How to Increase hCG Levels

Rachel Gurevich, RN, is a registered nurse, fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association.

If your hCG level is high during pregnancy, it could be due to a variety of factors. During pregnancy, your body produces the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). It can be detected via a blood test roughly 11 days after conception and via a urine test approximately 12 to 14 days after conception. The hCG level usually reaches its peak between the second and third months of pregnancy and then drops.

What Causes hCG Levels to Increase

Determining what, exactly, constitutes a “high” hCG level can be difficult because the normal range of hCG levels in early pregnancy is wide, and hCG levels can rise and fall at different rates.   Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, there are general guidelines that doctors use.

A high hCG level could indicate a few different things, most of which are not concerning.

• The calculation of your pregnancy date is incorrect and you’re further along than you previously thought.
• You’re having more than one child, such as twins or triplets.
• You are taking fertility drugs.

Molar Pregnancy

Less commonly, high hCG levels can indicate a significant complication with your pregnancy—namely a molar pregnancy.   This rare abnormality occurs in one out of every 1,000 pregnancies. Molar pregnancies are believed to result from a genetic mistake in the fertilizing sperm or egg, which causes the cells that would typically develop into a fetus to grow into a non-cancerous mass instead.  

If you are having a molar pregnancy, your doctor will usually be able to determine that the pregnancy is not viable after 12 weeks when there is no fetal movement or heart tone. A sonogram and pelvic exam will confirm a diagnosis.

Signs and symptoms of a molar pregnancy can include high blood pressure, intense nausea or vomiting, anemia, hyperthyroidism, fast uterine growth, preeclampsia, ovarian cysts, the passage of the tumor through the vagina, and vaginal spotting or bleeding that’s dark brown or bright red.  

You may miscarry the molar pregnancy naturally or it may have to be removed through a surgical procedure known as a dilation and curettage (D&C). During a D&C, your doctor will dilate your cervix and scrape the abnormal cells from your uterus.

After a molar pregnancy, you may have to wait six months to a year to conceive again. Sometimes, after the molar tissue is removed, it can keep growing and cause complications, such as vaginal bleeding and even a rare form of cancer.

If you have had a molar pregnancy, your doctor will continue to monitor you. They will test your hCG levels every couple of weeks until the levels go down to zero, and every couple of months thereafter.   It is likely your doctor will want to pay careful attention to you during future pregnancies as well.

Fifteen percent to 20% of women will develop complications that require chemotherapy treatments if hCG levels do not go down on their own. In very rare cases, a hysterectomy is performed when a woman is done having children and wishes to eliminate future complications.

A Word From Verywell

If you are experiencing any unusual symptoms during your pregnancy or if your doctor is concerned about your hCG levels, they may re-check your hCG level in two or three days to see if it has changed. It is likely that your doctor will use several medical tools—such as a sonogram and a pelvic exam—in addition to monitoring your hCG level to get a broader picture of your pregnancy and your health.

HCG ( is often called the pregnancy hormone because it is made by cells formed in the placenta, which nourishes the egg after it has been fertilized and becomes attached to the uterine wall. Levels can first be detected by a blood test about 11 days after conception and about 12-14 days after conception by a urine test. Inexpensive, urine-based early detection pregnancy tests can be purchased from our corporate sponsor Fairhaven Health.

Typically, the hCG levels will double every 72 hours. The level will reach its peak in the first 8-11 weeks of pregnancy and then will decline and level off for the remainder of the pregnancy.

What You Need to Know About hCG Levels:

1. As you get further along in pregnancy and the hCG level gets higher, the time it takes to double can increase to about every 96 hours.
2. Caution must be used in making too much of hCG numbers. A normal pregnancy may have low hCG levels and result in a perfectly healthy baby. The results from an ultrasound after 5 -6 weeks gestation are much more accurate than using hCG numbers.
3. An hCG level of less than 5 mIU/mL is considered negative for pregnancy, and anything above 25 mIU/mL is considered positive for pregnancy.
4. An hCG level between 6 and 24 mIU/mL is considered a grey area, and you’ll likely need to be retested to see if your levels rise to confirm a pregnancy.
5. The hCG hormone is measured in milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL).
6. A transvaginal ultrasound should be able to show at least a gestational sac once the hCG levels have reached between 1,000 – 2,000 mIU/mL. Because levels can differentiate so much and conception dating can be wrong, a diagnosis should not be made by ultrasound findings until the hCG level has reached at least 2,000 mIU/mL.
7. A single reading is not enough information for most diagnoses. When there is a question regarding the health of the pregnancy, multiple testings of hCG done a couple of days apart give a more accurate assessment of the situation.
8. The hCG levels should not be used to date a pregnancy since these numbers can vary so widely.
9. There are two common types of hCG tests. A qualitative test detects if hCG is present in the blood. A quantitative test (or beta) measures the amount of hCG actually present in the blood.

