HCG during pregnancy: normal for weeks

Women in an interesting position or already held mothers know firsthand what the hCG hormone is. Indeed, it is “from him” that many people learn that they are pregnant. Even when test strips can give false information, an analysis of hCG during pregnancy in the early stages gives a high probability. What is this indicator? What can I learn about pregnancy after an hCG test?

HCG - what kind of hormone

HCG (chorionic gonadotropin) is also called the "pregnancy hormone". It belongs to the category of gonadotropic hormones, which, unlike the follicle-stimulating ones, have a completely different arrangement of amino acids.

HCG - differs from other hormones in the human body also in that it is formed in the shell of the embryo - the chorion, which forms 5-6 days after the fertilized egg is attached to the uterine wall. It is the fertilized egg that synthesizes this hormone, so it is produced immediately after conception. Therefore, the time when hCG shows pregnancy varies from 3 to 7 days after fertilization. In this case, ultrasound does not yet show the presence of a fetal egg.

That is why it is worth taking an hCG pregnancy test in the early stages to accurately confirm the expected condition. In addition, indicators of the chorionic hormone throughout the entire period of bearing a child can show how the pregnancy proceeds: with abnormalities or normal. Therefore, to conduct such a study is several times over the entire period of pregnancy.

But the presence of hCG can be noted in women not in position, as well as in the male. The detection of this hormone in the body indicates serious health problems, in particular the development of a hormone-producing tumor. In non-pregnant women, a high level of “pregnancy hormone” indicates that the woman has recently had an abortion.

Role in the body

This substance contributes to the onset of ovulation in a non-pregnant woman, and also forms yellow bodies.

HCG during pregnancy plays an important role. In the first three months, gonadotropin stimulates the production of progesterone and estrogen - hormones that support the normal course of pregnancy. Gonadotropin supports the normal development of the fetal egg until it passes into the "fetus" stage and can not independently produce, as well as stabilize its own hormonal background.

If the developing fetus is male, then hCG stimulates Leydig cells in it, which are responsible for the synthesis of testosterone - the male hormone. In the first weeks of fetal development, the gonadotropin hormone contributes to the formation of good immunity, and also significantly reduces the risk of rejection of the fetal egg by the mother’s body.

In the period between 2 and 5 weeks, the amount of hCG in the body increases 2 times every two days. If a woman carries more than one child, then the level of the hormone will be proportional to the number of developing fruits.

Thus, we can say that hCG in the body of a pregnant woman is needed for:

• production of progesterone and estrogen;
• education and development of yellow bodies;
• reduce the risk of miscarriage by increasing the immunity of the fetus to aggression of maternal immunity;
• stimulating the correct and uniform change in the physiology of the female body;
• stimulation of the adrenal cortex and genital glands of the fetus;
• sexual differentiation in male fetuses.

Based on the foregoing, it becomes obvious that the hormone presented is an important indicator in the body of both a pregnant woman and in the body of non-pregnant, as well as men.

HCG determination

So, when passing such an analysis, a woman takes blood, but the indicator will be taken from plasma. As a result, you can find out not only what pregnancy is, but also when the conception occurred, set the exact date.

The analysis can be done already on the second day of the delay of critical days. And if the gestational age is already 6 days, then the test result will be positive. A study on hCG, as a rule, immediately shows the correct result, but if in doubt, you can conduct a second analysis after 2 days.

To determine pregnancy, blood on hCG should be given on an empty stomach, only then you can get "clean" data. And before the surrender, it is necessary to notify the doctor about the possible intake of hormonal preparations, since they can change the correct indicators.

HCG during pregnancy is prescribed not only in the first days or weeks after conception. Starting from the 4th month (14 weeks), this analysis is sent to identify abnormalities in the development of the fetus, since during this period its organs are formed.

The presence of chorionic hormone is determined by the rapid tests familiar to many women. But in this case, not blood, but urine is applicable. This element is also present in it. However, the test strips show a positive result (if any) only on the 7th day after the delay, and the blood test for hCG after a couple of days. In addition, the plasma hormone content is two times higher than in urine.

