You can take HCG after conception. Why take a blood test for hCG during pregnancy - which will show the level of the hormone. What is the normal level of hCG in non-pregnant women?

One of the main clinical studies to confirm the fact of conception at this stage is the analysis for hCG. When will the blood on hCG show that pregnancy has occurred?

Before you figure out when hCG starts to be produced, it is worth saying a few words about what this analysis is. HCG - human chorionic gonadotropin, which is produced first by a fertilized egg, after which this "role" is taken on by the trophoblast.

It is for this reason that with an increase in the level of this hormone, in the absence of any pathologies in the body, we are talking about developing pregnancy. In turn, an increase in the level of hCG without pregnancy may be due to a number of pathological conditions. More details about the rate of this hormone can be found in the article.

Chorionic gonadotropin begins to be synthesized immediately after the attachment of the gestational egg to the uterine wall. This occurs approximately 4-6 days after conception. And already 7 days after the fertilization of the egg, this hormone appears in the woman's blood. But sometimes the concentration of gonadotropin in the body is insignificant, so not all tests and clinical analyzes are able to recognize it.

After implantation of the embryo, there is a rapid increase in gonadotropin. So, passing an analysis for this hormone according to the scheme every 2 days, you can see that the hCG indicators double. And so on throughout the 1st trimester. After 12 weeks, the hormone levels will begin to gradually decrease, since now the placenta is responsible for the development of the embryo. It is through her that the fetus will now receive all the necessary nutrients to support its normal growth.

But this is in the case of the normal development of pregnancy. If there are any deviations, then the hormone indicators may be higher or lower than normal. So, for example, with low dynamics of gonadotropin growth, we can talk about a dying or ectopic pregnancy. Whereas high levels of this hormone may indicate abnormal development of the fetus. Therefore, it is worthwhile to understand that the analysis of hCG is very important for diagnosing the condition of a pregnant woman, and it is highly discouraged to refuse to take it.

HCG diagnostic methods

So, we have already found out that a positive analysis, in the normal state of a woman's body, shows pregnancy. Now let's figure out what hCG diagnostic methods are used in relation to pregnant women.

It should be said right away that all home pregnancy tests work precisely by responding to the presence of this hormone in urine. The only thing is that not always express tests can show a reliable result, which may be due to the low sensitivity of the test or its "inoperative state", provoked by the expiration of its expiration date.

In fact, the hormone can be determined in the blood and / or urine of a pregnant woman. At what stage of pregnancy the hCG test is able to show that conception has taken place, we also have already decided - in the blood gonadotropin, using high-precision equipment, can be determined as early as 6-7 days after conception. Whereas doctors recommend taking an analysis no earlier than 1-2 days after a delay in menstruation.

HCG in the blood: growth dynamics

Outcome

Summarizing all of the above, let's summarize:

HCG is a chorionic hormone that is produced by the outer shell of the embryo in order to stimulate the processes in the body of the expectant mother that support the vital functions of the fetus. The hCG test helps to determine in the early stages of pregnancy whether conception has taken place or not.
When can HCG in the blood show pregnancy? The synthesis of the hormone begins immediately after the implantation of the gestational egg to the wall of the uterus, which occurs 5-7 days after conception. Whereas in the blood, hCG in sufficient quantities will appear only 1-2 after implantation.
Gonadotropin is excreted by the kidneys, therefore, as soon as it starts to be processed by the genitourinary system, it immediately enters the urine. And it is on the principle of reaction to this hormone that home tests work. It should be borne in mind that gonadotropin appears in the urine a little later, in contrast to its entry into the blood - somewhere in 10-14 days after conception.

Have you ever been tested for hCG to determine pregnancy? If so, at what stage was it and did the study show a reliable result?

Determination of the hCG level is a standard procedure for early diagnosis of pregnancy. As early as 6-8 days after conception, it is possible to determine whether there is a pregnancy by donating blood for hCG content in any clinical diagnostic laboratory.