Guideline to hCG levels in weeks during pregnancy

* These numbers are just a guideline – every woman’s level of hCG can rise differently. It is not necessarily the level that matters, but rather the change in the level.

What Does a Low hCG Level Mean?

A low hCG level can mean any number of things and should be rechecked within 48-72 hours to see how the level is changing. A low level can indicate:

• Miscalculation of pregnancy dating
• Possible miscarriage or blighted ovum
• Ectopic pregnancy

Is a High hCG Level a Bad Thing?

A high level of hCG can also mean a number of things and should be rechecked within 48-72 hours to evaluate changes in the level. A high level can indicate:

• Miscalculation of pregnancy dating
• Molar pregnancy
• Multiple pregnancies

Should I Check My hCG level Regularly?

It’s not common for doctors to routinely check your hCG levels unless you are showing signs of a potential problem.
A health care provider may recheck your levels if you are bleeding, experiencing severe cramping, or have a history of miscarriage.

What Can I Expect After a Pregnancy Loss?

Most women can expect their levels to return to a non-pregnant range about 4 – 6 weeks after a pregnancy loss has occurred.
This can differentiate by how the loss occurred (spontaneous miscarriage, D & C procedure, abortion, natural delivery) and how high the levels were at the time of the loss.
Healthcare providers usually will continue to test hCG levels after a pregnancy loss to ensure they return back to Want to Know More?

• Calculating Gestation Age
• Concerns Regarding Early Fetal Development

Compiled using information from the following sources:

HCG is a hormone that plays an important role in pregnancy. But high or low levels of hCG can indicate certain health issues in anyone.

The full name of this hormone is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

In this article, we look at hCG in detail — including normal ranges during pregnancy, what happens when levels fluctuate, and how doctors use the measurements to identify underlying health conditions.

Share on Pinterest A doctor may measure a person’s hCG level during pregnancy to identify any underlying health problems.

This naturally occurring hormone is present in males and females. But it is usually associated with pregnancy because it plays a key role.

To maintain a pregnancy, hCG triggers the body to produce another hormone, progesterone. It can also help:

• promote the development of new blood vessels in the uterus
• smooth the muscle cells in the middle layer of the uterine wall, which is important for maintaining pregnancy

A person may be familiar with hCG because it is the hormone that pregnancy tests check for in urine. A home test can first detect hCG levels that indicate pregnancy about 12–14 days after conception.

A doctor can also check for pregnancy by ordering a blood test to measure hCG levels.

Testing the level of hCG in the blood can also help a doctor identify certain underlying health conditions, including some cancers, and check how effective cancer treatment is.

Levels of hCG can vary widely from one pregnant woman to another.

A test gives an hCG measurement in units per liter (U/l).

Below, find typical levels of hCG throughout pregnancy:

During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, concentrations of hCG in the blood and urine usually double every 24 hours.

Levels of the hormone typically peak at around 10 weeks, decline until 16 weeks, then remain constant.

During pregnancy, low levels of hCG are not always a cause for concern. This finding may only indicate that there could be a health issue to investigate.

Other times, low hCG can point to a more serious problem. According to a 2018 study, hCG levels were significantly decreased in pregnant women who went on to experience pregnancy loss.

Low hCG can also indicate that the fetus is not growing appropriately. A 2017 study found that low hCG was associated with decreased fetal growth and lower birth weight.

There is no treatment for hCG levels that are low.

As with low levels, high levels of hCG do not necessarily indicate a problem with a pregnancy. Some women simply have higher levels.

If a woman has high hCG levels, it could point to twins or triplets, though only a scan can confirm this.

Sometimes, above-average levels of hCG indicate a higher chance of Down syndrome. A doctor can use blood tests and scans to check.

Gestational trophoblastic disease

One medical concern about higher levels of hCG is that they may indicate gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD).

GTD can occur during or after pregnancy. It causes abnormal cells to grow in the uterus. Some can be cancerous, though most are benign.

Treatment depends on the mass of cells and whether it is cancerous or benign.

