Posts Tagged ‘HCG Levels in Pregnancy’

Beta HCG Levels in Early Pregnancy

Beta hCG levels in early pregnancy are quite good indicators of viable pregnancy prior to the sixth week. In fact, the only indicator that is more reliable is baby’s healthy heartbeat, but that can only be heard after the sixth week of pregnancy.

This is the hormone which is responsible for the chemical reaction that occurs while taking a pregnancy tests. Levels of hCG in blood are higher than those in urine, so if you get a positive on a test, you should still go see a doctor for a blood test, because the blood test is more reliable.

It is an embryo’s way to let the woman know that she is pregnant. hCG stands for “human Chorionic Gonadotropin”, but in medical slang, the test is often referred to as “beta”. The level of hCG in a woman who is not pregnant is less than 10 mIU/ml. In a pregnant woman it reaches 100 mIU/ml and more than three quarters of pregnant women (around 85%) will have their hCG doubled in every 72 hours.

Presence of hCG in blood can be determined by blood test taken eight days after the ovulation. It can be detected even before the woman misses her period. HCG is responsible for maintaining corpus luteum which produces progesterone. Progesterone is on the other hand needed because it helps keeping the lining of the uterus healthy and thick.

Thick lining is needed for healthy pregnancy. Although hCG is one of the best indicators of early pregnancy, there is a very large variation of values during the pregnancy. Low hCG level may indicate an ectopic pregnancy (the fetus has started growing outside the uterus) or a possible miscarriage. It can also indicate a miscalculated date of conception.

High levels of hCG can indicate a miscalculated date of conception, but they can also indicate conditions as molar pregnancy or multiple pregnancy.