After a pregnant woman is registered with an antenatal clinic, a blood test for hCG is carried out if necessary, therefore, in most cases, in city antenatal clinics, it is not included in the list of mandatory tests. However, in modern clinics, this analysis is mandatory in the first trimester of pregnancy, since this is the most convenient way to timely prevent the occurrence of negative consequences for the health of the fetus.

Decoding the result of a blood test for hCG during pregnancy:

Why donate blood for hCG during pregnancy?

Chorionic gonadotropin (or "pregnancy hormone") begins to be produced by the embryonic membrane as soon as the ovum penetrates into the wall of the uterus, and this happens somewhere around 6-8 days after conception.

In the early stages, when the test for diagnosing pregnancy at home does not yet show a clear second strip, a laboratory blood test for hCG will help to confirm the "interesting position", because the concentration of the "pregnancy hormone" in the blood of a pregnant woman is higher than in urine.

And after being registered in the antenatal clinic, a study in the dynamics of blood for the hCG hormone (in combination with an ultrasound scan) is able to determine whether the fetus is developing normally inside the womb.

Usually, a blood test for hCG is taken at 11-14 weeks of pregnancy (during the first comprehensive screening - "double test") and at 16-20 weeks (during the second screening - "triple test"). At prenatal screenings, the level of b-hCG is determined in ng / ml (see table 1-a and 1-b).

Table 1-a and 1-b, respectively

Beta-hCG is a component of chorionic gonadotropin, the quantitative assessment of which is aimed at determining abnormalities in the development of the fetus.

It is especially important to conduct a blood test for gonadotropin in the first trimester of pregnancy if there is a threat of miscarriage. Monitoring the condition of the fetus every week by doing an ultrasound of the pelvic organs is a risk for the baby, because excessive ultrasound exposure can negatively affect the course of pregnancy, since the harmlessness of ultrasound has not yet been proven. But a blood test for hCG is considered a harmless way to monitor the development of pregnancy.

Also, a blood test for hCG is prescribed if a frozen and / or ectopic pregnancy is suspected.

How to donate blood for hCG correctly? When to take?

To determine the level of hCG, blood is taken from a vein. It is recommended for the purity of the results obtained to donate blood for analysis in the morning on an empty stomach (provided that the last meal was at least 8 hours ago).

Remember that tea / coffee and juice / fruit drinks are also food, so in the morning you can only drink mineral water. And the day before the test, it is advisable not to eat fatty fried foods.

To test blood for changes in the level of hCG in dynamics, blood should be donated at the same time of the day, preferably in the morning.

But if in the morning there is no opportunity to visit the laboratory, then you can carry out the analysis every time during the day, at about the same time, but the last meal should be at least 4-5 hours before the analysis.

Immediately before the blood sampling itself, you need to calm down and sit quietly for 5-10 minutes.

Taking synthetic progestogen can increase the level of hCG, so warn the laboratory assistant about this in advance.

It is necessary to undergo an ultrasound scan and donate blood during a comprehensive screening of the 1st and 2nd trimester on the same day or at least like this: undergo an ultrasound scan, and the next morning - donate blood for hCG, but no later than 3 days after the ultrasound scan ...

If, before collecting a blood test, you feel weakness, dizziness and other lightheadedness, notify the nurse about this in advance and then your blood will be taken in a lying position.

HCG level by week of pregnancy

Throughout the entire period of pregnancy, the level of hCG changes: at first, it progressively increases, reaches its peak, the level of hCG slows down slightly, remaining practically unchanged, and then gradually decreases.

So in the first weeks of pregnancy, the hCG level doubles every 2-3 days. At 8-9 obstetric weeks (or 6-7 weeks from conception), it stops growing and then begins to slowly decline.

For diagnostic value, the level of hCG in a woman's blood is important only until the 20th week of pregnancy.

The norms for the level of hCG differ depending on the method of analysis in a particular laboratory. Therefore, it is important to always carry out blood tests in the same laboratory. Check with the lab technician or doctor who gave you a referral for a blood test to find out the acceptable range for hCG levels in your week of pregnancy.

Below are the normative values of hCG of various medical institutions, including the independent laboratory "Invitro", which has branches in many cities of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine (see table 2-4).

table 2

Table 3

Table 4

Decoding the result of a blood test for hCG during pregnancy

Having received the result of a blood test, it is necessary to compare the obtained value of the hCG level with the standard value according to the duration of pregnancy.