To remove the mass, the doctor may recommend dilation and curettage, which involves sucking away the mass with a surgical vacuum and gently scraping away any remaining abnormal cells.

Or, a doctor may recommend a hysterectomy, to remove the uterus.

After the removal, a person may need chemotherapy or other treatment. This may be more likely if hCG levels remain high.

Preeclampsia

High hCG levels may also indicate preeclampsia, a pregnancy-linked condition that involves swelling and a sudden rise in blood pressure.

In a 2012 study, for example, researchers found that hCG levels were significantly increased in women with severe preeclampsia.

It may be safe for a woman with mild preeclampsia to wait and deliver as usual. But if a woman develops the condition and the pregnancy is at 34–37 weeks or later, it may be necessary to induce delivery.

Treatment tends to involve close monitoring, which may need to take place in a hospital, as well as medication to control blood pressure and prevent seizures.

HCG Diet and Fertility

Some people have wondered whether or not the HCG diet will affect fertility in any way due to the fact that the hormone used in the diet, human chorionic gonadotropin, is used for certain fertility treatments. The truth is that the diet does not negatively affect fertility, if anything it improves fertility, and the lose dosages that are used for the diet do not cause any adverse sexual health issues or other problems. The low dose of HCG that is used in the diet does not cause hormone imbalances or other problems. Again, HCG is regularly used in the clinical setting as a fertility treatment without any problems at all, and the use of the hormone on the diet may result in a few positive effects for both men and women when it comes to fertility. These effects are described below.

HCG can stimulate natural hormone production

One effect that HCG can have is that it can stimulate natural hormone production for both men and women. Men with low testosterone levels or low sperm counts can improve them with low level HCG therapy. For women, HCG can be used to stimulate ovulation, and women are actually advised to discontinue using the hormone during their period as a result of this effect. Most women who have an ovulation problem will ovulate after the use of HCG. Men who have a hormone problem that can lead to a low sperm count may be treated with HCG. The side effects of the treatment for both men and women are minimal, and the hormone is available as a prescription under the name Preganyl or Choragon. The most common side effects reported for Preganyl treatments include pain at the injection site, headache, restless or fatigue.

HCG can stimulate ovulation

Human chorionic gonadotropin is similar in structure to luteinizing hormone (LH), a hormone that is released by the pituitary gland and works with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to stimulate and release an egg follicle. HCG is sometimes used by itself as a fertility treatment, or it can be used in combination with other hormones. The dose that is used for fertility treatments for women is higher than the dose used for the hormone diet. For instance, around 250 mcg of Ovidrel is used per injection for a fertility treatment in many cases, and this is equivalent to 6,500 IU. On the hormone diet, a much lower dose of HCG is used, around 100 to 250 IU per day maximum, which ends up being just a few mcg per day in comparison. It is not thought that the use of the hormone for the diet can stimulate ovulation, but because of the potential interactions that it may have for women during their period, they are advised to discontinue their injections briefly.

It is possible that women may be more fertile on the hormone diet

Because HCG can be used as a fertility treatment, women should be aware of the fact that they may be more fertile while on the HCG diet. During the first week of the diet, women are monitored for side effects and they should report any abnormalities with their menstrual cycle or other issues to their medical doctor. Any concerns about fertility can be discussed with the medical provider overseeing the diet. Pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant are never advised to use HCG and this would be discussed with their medical provider prior to starting the diet.

HCG diet and false pregnancy tests

One issue that women can run into while on the diet is a false pregnancy test. Home pregnancy tests detect HCG in the urine, and because of the fact that the hormone can stay in the body for several days after an injection, there is the chance that it may build up. The low levels of the hormone are not usually enough to trigger positive result for a pregnancy test, but there is a small chance that it may occur, especially if the pregnancy test is designed to be sensitive to the hormone. It is important for women who believe that they may be pregnant due to a positive pregnancy test or for any other reason to contact their medical provider as soon as possible. The diet should also be discontinued if there is any doubt at all, because the low calorie intake is potentially very dangerous for a developing embryo.

HCG does not increase estrogen production for men

One unique concern that some men have is that the hormone will result in a higher estrogen production. HCG has a substantially different effect in males compared to females. It does have a similar effect as luteinizing hormone in men, and this hormone results in the increase of testosterone, which has several different positive effects on fertility. HCG is often prescribed to men with low sperm counts in combination with luteinizing hormone which causes a higher natural production of testosterone and is often a preferred treatment in comparison to direct testosterone injections which can have side effects. HCG can, however, result in an increase of DHT because of the corresponding increase in testosterone levels, so DHT levels may need to be monitored when HCG is used as a fertility treatment for males.

