In our time, it is not difficult to establish the fact of pregnancy, since in pharmacies specially designed products are sold. We are talking about tests that are in different price categories from the cheapest to the most expensive. But if the results are not satisfactory, and the ultrasound cannot give a definite answer, then you can donate blood for analysis, where the hCG norm will be determined. Moreover, this hormone is found not only in the blood, but also in the urine of pregnant women.
But what is hidden under this abbreviation, what is the norm of this hormone, and what is the best way to pass an analysis? All these issues can concern almost every woman who wants to become a mother as soon as possible.
What is hCG?
Every woman faced the need to take an analysis for the hCG hormone, but not everyone guesses what this means. Nevertheless, it is worth filling this gap.
The abbreviation itself stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. This substance is present in the body of both women and men. Moreover, its amount is from 0 to 5 mU / ml, not more. In women with the onset of menopause, its amount increases to 9 mU / ml.
If the amount of gonadotropin in the human body (regardless of gender) exceeds 5 units, this is no longer the norm of hCG (including non-pregnant women) and indicates serious problems against the background of pathological processes. In this case, you must immediately seek medical help.
In this regard, an analysis of hCG can be prescribed to patients with the suspicion of the development of any tumors, as a result of which it is possible to detect a serious pathology in a timely manner and immediately begin a course of treatment. But most of all, gonadotropin acts as a "indicator" of pregnancy, which allows us to establish the fact of motherhood. Only for this should tests be performed correctly.
As for pregnant women, in their body gonadotropin begins to be produced only after the fertilization of the egg by a sperm and the embryo is fixed on the uterine wall. Chorion (the outer shell of the embryo) is responsible for its formation. Actually, thanks to this, the hormone also received such a name - chorionic.
HCG norms by week
The production of gonadotropin occurs 5-6 days after fertilization of the egg, so it is advisable to test for hCG no earlier than 7-10 days from the moment of conception.
Moreover, the concentration of the hormone in the blood exceeds its amount in the urine by 2 times. For this reason, even the most advanced urinalysis is not very informative.
The following information will also be useful to many women:
- The hormone in the blood of the female body can be detected 1.5 weeks after ovulation.
- The concentration of hCG is doubled for every 2 days, which indicates a favorable course of pregnancy. In this regard, each representative of the fair sex needs to know the norm of the hormone every week.
- The amount of gonadotropin reaches its maximum value at the beginning of 3 months of pregnancy. This is also the norm of hCG. Subsequently, by week 20, its concentration decreases by half and remains unchanged until the birth itself.
Pregnancy tests are guided by this hormone, showing the likelihood of a successful conception. Moreover, the most common and cheap test strips are not very reliable. Nevertheless, they can be used, but it is better not earlier than 14-16 days from the moment of conception. Otherwise, they will not give the desired result. But in pharmacies you can find hypersensitive tests, which are more expensive. But they can be used in a day or two from the moment of delay.
HCG functionality
In women who are in a position, but are not yet aware of this, this hormone begins to be produced after the fertilization of the egg. What is the functional task assigned to him? This specific hormone plays a very important role, since much depends on it, and if the norms of hCG are observed for weeks, then its role is as follows:
- HCG prevents the disappearance of the corpus luteum.
- Helps the mother's body in the production of progesterone and estrogen in the initial stages of pregnancy.
- Gives a command to start physiological changes in a woman’s body.
- It weakens the mother’s immunity for the benefit of the child, who at the initial stage of her life is just a set of cells. It is necessary to provide protection against the aggressive effects of many factors.
- Thanks to the hormone, the endocrine processes start in the fetus: the adrenal glands and the sex glands begin their work.
- Synthesis of testosterone occurs if the conception of a boy occurs.
Each woman should know this information, which will help her to treat herself and her unborn child more carefully. It is also advisable to know the hCG norms by day, which will be discussed a little later.
The need for hCG analysis
Many women may have a logical question about why they need to measure the level of hCG. Usually, the very first analysis, most expectant mothers do at home using well-known tests. However, after conception, you have to wait several days for the coveted second strip to appear. And, as you know, the expectation is always painful, so some donate blood for analysis of hCG, so as soon as possible to know whether they became a mother or not. As a rule, such an analysis is submitted 2-3 days after the delay.