Lowering hCG levels

A decrease in the concentration of hCG in the blood of a pregnant woman occurs for the following reasons:

the threat of spontaneous abortion (in other words, with the threat of miscarriage), when there is a deviation of the value from the norm by more than 50%;
an ectopic or frozen pregnancy (the level of hCG increases very slowly or has stopped growing up to 9 weeks of pregnancy);
chronic placental insufficiency.

Increased hCG levels

An increase in the concentration of the hormone in the blood of a pregnant woman leads to:

multiple pregnancies (hCG levels increase in proportion to the number of fetuses);
early toxicosis or gestosis;
intrauterine infection;
diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman;
cystic drift;
chorionepithelioma;
fetal pathology at the chromosomal level (for example, with Down syndrome and other malformations);
taking synthetic progestogen.

Typically, in women with irregular menstrual periods or late ovulation, the date of conception can be significantly different from the date suggested by doctors. And such a discrepancy between the established gestational age and the real one is reflected in the blood test by an increase in the level of hCG.

Simply put, the gynecologist calculated that the gestational age, for example, is 5 obstetric weeks, starting her report from the first day of the last menstruation. But in fact, ovulation occurred later than the due date (not 14 days before the start of the next menstruation, but several days before the end of the menstrual cycle), then the real gestation period from conception (ovulation) is 1 week and several days.

Therefore, hCG should not correspond to the norm for the 5th obstetric week, but for 1-2 weeks from conception or 3-4 obstetric weeks. An ultrasound scan will establish a more accurate gestational age according to the size of the fetus, and the hCG level should correspond to this period.

A high level of hCG only in combination with a decrease in the level of AFP can indicate the likelihood of the presence of Down syndrome in the fetus (see table 5).

Table 5

HCG for anembryonia

The hCG level can continue to rise even with abnormal pregnancy. The main way to make sure that the baby is alive and well is to undergo an ultrasound "plus" to hear the fetal heartbeat. The heart begins to listen from the 3rd week from conception (or from the 5th obstetric week of pregnancy).

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is one of the most important indicators of pregnancy and its successful development.

Assessment of the hCG level helps to determine the presence of pregnancy in the early stages, when ultrasound is not yet informative.

Note:

1. The norms of hCG are given for the gestational age "from conception (ovulation)", and not by the date of the last menstruation.

2. The above figures are not a benchmark! Each laboratory may have its own standards. When evaluating the results, it is advisable to rely on the standards of the laboratory where the analysis was performed!

3. If you do not know your pregnancy period or the test results do not coincide with your calculations, take a look at our pregnancy Calendar... Perhaps you just miscalculated it.

Why does the hCG pregnancy period not coincide with the doctor's calculations?

Please note that according to hCG, the gestational age is determined relative to the date of conception and reflects the age of the unborn child. The obstetric period of pregnancy is calculated by the doctor relative to the date of the last menstruation and has no connection with the timing of conception.

Factors affecting hCG levels

Increased hCG levels in the absence of pregnancy:

taking hormonal drugs (hCG);
residual hCG levels from a previous pregnancy or after an abortion;
chorionicarcinoma (chorionepithelioma), recurrence of chorionicarcinoma;
cystic drift, recurrence of cystic drift;
tumors of the testicles or ovaries, lungs, kidneys, uterus, etc.

Increased hCG levels during pregnancy:

multiple pregnancy (the result increases in proportion to the number of fetuses)
prolonged pregnancy
early toxicosis of pregnant women, gestosis;
chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus (Down syndrome, serious fetal malformations, etc.);
diabetes mellitus in the mother;
taking synthetic gestagens.

Decrease in the level of hCG during pregnancy - inconsistency with the gestational age, an extremely slow increase or absence of an increase in concentration, a progressive decrease in the level, and by more than 50% of the norm:

discrepancy between the real and the expected gestational age
(possibly due to an irregular menstrual cycle)
the threat of interruption (the level of the hormone decreases by more than 50% of the norm);
undeveloped pregnancy;
ectopic pregnancy;
chronic placental insufficiency;
prolongation of pregnancy;
intrauterine fetal death (in 2-3 trimesters).