There are several health benefits for increased testosterone production in men

Replacing testosterone can be very important for men, as there are many studies that have shown that low testosterone levels are associated with a lower life expectancy and other health problems, and HCG therapy is one of the most effective testosterone treatments. The increase in testosterone that HCG can cause can result in several positive health effects for men including increased libido, higher muscle mass, lower body fat, improved workout recovery, strengthened bones and a lower risk of osteoporosis, improved mood and more. The increase in testosterone that results from HCG therapy is relatively low in comparison to testosterone therapy. Increased testosterone production can also help to treat depression and related mood disorders. HCG is often used after or during testosterone therapy in order to prevent testicular shrinkage and other side effects that can occur with testosterone therapy. HCG is thought to reduce the negative feedback loop that occurs in the endocrine system when testosterone levels are increased artificially as in the case of direct testosterone injections.

Patients receive a full medical evaluation prior to starting the diet

Any patient who is worried about the potential fertility effects of HCG will receive a full medical evaluation prior to starting the diet to ensure that it is safe for them. Patients will get all of the information about potential fertility complications, and the vast majority of patients can safely start the HCG diet without any concern about them. The low dose use of the hormone has not been associated with any negative side effects when it comes to fertility, and again if anything it only improves fertility without causing any major long term health consequences. The hormone’s regular use as a fertility treatment has shown that it is not dangerous or disadvantageous at all to use for this purpose, and the hormone also happens to be an effective stimulator of fat metabolism for both men and women, and it doesn’t cause any significant side effects for this purpose as well.

Get more information about the HCG diet here or speak to a medical professional today to ask any questions that you may have about fertility effects or other effects of the diet.

Pregnancy Hormone – HCG level considerably increase in early pregnancy. But low level of hCG does not mean complication in all pregnancy cases.

Have you ever heard about the hCG levels, during pregnancy? If not, then we are going to tell you about it and how it affects pregnancy. hCG also is known as human chorionic gonadotropin which is a hormone that is produced by your placenta once an embryo is implanted in the uterus.

Do you the purpose of this hormone? Its main objective is to communicate to your body about the continuous process to produce progesterone, as it prevents the menstruation to occur. It also protects pregnancy and the endometrial uterine lining.

You can detect hCG in your urine with a pregnancy test if you want to know your levels are high enough. This is only the purpose of the test to identify that you are pregnant. But, make sure that only a blood test can give you a perfect numerical hCG reading.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is also known as the pregnancy hormone. This hormone is present only at the time of pregnancy. In the initial stage of pregnancy, the HCG hormone doubles itself at every 48 to 72 hours. Even though HCG level must considerably rise during pregnancy but one cannot rely on its count.

The low hCG level should be taken as a warning indication for the blighted ovum, possible miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, whereas a high level of HCG indicates molar or multiple pregnancies. The low hCG level can be worked upon. But it is important to consult your doctor as the level of hCG is a crucial factor in pregnancy.

This hormone keeps on increasing in the first trimester of pregnancy. All you require is to take your prenatal vitamins on time and make sure that your pregnancy progresses smoothly.

Your doctor may prescribe you medications if your hCG level is not up to optimum level. Take medication as and when prescribed by your doctor. Remember that the level of Human chorionic gonadotropin is delicately balanced so never try to increase it on your own. Don’t try any product that claims to increase hCG as it can cause medical complications.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, when the hCG level reaches 1800 to 2000 mIU/ml a gestation sac becomes visible in the uterus. Absence of uterine sac is an indication of tubal pregnancy. While HCG level is important, ultrasound at the 5th or 6th weeks of pregnancy is a better predictor of normal pregnancy.

According to a study, in normal pregnancy hCG level could increase as little as 53% even in two days. Even though slow-rising hCG levels are not common for a normal pregnancy but they are not even alarming bell for all the pregnant women.

18 December, 2018

Human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG, is considered to be a pregnancy hormone. If you are not pregnant, you will have low levels of the hormone, but it rises significantly during pregnancy. Specifically, it slowly rises after conception — peaks around nine to 12 weeks — falls somewhat and then stabilizes until you give birth. Several factors can cause your hCG level to rise beyond normal for your condition.

Multiple Fetuses

A higher than normal hCG level may be due to the existence of multiple fetuses such as twins or triplets, according to the American Pregnancy Association. This is true whether the multiples are identical or fraternal. High hCG levels are not a reliable indicator of multiple fetuses, however, because each woman and each pregnancy varies.

