (didn't even know I was pregnant, they were just checking all my levels before starting the next round of infertility drugs...surprise!) I went in for more bloodwork 5 days later and it had only gone up to 163. I was told by the doctors to prepare for a miscarraige (a chemical pregnancy is what they told me) because my numbers were not raising fast enough for them. I insisted on another level being taken a week later and my HCG had jumped to 1082, then within another 6 days it went over 9000. Just turned out that this little one was a little slow getting out of the gate. Now I am joining week 10 and the little one is right where it should be development wise! Try not to worry...this early in pregnancy your numbers don't always double every 48 hours. My new doctor says that HCG really only needs to go up by two thirds every 3 days to be considered 'on track'. Yours did that so don't stress and just try to enjoy your BFP for now :) Hope this helps and remember that numbers are just a guideline...NOT A RULE!

tones99 - 1111 days ago.
I was wondering if anyone could help me out on here ... I had a positive hcg reading of 153 on 15 dpo and just had my official test at the hospital today (18 dpo) and got 283 ... they didn't know that I'd been to another doc so they were happy with that number, but I feel nervous as it hadn't doubled and it's been 3 days. Has anyone had this happen and still went on to have a viable pregnancy. I was so excited before today and now I'm just nervous. They don't do follow up BT's unless they are worried about the number or if I have spotting. Should I go back to my doc for another test in a few days?? If anyone could help that would be great .. thanks .. toni

iseepinkdots - 1112 days ago.
I would just like to share my experience... found out i was pregnant then 2 days later started spotting just brown, so went to the ER the next day and my HCG level was 209 (this was a friday) so he gave me a lab slip so go back on monday. my level was 694. they wanted another on wednesday and that was 975. so they said it wasnt doubling anymore so they wanted another and it was 674. so i am having a miscarriage right now as i write this. whats weird is that i only started bleeding RED yesterday and all the other blood for the whole week was only brown. :( sorry if i discouraged u.

Emichelle - 1113 days ago.
I am very concerned, and would please like some advice, i am 4 weeks 2 days pregnant with my first child, i found out i was pregnant sunday with 3 clearblue pregnancy tests that all said positive, that day i had some light spotting but only when i wiped, monday the spotting increased a bit but not much to raise to much concern, and then tuesday i noticed spottes starting to get in my underwear. I went to the ER that same night a little concerned and they told me that my cervix is closed with some slight bleeding on the opening and that my urine tests still came back positive, when they did the ultra sound there was nothing on there! the us technician told me there was no sign of a gestational sack, but she did see endometrial thickening by 2cm, suggesting we may just not be able to see it, when the docter came back into the room he told me that my beta hcg was only 126 and that i could be miscarrying or they would rise in a couple of days and that i was just early, I went home heartstruck and have been praying ever since, I am experiencing some hip and back pain, and bleeding that is a little heavier, i go in to get the blood tests tommorow, Can anyone please tell me whats going on, am i going to lose this one?

em2 stewarts wife - 1197 days ago.
Found this great sight on beta HCG... check it out! It even has a doubling time calculator! betabase.info

susanalanis - 1223 days ago.
SO WANTED TO KNOW IF ANY ONE HAD LEVELS THAT DROPPED AND THEN SLIGHTLY RISED AND HAR PROGESTERONE LEVELS THAT WERE EXTREMELY LOW AT 6 WEEKS AND STILL HAD A HEATHLY BABY. MY LEVELS WERE 2600 THAN 2295 THAN 2450 PROGESTERONE 5.5 BUT I HAD A HEART BEAT. NOW ON PROGESTERONE 200MG A DAY. I HAVE THREE HEATHLY BABIES AND LOST MY LAST TWO BABIES. ANY THOUGHTS ON THIS

amk1984 - 1235 days ago.
got the results from Saturday's test. My levels were 4300...i was only 4 weeks 6 days....does this seem high?

amk1984 - 1239 days ago.
On Monday I was 4 weeks and 1 day my HCG level was 614. I am going for another test Saturday to make sure its progressing properly.

tish06 - 1241 days ago.
My HCG levels were tested on the 11th and they were 31903.6 but i cant figure out how far alone i am can someone help me figure this out?