Assign an analysis if:

1. It is necessary to diagnose the presence of pregnancy.
2. It is necessary to check the dynamics of intrauterine development.
3. It is necessary to determine the anatomy of the fetus (identification of deviations in embryonic development).
4. It is necessary to exclude the presence of an ectopic pregnancy.
5. An abortion has been performed and you need to make sure that the fetus is completely removed from the body.
6. It is necessary to refute the risk of a possible miscarriage.
7. There is a need to confirm or deny the presence of tumors in the body.

Men are prescribed such an analysis if there is a suspicion of an ovarian tumor.

How is hCG analysis performed during pregnancy?

It is worth starting with the fact that hCG is “built” from “alpha” and “beta” units. "Beta" units are the very landmarks that testify to pregnancy, and it is they who are searched by doctors in the blood of a woman.

Before delivery (in 4 hours) a woman needs to refuse food, for the purity of the result. You can take it at any time of the day, but to confirm pregnancy, it is better to do it in the morning between 8 and 10 hours. A considerable number of doctors also recommend not applying physical activity a few days before the proposed analysis, also for a more reliable result.

To determine pregnancy, hCG is isolated from blood taken from a vein in the elbow. After taking the material, the hand should immediately be bent and held for a while to avoid the appearance of hematomas.

So, the value of the analysis of gonadotropin during pregnancy:

1. 100% confirmation of conception, much more effective than test strips.
2. Determining the exact day of conception and, as a result, setting the exact date.
3. HCG will “tell” whether the fetus is developing properly.

The analysis for men and non-pregnant women is carried out as well as for women in the situation. But this category of people must also observe the following rules:

1. 24 hours before the proposed analysis, it is necessary to abandon the use of alcohol, smoking, taking medications, physical activity.
2. A few hours before hCG, it is worth keeping calm, maintaining emotional balance, instead of eating and drinking, use only clean, non-carbonated water.
3. Do not go for an analysis if you have previously had a medical examination, ultrasound, radiography, massages, physiotherapy.
4. When re-passing the analysis, it is also necessary to observe all of the above rules. Only in this case can we achieve a clean result.

Women who have recently undergone childbirth or abortion are prescribed a re-analysis for hCG after 1.5 months in order to refute the development of tumor formations.

False Analysis Results

Even despite the fact that the analysis for hCG gives the maximum reliable information about the gestational age and condition of the fetus, cases are sometimes possible when the information is false positive:

1. According to many gynecologists, oral contraceptives can affect hCG rates. Therefore, for women taking such drugs, tests give a positive result. But how reliable is this belief of many doctors is not scientifically identified and not proven.
2. After a recent birth or abortion in a woman’s body, the amount of gonadotropin decreases within a week. After 2 months, the doctor prescribes a hCG test. If the result shows a high level of this hormone, then this indicates that the trophoblastic tumor is progressing in the body.

Therefore, if a woman is sure that she is not pregnant, and the results of hCG indicate the opposite, then she is prescribed a diagnosis of transvaginal ultrasound. If an ultrasound refutes the fact of the development of the embryo, then the woman is sent to other types of diagnostics in order to identify the disease.

What is the norm of hCG during pregnancy?

As soon as fertilization has occurred, the fetus begins to develop in the woman’s body. From its shell - the chorion - gonadotropin begins to stand out. Increased rates of this hormone indicate that pregnancy has occurred. The amount of gonadotropin begins to grow from the onset of the fetus, doubling every two days. He reaches his highest level in the period from 7 to 10 weeks. Then the indicator decreases slightly and persists until the second half of the 2nd trimester.

Human chorionic gonadotropin has its own measuring system - milli per milliliter (mIU / ml).

An indicator of more than 25 mIU / ml is a sign of pregnancy.

Values ​​within 5 mIU / ml are normal for women not in position, as well as for men.

As soon as the hCG level in the woman’s blood reaches 1000-2000 mIU / ml, then the doctor will be able to examine the fetal sac already on transvaginal ultrasound.