Hydatidiform Mole

What Is the Average HCG Level at 4 Weeks?

A hydatidiform mole occurs when an egg is fertilized and attaches to your uterus, but the pregnancy is not viable. Instead of a fetus growing inside the placenta, a small growth of tissue that resembles a bunch of grapes forms. This can happen when your egg is missing genetic material or is fertilized by more than one sperm. Problems inside your uterus and a nutrient-deficient diet can also cause a hydatidiform mole. For several weeks or months, you may have elevated hCG levels and believe you are pregnant with a normally growing fetus only to learn it is a molar pregnancy. Rarely, a hydatidiform mole co-exists in the uterus along with a healthy, growing fetus, says MedlinePlus.

Choriocarcinoma

Choriocarcinoma is a form of cancer that may develop in your uterus. It most commonly occurs after a hydatidiform mole, an abortion, an ectopic pregnancy or a tumor in the genital region. Occasionally, it develops after a healthy pregnancy. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding and an elevated hCG level.

Medication

Causes of Bleeding at the Time of Period When Pregnant

Medications containing hCG may temporarily raise hCG levels. These medicines are typically used in fertility treatments, says the American Pregnancy Association.

By: Haylee Foster

18 December, 2018

HCG is a hormone that occurs naturally in the human body and has a very specific role.

Some for-profit companies promote HCG supplementation, claiming such benefits as weight loss or fertility enhancement. Despite these claims, however, it is important to educate yourself about this hormone so that you can make a wise decision for your health now and in the future.

Identification

HCG stands for human chorionic gonadotropin, which is the human pregnancy hormone. It is produced by the placenta and assists in the development of the growing fetus.

HCG is only present naturally during pregnancy, and can be detected in urine and blood tests as early as 11 days past conception, notes the American Pregnancy Association. There are no foods containing HCG, and there are no methods to increase its levels in the body naturally.

Significance

What Reputable Stores Sell the Oral HCG Supplement?

HCG is present throughout pregnancy, and in a healthy pregnancy your HCG levels will increase naturally during the first trimester. According to the American Pregnancy Association, HCG levels in a normal pregnancy should double every 48 to 72 hours. During the second and third trimesters, HCG concentration level off and remain consistent until the baby is born.

Potential

HCG levels increase daily during the first trimester; however, each person’s levels are different. HCG is measured as mIU/ml, or milli-international units per milliliter of blood or urine, depending on the test you are using.

A pregnancy at 5 weeks could have HCG levels as low as 18 mIU/ml or as high as 7340 mIU/ml, and a twin pregnancy produces much higher levels. It’s important to remember that, despite what the numbers are, the HCG levels should double every 48 to 72 hours.

Considerations

The Effects of Eating the Wrong Foods While on HCG Drops

There is no clinically proven method to naturally increase a woman’s HCG level; however, there are synthetic supplements available by prescription and over-the-counter. Women undergoing fertility treatments may receive prescribed HCG injections, though it is not supplemented during pregnancy. The HCG Diet is a weight-loss plan consisting of HCG injections as well as severe calorie restriction of 500 calories per day.

Its creator, Dr. Simeons, claims that injecting 125 IU of HCG can curb appetite and encourage fat loss. Few labs have repeated his results and many studies, such as one published in the “Archives of Internal Medicine,” revealed HCG had no affect on weight loss.

Warning

HCG supplements are available commercially but are not regulated by the FDA, and therefore you won’t know if you are receiving the dosage written on the label.

The HCG given to patients during fertility treatments, or those on the HCG Diet study, were under the care of a physician. Consult your doctor about HCG supplements for further information.

More Articles

1. Can Low Progesterone Keep the HCG Levels From Rising?
2. How Long After Conception Can You Tell If You Are Pregnant?
3. Effects of Progesterone on the Uterine Lining
4. Side Effects of Missing Your Contraceptive Injection
5. Symptoms of Pregnancy If HCG Injection Is Taken

• Functions of hCG
• Functions of Progesterone
• Levels of hCG
• Levels of Progesterone
• Considerations

Pregnancy is an intricate development of cells which multiply and eventually form a baby. Hormones play a complex role in this metamorphosis and assist physicians in determining the healthy progression of a pregnancy or potential problems. Understanding what these key hormones do and the information they provide may help in understanding the process.