False negative results (non-detection of hCG during pregnancy):

the test was performed too early;
ectopic pregnancy.

At the beginning of pregnancy, a woman often doubts her conception. How can you dispel your doubts? An analysis for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) will help the expectant mother in this.

What is hCG, how does its amount change during pregnancy

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone that appears in the body about a week after fertilization, it is hCG that is responsible for the successful development of pregnancy, confirms its presence.

After the union of the male and female cells, an embryo is formed, surrounded by a protective embryonic membrane - a chorion. The chorionic villi are precisely responsible for the production of hCG, but it should be borne in mind that a low level of hCG is also determined in non-pregnant women, as well as in men (it is produced by the pituitary gland and should normally not exceed 5 mU / ml). The described hormone consists of two subunits: α and β. When determining pregnancy, only the β-subunit is taken into account. A sharp increase in β-hCG may indicate a woman's pregnancy.

An increase in hCG levels in early pregnancy is the main sign of a miracle that has happened.

The concentration of hCG in the blood during pregnancy doubles every two days, the hormone enters the urine later, therefore, the determination of pregnancy by blood test is considered the most reliable.

If the result is from 5 to 25 mU / ml, it is better to retake the analysis after two days and see if the result has doubled. If in doubt, consult a doctor immediately.

How is the hCG test done to determine pregnancy

To find out if there is an increase in human chorionic gonadotropin, you can arrange a check with a pharmacy pregnancy tests or take a blood test.

Most pregnancy tests can detect its presence from the first day of the delay, and some highly sensitive ones even earlier.

Pregnancy tests

Most often, a woman, feeling the onset of pregnancy, does a hCG test at home. Pregnancy tests are available at any pharmacy and usually show the correct result from the first day of the delay. Pregnancy tests are different:

test strips;
tablet;
inkjet;
electronic.

They differ in cost, usability and sensitivity. For example, the highly sensitive ClearBlue Plus Rapid Tests detect increased hCG five days before the delay.

Pregnancy tests have tips that make them even easier to use.

It is best to do a pregnancy test in the morning during the first visit to the toilet, as the concentration of hCG in the morning urine will be higher. The analysis is easy - you just need to follow the instructions. For example, pregnancy test strips are used as follows:

Dip the test strip to the specified level (indicated on the strip) in a container filled with urine for 15 seconds.
Then take out the strip and place it on a dry surface.
The result can be assessed within 3-5 minutes (but not later than 10).
Two bars indicate a positive result, one negative.

If the second bar (test) is not clearly visible, the result is still considered positive.

On the plate tests, urine should be applied with a pipette, and the jet should be placed under the stream of urine for a certain amount of time specified in the instructions. In these types of tests, the result is also judged by the number of strips.

I almost always used a pregnancy test called "Frautest" and the streaks showed up right away. The result was always correct, regardless of the time it was carried out (for example, I saw a positive result of the second pregnancy late in the evening on the first day of the delay).

Laboratory blood test

A blood test for hCG is the earliest marker of pregnancy.

It is also important for determining the correct development of the fetus, so doctors prescribe blood donation for beta-hCG before prenatal screening - at 11-13 weeks and 19-20.

The analysis of hCG in early pregnancy can be taken by a woman herself, without a referral from a gynecologist

For this, venous blood is taken from a pregnant woman in the morning on an empty stomach. For the correct result, it is advisable to observe a few more conditions:

refrain from smoking and alcohol, fried and fatty foods for a day;
avoid physical activity, sports training;
warn the doctor about taking medications;
try to eliminate stress, emotional overexcitement.

Video: how to take a blood test for hCG correctly

HCG rates by week of pregnancy

To confirm pregnancy, a blood test can be performed as early as 7-10 days after conception. In the first weeks, the level of hCG doubles every two days, reaching a peak by 10-11 weeks. It is under the control of hCG that the corpus luteum produces estrogens and progesterone. After the 11th week, the level of gonadotropin usually decreases, since the corpus luteum is no longer needed (the placenta itself is already capable of producing pregnancy hormones in the required quantities).