Different pregnant women may have different levels of hCG. Therefore, it is not correct to draw conclusions according to ultrasound data on the gestational age and date of conception until the hormone level approaches the level of 2000 mIU / ml.

Deviations from the norm

The norm of hCG during pregnancy is an unstable indicator. Its change in one direction or another indicates violations in the development of the fetus, the appearance of complications.

An overestimated level of hCG during pregnancy can be a signal of one of the processes in the body of a pregnant woman:

1. The development of several embryos.
2. Complications of the gestational period or gestosis.
3. Severe toxicosis.

In addition, a high level of gonadotropin is characteristic of girls with diabetes.

Low rates of gonadotropin amount indicate such processes:

1. With an ectopic pregnancy, hCG always deviates from the norm in a smaller direction.
2. Probably a frozen pregnancy.
3. The lagging development of the fetus, its slow growth.
4. Pregnancy overtaking.
5. Chronic placental insufficiency.
6. Independent abortion is not excluded.

Deviations from the norm are also possible if the doctor has incorrectly determined the gestational age. In this case, the hCG in the blood of a woman may not be at all. And there may be many, which may indicate an ectopic development.

The mismatch between the periods of pregnancy established by doctors and the conclusions of the analysis of hCG

Common phenomenon: the gestational age established by the gynecologist does not coincide with what was detected as a result of hCG tests. This is not a deviation in the development of the fetus, just the calculation that the doctor makes is different from the calculation for gonadotropin.

The term established by the doctor is called obstetric, and he begins the countdown from 1 day of the last menstruation. In fact, at this time there is still no pregnancy, so the obstetric date will be 2 weeks behind.

An analysis of hCG during pregnancy counts the period directly from the moment of conception, therefore, it gives more accurate indicators regarding maternal obesity (preliminary date of birth).

Factors Affecting HCG

In addition to the fact of pregnancy, other factors can also affect gonadotropin levels. This applies to non-pregnant women and men. In this category of people, an increase in hCG can provoke:

• Tumors of the lungs, kidneys, testicles or ovaries, uterus, chorioncarcinoma;
• Hormonal drugs;
• In women, hCG may remain after a recent pregnancy or abortion.

In men, gonadotropin mainly indicates the development of a tumor.

In a developing fetus, the level of gonadotropin may change if it is susceptible to the following adverse conditions:

• Down Syndrome increases hormone levels, while lowering the levels of other markers. Back in the last century, scientists have found that the rates of this hormone in the body of a woman carrying a child with Down Syndrome are two times higher than that of a woman pregnant with a normal child. The indicators are similar to those with multiple gestation.
• Patau Syndrome and Edwards Syndrome stimulate a decrease in hCG and other markers.
• Turner syndrome inhibits hCG shifts, stabilizing it in more than one indicator.

Hormone provocateurs

During pregnancy, hCG changes uniformly in weeks by increase up to 14 weeks. Then the indicator stabilizes. But, it also happens that the level of gonadotropin in a pregnant woman rises. Reasons may include:

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
• Intrauterine development of two or more embryos.
• Taking gestagenic drugs (hormones that contribute to conception and the normal course of pregnancy).
• A significant discrepancy in obstetric time and HCG results;
• Preeclampsia, early and severe toxicosis.
• Menopause can trigger the release of gonadotropin.
• Genetic abnormalities in the development of the fetus.
• Taking drugs containing hCG for treatment.

With high gonadotropin levels, a number of other tests are prescribed to the pregnant woman, which confirm one of the possible deviations. Then treatment is prescribed, if possible.

Providers of reduced hCG

Low rates of gonadotropin may indicate an incorrect pregnancy period, when the true indicators of the amount of the hormone do not correspond to the term.

But, most often, a decrease in the "pregnancy hormone" indicates serious violations in the development of the fetus. These factors include the threat of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, frozen development, etc.

HCG Tables

For a better orientation in terms of gonadotropin, it is worthwhile to bring a table with hCG levels by week of pregnancy.

The presented indicators are only a guideline, since in each pregnant woman the increase can occur in different ways.