Functions of hCG

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, or hCG, is a hormone only present during pregnancy 1. It is produced by the cells that make up the placenta and provides nourishment for the egg once it is fertilized and attaches to the uterus. Levels of hCG are present throughout pregnancy, however they increase dramatically during the first trimester and then begin to level off and eventually decline.

Functions of Progesterone

Can Low Progesterone Keep the HCG Levels From Rising?

Progesterone is the hormone that helps maintain a pregnancy for the entire gestation. Prior to conception progesterone is released by the corpus luteum to help build up the uterine lining in preparation for implantation. Once fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum will continue to release progesterone until week 10 of the pregnancy, at which time the placenta has developed enough to take over. Progesterone also limits the immune response, prevents early contractions and decreases prostaglandins.

• Progesterone is the hormone that helps maintain a pregnancy for the entire gestation.
• Prior to conception progesterone is released by the corpus luteum to help build up the uterine lining in preparation for implantation.

Levels of hCG

During pregnancy, the levels of hCG will vary from one woman to another. When analyzing hCG levels, the most important factor is that the numbers are doubling, at least, every 48 to 72 hours. To achieve a positive pregnancy test, the hCG level must be at 25 mIU/ml or higher. During a normal pregnancy, hCG levels will start around 5 mIU/ml — milli-International Units per Milliliter — and may eventually rise to around 300,000 mIU/ml by the end of the first trimester. At that point ultrasounds are the best indicator of a healthy pregnancy rather than hCG levels.

• During pregnancy, the levels of hCG will vary from one woman to another.
• At that point ultrasounds are the best indicator of a healthy pregnancy rather than hCG levels.

Levels of Progesterone

How Long After Conception Can You Tell If You Are Pregnant?

Progesterone levels vary considerably from one woman to another during pregnancy and also rise as the pregnancy progresses. A normal gestation will see an increase in progesterone of 1 to 3 ng/ml, or nanograms per milliliter, about every two days. A guide for progesterone levels is 9 to 46 ng/ml in the first trimester, increasing to about 17 to 146 ng/ml in the second trimester with a culmination in the third trimester of 49 to 300 ng/ml. It is important to remember the increase in progesterone is often more important than the actual number.

• Progesterone levels vary considerably from one woman to another during pregnancy and also rise as the pregnancy progresses.
• A normal gestation will see an increase in progesterone of 1 to 3 ng/ml, or nanograms per milliliter, about every two days.

Considerations

In cases where a pregnancy is not progressing normally, a woman’s hormone levels may indicate a problem. If there is a threatened miscarriage both hCG and progesterone will be low and not increasing as expected. When a miscarriage does occur, both hormone levels will drop significantly. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, hCG levels may increase normally for a while but progesterone will stay low and not progress. It is important to refer to your doctor if you suspect a problem. HCG and progesterone levels vary so dramatically from one woman to another that one woman’s hormone levels indicating miscarriage could be the same levels for another woman’s successful pregnancy.

Meredith Shur, MD, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as a certified medical examiner.

• Symptoms and Diagnosis
• Causes and Risk Factors
• Your Options
• Physical Recovery
• Coping & Moving Forward

Your doctor may use your blood hCG levels to diagnose whether you’re having a miscarriage. What exactly do the numbers of this blood test mean, and what does it mean if serial measurements are falling or if they fail to double? What may other tests be done?

What Is HCG?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy, and an hCG blood test measures the level of this hormone in your bloodstream. There are two different types of hCG blood tests:

• Qualitative: This type returns a yes/no answer about whether there is hCG in the blood.
• Quantitative: This type returns a measurement of the precise amount of hCG in the blood.

Why Doctors Order hCG Blood Tests

Some doctors test hCG levels in early pregnancy as a routine part of prenatal care for all women. Most often, however, urine-based hCG tests are used to confirm a pregnancy.

Physicians usually order a quantitative hCG blood test only when they need more information about what is going on in a particular patient’s pregnancy. This may occur if a woman has vaginal bleeding, miscarriage symptoms, a history of or pain that could indicate an ectopic pregnancy.

• An hCG blood test does not require any special preparation or planning.
• You do not have to fast before having your blood drawn.
• The results should not be affected by the time of day you get your blood was drawn.
• The results are not affected by the amount of water you drink before the test—unlike an hCG urine test, which is affected by the concentration of your urine.

In addition to monitoring your hCG levels, your doctor may also perform an ultrasound, both to help determine if you may have had a miscarriage and to make sure you don’t have an ectopic pregnancy.