By the level of hCG, you can roughly determine the duration of pregnancy.

To compare the result of hCG with the level of the norm, there are special tables.

Table: hCG rates by week of pregnancy

Advantages and disadvantages of the method for determining the presence of pregnancy by the level of hCG

A blood test for hCG is one of the most reliable indicators of pregnancy. Its undoubted advantages include:

lack of special training;
early pregnancy diagnosis (even before delay).

However, this method also has disadvantages: we are talking about false positive (the level of the hormone is high, but there is no pregnancy) and false negative hCG (with a negative value of the hormone, there is pregnancy). Let's look at both of these cases below.

False positive hCG result

Sometimes a woman finds many signs of an "interesting situation", a blood test for hCG is positive, but there is no pregnancy.

Not always a positive hCG test means pregnancy

It is important to know that a false positive result is possible when:

taking hormonal drugs based on hCG;
malignant tumors;
abortion or miscarriage, after which less than two weeks have passed.

It is necessary to observe the growth of gonadotropin: if there is no dynamics, you need to look for the reason for such an increase. Sometimes it turns out to be an ectopic or frozen pregnancy.

In my 5th week of pregnancy, the hCG value was 24457 mU / ml. Since he was close to the lower limit of the norm, and earlier I had laparoscopy, the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy was 25%. Fortunately, according to the ultrasound results, the pregnancy was normal, and the eldest son was developing normally.

False negative HCG result

The opposite situation also happens: menstruation does not come, the blood hCG value is minimal, the test shows one strip, and as a result, the woman turns out to be pregnant. This is usually due to the fact that the test was done too early (the embryo has not yet taken hold or has just taken hold, so the increase in hCG is still insignificant).

If the embryo develops normally, then there is nothing wrong with this uncertainty in the early stages. However, the danger can be, for example, an ectopic pregnancy.

One of my friends had such a case. She decided that the test strip was defective, and did not repeat the blood test for hCG. The situation ended sadly. The pregnancy turned out to be ectopic. During an emergency operation, she had to remove one of the tubes, which further reduced the chances of getting pregnant.

Pain during an ectopic pregnancy is felt in the pelvic region, abdomen, or even radiates to the arm, shoulders and neck

What could have contributed to the low hCG value? There are several reasons:

The test or analysis for hCG is done too early.
Ovulation in the cycle shifted, so fertilization also occurred later.
The embryo has not yet established itself, and the increase in hCG is still insignificant.
Ectopic or frozen pregnancy, as well as the threat of miscarriage.
Hereditary pathologies, fetal abnormalities.

In case of an alleged pregnancy, you need to donate blood for hCG twice to confirm or deny its occurrence.

HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) or HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a special pregnancy hormone.

Pregnancy can also be diagnosed using home pregnancy tests based on the analysis of hCG excreted in the urine. But the reliability of the hCG result obtained by the "home" method is much lower than a laboratory hCG blood test, since the level of hCG required for diagnosis in the urine is reached a few days later than in the blood

The hCG hormone is produced by chorionic cells (membranes of the embryo). Based on a blood test for b-hCG, the doctor determines the presence of chorionic tissue in the body, which means that a woman is pregnant. The hCG blood test makes it possible early - as early as 6-10 days after fertilization, the hCG result will be positive.

The role of hCG in the first trimester of pregnancy is to stimulate the formation of hormones necessary for the development and maintenance of pregnancy, such as progesterone, estrogens (estradiol and free estriol). With the normal development of pregnancy, these hormones are subsequently produced by the placenta.

Chorionic gonadotropin is very important. In a male fetus, hCG stimulates the so-called Leydig cells, which synthesize testosterone. Testosterone in this case is simply necessary, as it promotes the formation of male genital organs, and also affects the adrenal cortex of the embryo.

We will give the most common cases when a doctor prescribes an analysis for hCG.