If you have enough patience, then you can limit yourself to the usual tests. Only they do not always give an accurate "diagnosis", which may be due to an early test or some other reason (2 strip barely visible and so on.). In this case, blood donation for analysis will give more accurate information: conception time and gestational age.
If a "special situation" is established, it is necessary to regularly measure the level of hCG. The norm for women will be presented in the form of a table below in the text. This will allow you to control the course of pregnancy, track and prevent the appearance of any pathology. Observing the dynamics of the hormone in the blood, the doctor monitors the development of the fetus and, if there is any suspicion, appoints an additional examination. In particular, you can detect:
- Down syndrome and a number of other genetic abnormalities for a period of 11-13 weeks.
- A delay in the development of the fetus, as well as various anomalies, due to which the body systems (nervous, digestive, genitourinary) are formed incorrectly. It can be detected at 16-18 weeks of gestation.
For this reason, all pregnant women must undergo complex screenings from 11 to 14, as well as from 16 to 20 weeks. In this case, the level of gonadotropin is determined, then the obtained data are compared with the values of the hCG norm.
But what is most valuable in such an analysis is the ability to timely detect the threat of a miscarriage, as well as an ectopic or dead pregnancy. If the bearing of the child is normal, nothing else will be required except standard screenings. But if the pregnancy is “problematic” in nature, it is observed more carefully, which will allow timely detection of pathologies in the development of the fetus.
Type of analysis
In medicine, there are two types of blood tests:
- Common.
- Free.
A general study is prescribed to women to determine early pregnancy. It is carried out in combination with prenatal screening. The latter includes a complex of biochemical and ultrasound procedures that are used to identify possible abnormalities in the development of the fetus.
If there is suspicion of the development of a tumor process, then in this case the determination of the hCG norm is done using a free blood test. Oncological formations in the female ovaries or male testicles can also serve as a reason.
It is only worth considering that with a positive analysis for free hCG, it is too early to talk about the occurrence of pathological changes in the child.
Features of the analysis
When do women need to go for blood tests? As a rule, a study is carried out starting from the 30th day of the menstrual cycle, which corresponds to the 1st or 2nd day of delay. The biomaterial is taken from a vein, and in order for the diagnosis to be as accurate as possible, certain rules must be observed:
- Blood sampling is done on an empty stomach and preferably in the early morning. But if a woman for some reason cannot come to the laboratory, then you can come at another time, but just before the procedure, do not eat for 6 hours.
- When taking any medicine, you need to notify the doctor and laboratory assistant about this. This is especially true for hormonal drugs.
- On the eve of the analysis, avoid heavy physical exertion, which affect the reading of the hCG norm from conception.
- For two or three days, give up coffee, alcohol, as well as spicy and fatty foods. In particular, this is more true for young girls who still need to confirm or deny the fact of pregnancy. Women who are already in a position are well aware that they should not use it anyway.
- If you have recently undergone a course of physiotherapy, you should not be silent about this either. In this case, the decision is made only by the doctor, who decides whether this circumstance can be neglected or the study can be postponed for a certain time.
Rules are not as complicated as they might seem at first glance. Nevertheless, they must be observed exactly.
Norm indicators
As mentioned above, the hCG rate in non-pregnant women and men is 0-5 units. In expectant mothers, the concentration of gonadotropin begins to increase rapidly. And if in the first week after a successful conception there are only 25 units, then by the end of the 11th week its number rises to 225,000. After that, the amount of hCG begins to decrease. A more visual picture can provide the table below.
As you can see from the table, the hCG rate at 12 weeks (for example) is from 19 to 135 thousand units. Thus, it can be seen that within the first half of pregnancy, the concentration of the hCG hormone begins to increase first, then drops. In the second half, gonadotropin remains the same. Any excess or decrease in the indicator indicates an unfavorable course of pregnancy. For this reason, the level of the hormone should be considered in dynamics, and not according to the results of a single analysis.
Next, another table will be presented, where the hCG norms are indicated by day.
It should only be taken into account that the norm of gonadotropin is a conditional concept. This is due to the fact that each laboratory operates with its own indicators. In this regard, to decipher the results of the analysis, to identify inconsistencies with the norm and their causes, as well as prescribe the appropriate treatment, only a qualified specialist can. Self-medication in this case is strictly contraindicated!
Deviations from the norm
Small deviations of the hormone from the norm, which almost always takes place, should not cause concern. But such a conclusion can only be made by a doctor on the basis of the results of studies, medical history, age, weight of women and other factors.