Serial hCG Blood Tests

A single hCG test may be done to see if your levels are in the normal range of hCG for a specific point in pregnancy. Serial hCG measurements are done to look at hCG doubling times, which gives your doctor an idea of whether or not your pregnancy is progressing as it should.

With serial hCG measurements, quantitative hCG blood tests are drawn two to three days apart. This is because ordinarily, in early pregnancy, the hCG level in your blood doubles every two to three days.

If your hCG doubling time is slower than expected, or if it decreases over time, this may be a sign of a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.

Keep in mind that in roughly 15% of pregnancies, the hCG doubling time is slower than expected, and an abnormally slow increase does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your pregnancy.

When Do hCG Levels Stop Doubling?

It’s important to note that hCG doubling time can be an important tool in early pregnancy. However, doubling time slows down as the pregnancy progresses.

By six to seven weeks gestation (or when your level passes 1,200 mIU/ml) doubling time decreases to roughly every three days, and after the level reaches around 6,000 mIU/ml, doubling time occurs every four days. By the time you reach eight to 11 weeks, your hCG level will have reached its peak.

While hCG doubling times become less reliable later in the first trimester, other tools such as transvaginal ultrasound become more important in determining the status of your pregnancy.

When Levels Suggest a Miscarriage

Your doctor is the best person to tell you what your hCG levels mean, because normal hCG levels vary significantly from person to person, and single hCG levels (even single low hCG levels) do not give much information on how a pregnancy is progressing.

In order to make a diagnosis:

• Your doctor can compare the information from your hCG results to other information in your medical history.
• Check whether or not you are having miscarriage symptoms.
• Look at the results of an early ultrasound.

In general, however, if the hCG levels are dropping in the first trimester, this probably is a sign of impending miscarriage. On the other hand, slow-rising hCG levels that do not double every two or three days in early pregnancy may be a sign of problems, but can also occur in a normal pregnancy.

Finally, it’s important to understand that hCG levels may persist for up to a few weeks after a miscarriage. In other words, you may continue to have a positive urine or quantitative hCG level even after a miscarriage has occurred.

When Levels Suggest Ectopic Pregnancy

Slow-rising quantitative hCG levels, at least in early pregnancy, may be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. Since a ruptured ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous, your doctor may recommend a transvaginal ultrasound to look for signs of an ectopic pregnancy.

If your hCG level is at least 1,500 to 2,000 mIU/ml and a gestational sac is not visualized on early ultrasound, an ectopic pregnancy may be present.

Since women may not have any symptoms prior to rupture, carefully following any recommendations about repeat hCG levels and ultrasound examinations is important.

A Word From Verywell

Monitoring quantitative hCG levels can provide helpful information to assess whether you are miscarrying or have other pregnancy complications such as an ectopic pregnancy.

Since hCG levels vary from person to person, however, serial levels a few days apart give a better idea of the status of your pregnancy. In addition to your hCG levels, your doctor will use other information like any physical symptoms you are experiencing and the results of an early ultrasound to determine if a miscarriage is occurring.

While you are having your hCG levels monitored you may be feeling anxious, and this is understandable. In coping with this uncertainty, many women don’t know if they should be excited about pregnancy or grieving a miscarriage.

Knowing how difficult this uncertainty can be, it may be helpful to ask your doctor questions and inquire about the next steps, so you play a knowledgeable and proactive role in what is going on with your pregnancy.

More Articles

1. Does Low Progesterone Cause No Pregnancy Signs?
2. Signs & Symptoms of Low Progesterone During the First Trimester
3. Increased Appetite & Nausea During Pregnancy
4. Side Effects of HCG Injections for Infertility
5. How Much Weight Do You Lose on Average After a C-Section?

• Abdominal Discomfort
• Breast Changes
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Fatigue
• Dizziness And Lightheadedness

When trying to get pregnant, you are constantly wondering what the earliest signs of pregnancy might be 1. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), otherwise known as the “pregnancy hormone” is the hormone in your body that increases as your pregnancy advances; it is also the hormone that home pregnancy tests (HPTs) recognize to give you a positive or negative test result 2. A variety of early pregnancy signs tell you that the hCG is increasing in your body, thus resulting in a positive pregnancy test 12.

Abdominal Discomfort

Abdominal discomfort is one of the first signs of the hCG in your body increasing, as your uterus and abdominal muscles expand as your pregnancy progresses 12. This causes you to feel a pulling, stretching and achy feeling. You may feel dull, achy cramps or pulling in your uterus, as well as a pinching feeling in your cervix.