Among women:

Amenorrhea

Early pregnancy diagnosis

Eliminating the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy

To assess the completeness of induced abortion

HCG is also rented for dynamic monitoring of pregnancy

With the threat of miscarriage and non-developing pregnancy

Diagnosis of tumors - chorionepithelioma, cystic drift

Along with AFP and free estriol - as prenatal diagnosis of fetal malformations

In men:

Diagnosis of testicular tumors.

Serum hCG rates

HCG rate, honey / ml
Men and non-pregnant women< 5
HCG levels during pregnancy:
1 - 2 weeks 25 - 300
2 - 3 weeks 1500 - 5000
3-4 weeks 10,000 - 30,000
4 - 5 weeks 20,000 - 100,000
5 - 6 weeks 50,000 - 200,000
6 - 7 weeks 50,000 - 200,000
7 - 8 weeks 20,000 - 200,000
8 - 9 weeks 20,000 - 100,000
9 - 10 weeks 20,000 - 95,000
11 - 12 weeks 20,000 - 90,000
13 - 14 weeks 15000 - 60,000
15 - 25 weeks 10,000 - 35,000
26 - 37 weeks 10,000 - 60,000

Decoding HCG
Normally, during pregnancy, the level of hCG gradually rises. During the 1st trimester of pregnancy, the level of b-hCG increases rapidly, doubling every 2-3 days.

HCG blood test

In order to find out if you are pregnant or not, you can do a blood test for hCG. This analysis shows the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin in the body. Chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that appears in a woman's body at the very beginning of pregnancy. When conception occurs, the egg divides, and in the process of division, an embryo and fetal membranes are formed from it, one of which is called a chorion. It is the chorion that produces hCG, which they try to detect in a blood test. In very rare cases, hCG is present in the body of a non-pregnant woman or man. This happens with some diseases. In some cases, this hormone may be present for 4-5 days after the abortion.

The level of chorionic gonadotropin in the body changes during pregnancy.

The level of hCG during pregnancy is normal

Pregnancy period from conception

HCG level, honey / ml

1-2 weeks 25-156

2-3 weeks 101-4870

3-4 weeks 1110-31500

4-5 weeks 2560-82300

5-6 weeks 23100-151000

6-7 weeks 27300-233000

7-11 weeks 20900-291000

11-16 weeks 6140-103000

16-21 weeks 4720-80100

21-39 weeks 2700-78100

How to take a blood test for hCG?

Blood for analysis is taken from a vein
Blood must be taken in the morning on an empty stomach.
At other times of the day, blood can be donated at least 4-5 hours after eating
It is necessary to inform the doctor about the medications being taken at the moment.
The analysis is carried out on the 3rd - 5th day of delayed menstruation
During pregnancy, you can focus on the level of hCG in order to monitor the course of pregnancy; changes in the concentration of this hormone may indicate pathology.
Low levels of chorionic gonadotropin in pregnant women may indicate conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, fetal pathology, placental insufficiency, etc.
High rates can be with multiple pregnancies, with congenital malformations of the fetus, with diabetes mellitus in a woman, while taking synthetic gestagens.
Too fast an increase in the level of hCG during pregnancy may indicate such serious complications as cystic drift and trophoblastic tumors. Bubble drift is associated with abnormal development of chorionic villi, which nourish the embryo before the placenta is formed. The chorion changes and ceases to perform its functions, as a result of which the pregnancy ceases to develop. But a particularly dangerous condition is associated with the transformation of chorionic cells into malignant ones, which leads to cancer. These conditions are very rare, and a blood test for hCG levels helps your doctor diagnose them.
The accuracy of the analysis for the hCG hormone is very high and much higher than when using pregnancy tests to diagnose pregnancy.

Human chorionic gonadotropin. The rate of hCG during pregnancy.