However, the amount of gonadotropin can differ significantly from the norm of hCG during pregnancy, day or week, up or down. In this case, you can be sure that there are any violations in the woman’s body. But what exactly can it say? This issue should be carefully studied.
But first, it is worthwhile to understand why significant deviations are observed if the woman is definitely not pregnant. In this case, this says a lot and is undesirable:
- Malignant process in the ovaries. The hCG hormone here is a tumor marker and analysis must be done at the slightest suspicion of the development of a tumor process.
- Formations in the uterus or ovaries.
- The tumor began to affect the lungs or kidneys.
- The presence of chorionic carcinoma is a malignant formation that forms from embryonic cells and quickly metastases to the pulmonary structure and vagina.
- May be a consequence of hormone therapy.
- The presence of another, no less serious pathology - cystic drift.
- Due to abortion or childbirth.
Now we turn to the consideration of deviations in pregnant women. And separately for each case.
Reasons for an increase in hCG
Abnormal hCG is manifested against the background of diabetes, early toxicosis or gestosis. However, this does not always mean anything bad. For example, with multiple pregnancy, when two embryos develop, one can observe a doubling of indicators. And if triple is expected, then the concentration of the hormone will be three times higher than normal!
In addition, this can be an alarming sign, since a chromosomal pathology in the development of the fetus is not excluded. Also, a long pregnancy can be the cause of a high concentration of the hCG hormone, which is not typical, and is mainly associated with the characteristics of the female body, including the duration of the menstrual cycle.
What causes a decrease in hormone?
Lower rates from the norm are often detected as a result of an incorrect determination of the gestational age. The fact is that there is an obstetric period that counts from the day of the last menstruation, while pregnancy as such is not yet. The real time, that is, from the moment of conception, can show a blood test that will correspond to the exact age of the embryo.
However, if the gestational age is set correctly, then a deviation of hCG below normal usually indicates a change in the body of a woman of a pathological nature. It could be:
- Antennal death of the fetus.
- Risk of miscarriage.
- Chronic placental insufficiency.
- Ectopic pregnancy.
- Repotting.
In addition, the constant underestimated growth dynamics of the hormone can be a sign of a missed pregnancy. In this case, it is necessary to begin treatment as soon as possible. Moreover, it often implies the surgical intervention necessary to completely cleanse the uterine cavity.
Feature of an ectopic pregnancy
Finding out what is the norm of hCG, it is worth mentioning separately the case of an ectopic pregnancy, since its indicators can vary greatly. In some cases, especially in the early stages, the level of gonadotropin is within normal limits, which indicates a favorable pregnancy. Only then its concentration begins to decline, and it is very important to detect it in time. For this reason, the test must be performed weekly, despite the good results obtained in the initial stages. A low level of hCG occurs for a number of reasons, and the most basic of them is the improper placement of the embryo.
An ectopic pregnancy may indicate a deviation from the normal hCG at 13 weeks, i.e. less than 18,000 units. This is a big problem that leads to dangerous consequences. Unfortunately, a favorable birth in this case is completely excluded, and pregnancy must be terminated without fail. And the sooner this happens, the higher the chances to conceive again, but already a healthy child.
As is known, an egg ready for fertilization occurs with male reproductive cells already in the final section of the fallopian tube. After that, it is fixed on the wall of the genital organ, and the embryo enters its active phase. However, due to various circumstances, the egg moves through the fallopian tube very slowly. In this case, the sperm can overtake her in the middle of the whole path. The result of such a “meeting” is the fixation of the egg in the fallopian tube, but here the fetus cannot fully develop. Therefore, it is extremely important at this stage to identify a deviation of the hCG norm in the blood to a lower side.
As the embryo grows, serious damage is caused to the reproductive system of the female body. In the end, this leads to a rupture of the fallopian tube, which is inevitably accompanied by internal bleeding. If timely assistance is not provided, death can not be avoided.
In conclusion
The level of hCG can be considered normal if and only if its concentration increases within reasonable limits, which can be determined using a special table (available in the article). Do not ignore the delivery of weekly tests, as this is the right way to quickly respond to any possible deviation.
And if the test shows a successful conception, from now on a woman should understand what responsibility lies with her. The full development of the child largely depends on maintaining the right lifestyle during pregnancy. You should always remember this!