Breast Changes

Does Low Progesterone Cause No Pregnancy Signs?

During the first few weeks of pregnancy, your breasts will go through a lot of changes as they prepare to eventually nourish your baby. You may notice swelling, which produces more noticeable blue veins and darker areolas. Your nipples will be sore and tender to the touch and may become itchy. One or both of your breasts will often be tender to the touch, which may be accompanied by sharp pains in your breasts as they grow.

• During the first few weeks of pregnancy, your breasts will go through a lot of changes as they prepare to eventually nourish your baby.
• One or both of your breasts will often be tender to the touch, which may be accompanied by sharp pains in your breasts as they grow.

Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and/or vomiting is a common sign that the hCG in your body is increasing and you may be pregnant. While often referred to as “morning sickness,” nausea associated with pregnancy can occur at any time of the day or night. To relieve your nausea, eat small and frequent meals throughout the day. If your nausea hits the hardest in the morning, sit up in bed for several minutes before standing up and eat a few dry crackers before getting out of bed.

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Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is best known for turning pregnancy tests positive, but extremely high levels may point to cancer. Find out how doctors use this test to assist them in making a diagnosis and what levels are considered normal or high.

What is hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)?

Definition

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone well-known for initiating a pregnancy. Its main function is to support the development of a newly fertilized egg [1].

It increases progesterone and helps grow blood vessels in the uterus, which provides a blood supply and nourishment to the growing fetus [2].

This makes hCG useful as an indicator of pregnancy. Most pregnancy tests will check for the presence of hCG either in the urine or blood. To learn more about how hCG is used in a pregnancy test, check out this post [1].

The fact that testing hCG levels can help detect certain kinds of cancer – including ovarian cancer in women and testicular cancer in men – is not as well-known [2].

hCG and Cancer

Types of hCG and Cancer

5 different types of hCG exist and they all work together, but each has a unique structure and function (sulfated hCG, hyperglycosylated hCG, hyperglycosylated hCG free β-subunit, and hCG free β-subunit) [1].

The cells in your body naturally go through a process called apoptosis, whereby certain old or damaged cells die off; this process is essential to maintain good health. Some forms of hCG (hyperglycosylated hCG and the free β-subunit types) can block apoptosis, leading to rapid cellular growth [2, 1].

Blocking apoptosis serves an important function in pregnant women: it promotes the development and growth of the embryo and placenta [2, 1].

However, high hCG levels outside of pregnancy can stimulate the growth of cancers that affect the uterus, placenta, and testicles. On top of that, some cancer cells themselves can release β-hCG, which can further accelerate cancer growth [2, 1].

Tumors that Produce hCG

Many different kinds of tumors produce hCG, especially the free β-subunit type of hCG. High levels of β-hCG may indicate a particularly aggressive form of cancer. For this reason, hCG and β-hCG levels can help diagnose and monitor several types of cancer [3].

About 10-30% of most cancer patients (like those with lung, breast, or prostate cancer) have elevated levels of hCG. However, hCG tests are most useful for diagnosing ovarian and testicular cancer, which almost always cause high hCG levels [3, 4].

It’s true that high hCG levels can produce a positive pregnancy test result in men with certain types of cancer. One such case was widely covered in the media: a teenage boy took a pregnancy test as a joke, got a positive result, and was diagnosed with testicular cancer afterward.

However, home pregnancy tests are in no way a reliable way to diagnose any type of cancer. If your doctor suspects cancer is increasing your hCG levels, they’ll run a sensitive blood test.

On the other hand, if you are a healthy woman trying to conceive and you got a positive pregnancy test result, you probably don’t have to worry about ovarian cancer. In any case, your doctor will run additional tests afterward to confirm your pregnancy and make sure it’s progressing normally.

Normal & High Levels

In healthy adults, hCG and β-hCG levels are normally very low. For non-pregnant women, normal levels are [3]:

Ovarian and testicular cancer can dramatically increase hCG levels. Other cancer types, such as breast and lung cancer, may also increase hCG blood levels. High hCG levels further feed the growth of tumors and the blood vessels that feed them.

Pregnancy tests should never be used to screen for these cancer types. Your doctor will check your hCG levels with a sensitive blood test if he or she suspects you have cancer.

Labs in the ‘normal range’ does not always indicate optimal health. Find out which of your labs are not in the optimal range and how to get them there so that you can keep your immune system in top shape with Lab Test Analyzer!

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