What is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)?
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a special protein hormone that is produced by the membranes of the developing embryo during the entire period of pregnancy. HCG supports the normal development of pregnancy. Thanks to this hormone, the processes that cause menstruation are blocked in the body of a pregnant woman and the production of hormones necessary to maintain pregnancy increases.
An increase in the concentration of hCG in the blood and urine of a pregnant woman is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy.
The role of hCG in the first trimester of pregnancy is to stimulate the formation of hormones necessary for the development and maintenance of pregnancy, such as progesterone, estrogens (estradiol and free estriol). With the normal development of pregnancy, these hormones are subsequently produced by the placenta.
Chorionic gonadotropin is very important. In a male fetus, hCG stimulates the so-called Leydig cells, which synthesize testosterone. Testosterone in this case is simply necessary, as it promotes the formation of male genital organs, and also affects the adrenal cortex of the embryo. HCG consists of two units - alpha and beta-hCG. The alpha component of hCG has a similar structure to the units of the hormones TSH, FSH and LH, and beta-hCG is unique. Therefore, in the diagnosis, laboratory analysis of b-hCG is of decisive importance.
Small amounts of hCG are produced by the human pituitary gland even in the absence of pregnancy. This explains the fact that in some cases, very low concentrations of this hormone are determined in the blood of non-pregnant women (including women during menopause) and even in the blood of men.
Acceptable blood levels of hCG in non-pregnant women and men
Concentration of hCG in urine honey / ml Men and non-pregnant women Less than 5 Women during menopause Less than 9.5
How does the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) change during pregnancy?
With the normal development of pregnancy, hCG is determined in the blood of pregnant women from about 8-11-14 days after conception.
The hCG level rises rapidly and, starting at the 3rd week of pregnancy, doubles approximately every 2-3 days. The increase in the concentration of hCG in the blood of a pregnant woman continues until about 11-12 weeks of pregnancy. Between 12 and 22 weeks of pregnancy, the concentration of hCG decreases slightly. From 22 weeks until delivery, the concentration of hCG in the blood of a pregnant woman begins to increase again, but more slowly than at the beginning of pregnancy.
By the rate of increase in the concentration of hCG in the blood, doctors can determine some deviations from the normal development of pregnancy. In particular, with an ectopic pregnancy or a frozen pregnancy, the rate of increase in the concentration of hCG is lower than in a normal pregnancy.
An accelerated rate of increase in the concentration of hCG can be a sign of cystic drift (chorionadenoma), multiple pregnancies, or fetal chromosomal diseases (for example, Down's disease).
There are no strict guidelines for the content of hCG in the blood of pregnant women. The hCG level at the same gestational age can vary significantly from woman to woman. In this regard, single measurements of the hCG level are not very informative. To assess the development of pregnancy, the dynamics of changes in the concentration of hCG in the blood is important.
Days since your last period
Gestational age Nomes of the hCG level for this period

26 days12 days 0-50

27 days 13 days 2 5-100

28 days 2 weeks 50-100

29 days 15 days 100-200

30 days 16 days 200-400

31 days 17 days 4 00-1000

32 days 18 days 1050-2800

33 days 19 days 1440-3760

34 days 20 days 1940-4980

35 days 3 weeks 2580-6530

36 days 22 days 3400-8450

37 days 23 days 4420-10810

38 days 24 days 5680-13660

39 days 25 days 7220-17050

40 days 26 days 9050-21040

41 days 27 days 10140-23340

42 days 4 weeks 11230-25640

43 days 29 days 13750-30880

44 days 30 days 16650-36750

45 days 31 days 19910-43220

46 days 32 days 25530-50210

47 days 33 days 27470-57640

48 days 34 days 31700-65380

49 days 5 weeks 36130-73280

50 days 36 days 40700-81150

51 days 37 days 4 5300-88790

52 days 38 days 49810-95990

53 days 39 days 54120-102540

54 days 40 days 58200-108230

55 days 4 1 day 61640-112870

56 days 6 weeks 64600-116310

HCG rate, honey / ml Men and non-pregnant women < 5 HCG levels during pregnancy:

1 - 2 weeks 25 - 300

2 - 3 weeks

1500 - 5000

3-4 weeks 10,000 - 30,000
4 - 5 weeks 20,000 - 100,000

5 - 6 weeks 50,000 - 200,000

6 - 7 weeks 50,000 - 200,000
7 - 8 weeks 20,000 - 200,000
Tests to determine the level of human chorionic gonadotropin
To determine the level of hCG, various laboratory blood tests are used that can detect pregnancy at a period of 1-2 weeks.
The analysis for hCG can be passed in many laboratories on the referral of a gynecologist and independently. No special preparation for taking a blood test for hCG is required. However, before getting a referral for a test, be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, as some medications may affect the test results. The hCG test is best done in the morning on an empty stomach. For a higher reliability of the test, it is recommended to exclude physical activity on the eve of the study.
By the way, home rapid pregnancy tests are also based on the principle of determining the level of hCG, but only in the urine, and not in the blood. And it should be said that compared to a laboratory blood test, this one is much less accurate, since the level of hCG in the urine is two times lower than that in the blood.
A laboratory test for determining pregnancy in the early stages is recommended to be carried out no earlier than 3-5 days of delay in menstruation. A pregnancy blood test can be repeated 2-3 days later to verify the results.
To identify fetal pathology in pregnant women, an analysis for hCG, chorionic gonadotropin, is taken from 14 to 18 weeks of pregnancy.
However, in order for the diagnosis of possible fetal pathologies to be reliable, it is necessary to pass more than one blood test for hCG. Together with hCG, the following markers are deposited: AFP, hCG, E3 (alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, free estriol.)
Serum levels of AFP and hCG in physiological pregnancy
Pregnancy period, weeks AFP, average AFP level, min-max HCG, average HCG level, min-max 14 23.7 12 - 59.3 66.3 26.5 - 228 15 29.5 15 - 73.8
16 33,2 17,5 - 100 30,1 9,4 - 83,0 17 39,8 20,5 - 123
18 43,7 21 - 138 24 5,7 - 81,4 19 48,3 23,5 - 159
20 56 25,5 - 177 18,3 5,2 - 65,4 21 65 27,5 - 195
22 83 35 - 249 18,3 4,5 - 70,8 24
16,1 3,1 - 69,6
Can the analysis for hCG be "wrong" in determining pregnancy?
HCG indicators that go beyond the norm for a particular week of pregnancy can be observed if the gestational age is incorrectly established.
Laboratory tests for hCG can be wrong, but the chance of error is very small.
Decoding HCG
Normally, during pregnancy, the level of hCG gradually rises. During the 1st trimester of pregnancy, the level of b-hCG increases rapidly, doubling every 2-3 days. At 10-12 weeks of gestation, the highest hCG level in the blood is reached, then the hCG level begins to slowly decrease and remains constant during the second half of pregnancy.
An increase in beta-hCG during pregnancy can occur when:
- multiple pregnancies (the rate of hCG increases in proportion to the number of fetuses)
- toxicosis, gestosis
- maternal diabetes mellitus
- fetal pathologies, Down syndrome, multiple malformations
- incorrectly set gestational age
- taking synthetic gestagens
  An increase in hCG can be a sign of serious medical conditions in non-pregnant women and in men:
  - production of hCG by the pituitary gland of the examined woman; testicular tumor
    tumor diseases of the gastrointestinal tract
    neoplasms of the lungs, kidneys, uterus
    cystic drift, recurrence of cystic drift
    chorionic carcinoma
    taking hCG drugs
    the analysis for hCG was done within 4-5 days after the abortion, etc.
    Usually, hCG is increased if the hCG test was performed 4-5 days after the abortion or as a result of taking hCG drugs. A high hCG level after a mini-abortion indicates an ongoing pregnancy.
    Low hCG in pregnant women may indicate an incorrect setting for the determination of pregnancy or be a sign of serious violations:
    - ectopic pregnancy
    - undeveloped pregnancy
    - delayed fetal development
    - threat of spontaneous abortion (decreased hCG by more than 50%)
    - chronic placental insufficiency
    - true prolongation of pregnancy
    - fetal death (in the II-III trimester of pregnancy).
      It happens that the results of the analysis of hCG show the absence of the hormone in the blood. This result may be if the hCG test was performed too early or with an ectopic pregnancy.
      Whatever the result of the analysis for hormones during pregnancy, remember that only a qualified doctor can give the correct decoding of hCG, determining which hCG is the norm for you in combination with the data obtained by other examination methods.