Are you pregnant? Let's learn everything about this hCG hormone! (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)

Are you a mother-to-be? Or are you just curious about it? Then you must have heard of this hormone called hCG. You may have even seen it as the name of a home pregnancy test . So, today we will talk about what hCG is and why it is important to us. I will explain it all in a very simple way that you can understand.

What is hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin)? Simply put...

hCG is an abbreviation for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin . This is what we also call the "pregnancy hormone." Imagine, after you get pregnant, you have a placenta that helps your baby grow, and that placenta produces this hCG hormone. This hormone plays a very important role, especially during the first three months of pregnancy.

Did you know? Your home pregnancy test also checks for the hCG hormone in your urine. You can also measure hCG levels with a blood test.

During the first 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, hCG levels increase rapidly. They can double every three days. Sometimes, doctors will measure how quickly hCG levels increase to determine if the pregnancy is progressing properly.

But here's something to keep in mind: If your hCG levels are high in someone who isn't pregnant, it could be a sign of some type of cancer. Very rarely, some types of cancer (such as germ cell tumors) can also produce hCG. So, doctors sometimes use this hCG test to help diagnose cancer, monitor treatment, or check if the cancer has come back.

So, what actually happens with this hCG hormone?

hCG is the first pregnancy hormone produced by the placenta after you become pregnant. This hCG is an important messenger that "tells" the rest of your body that you are pregnant. Once that message is received, your monthly period stops. This hCG then signals your body to produce other important hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen .

These two hormones, progesterone and estrogen, are essential during pregnancy and for the development of the baby.

• Progesterone thickens the lining of your uterus, keeping it soft and helping to sustain a pregnancy.
• Estrogen helps the baby's organs develop, including the placenta.It increases blood circulation and helps prepare your body for childbirth.

Simply put, hCG is the first hormone to support early pregnancy. It then "talks" to other hormones to help.

When does hCG start being produced in our body?

Actually, we all have very small amounts of hCG in our bodies (at levels that are too low to be detected). But when you get pregnant, these hCG levels rise incredibly quickly. They rise to levels that are normally only seen during pregnancy . HCG levels peak around 10 weeks into pregnancy. After that, they gradually decrease and remain that way until the baby is born.

What hCG level is needed to be considered pregnant?

Generally, an hCG level above 25 milli-international units per milliliter (25 mIU/mL) means you are pregnant. However, it is not 100% certain. Your doctor may ask you to check your hCG level again in a few days. If the level is still high, it can confirm that you are pregnant.

What are normal hCG levels like week by week during pregnancy?

Below is a brief explanation of how hCG levels rise rapidly and steadily during the first trimester of pregnancy, then decline.

• Weeks since last menstrual period | Normal hCG level (mIU/mL)
• Week 3: 5 – 50
• Week 4: 5 – 426
• Week 5: 18 – 7,340
• 6 weeks: 1,080 – 56,500
• Weeks 7 – 8: 7,650 – 229,000
• Weeks 9 – 12: 25,700 – 288,000
• Weeks 13 – 16: 13,300 – 254,000
• Weeks 17 – 24: 4,060 – 165,400
• Weeks 25 – 40: 3,640 – 117,000

Important: These values ​​are just a guide . Your hCG levels may rise differently than this. The important thing here is not the number, but how that number changes over time. Your doctor will tell you whether you need to have your hCG levels checked, and what the test results will tell you about your pregnancy. Keep in mind that even in healthy pregnancies, hCG levels can sometimes be lower than normal .

How often is hCG tested during pregnancy?

In most cases, hCG levels are not checked frequently throughout pregnancy. However, during the first trimester , your doctor may check your hCG levels if there is any concern about whether your pregnancy is progressing properly. If your hCG levels are lower than normal, your doctor will check them again in a few days to see if there has been a change. Some doctors also test the baby's geneticshCG levels are also measured as part of prenatal genetic testing.

How are hCG levels tested?

There are two ways to measure hCG: a blood test and a urine test.

• Blood tests : Your doctor will take a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm and check the amount of hCG in it. A blood test can detect hCG much earlier. It can also tell you how much hCG is present by looking at the number.
• Urine tests: This involves taking a sample of your urine and checking for hCG. However, it doesn't tell you how high or low the level is. It usually takes a few days after your period has stopped to get an accurate result from this test. You can do this at home or at a doctor's office.

If you've taken a home pregnancy test , it means you've already taken an hCG test. Those tests will show `(+) positive` or `(-) negative` if hCG is present in your urine.

But keep this in mind, a low hCG level alone does not necessarily rule out a disease. It only gives you a hint about possible problems. If your doctor has any doubts about your hCG level, he or she will check your hCG level again in two to three days. Or, they may do an ultrasound scan to confirm the pregnancy, or to measure how long you are pregnant.

What can low hCG levels mean?

Declining or declining hCG levels may cause the following:

• Blighted ovum: This is a condition in which a fertilized egg implants in the uterus but does not develop into an embryo.
• Miscarriage: The termination of a pregnancy.
• Ectopic pregnancy: This is when the embryo implants outside the uterus , usually in a fallopian tube. This is an emergency.
• Since you don't know exactly when you last had your period, the calculations may be incorrect.

If your hCG level is low for your pregnancy, your doctor will check your hCG level again in two to three days, or do an ultrasound scan to confirm the pregnancy. So don't panic when you're told your hCG is low, listen to what your doctor says.

So what does it mean when hCG levels are high?

High hCG levels can mean things like:

• Your pregnancy may be further along than you think.
• You may be expecting twins, triplets, or even more children.
• Molar pregnancy , or other conditions called gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD) , are abnormal growths in the placenta.
• Very rarely, some types of cancer can also cause elevated hCG levels in the blood (in non-pregnant women).

When should I see my doctor?

Most of the time, you only learn about your hCG levels when you see your test results in your online medical records. Doctors usually check hCG early in pregnancy, but they don't check it continuously unless there's a specific reason. If you have any questions about your hCG test results, be sure to talk to your doctor.

How is hCG used in fertility treatments?

If you are using IVF (in-vitro fertilization) or IUI (intrauterine insemination) to conceive, you may be given an hCG injection to stimulate ovulation. You may also need an hCG injection to help the embryo implant in the uterus after ovulation. If you have had previous infertility, your doctor may want to check your hCG levels more closely.

What happens to men with hCG?

Although hCG is known as the pregnancy hormone, it also has benefits for men. hCG is used to treat certain conditions. For example:

• For those with low testosterone levels.
• Male infertility.
• For children with undescended testicles.

So, what are the most important things we should take home from this story?

Okay, we've talked a lot about hCG now. Here are some things you should definitely remember:

• hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone produced primarily by the placenta during pregnancy. This is what is measured by home pregnancy tests.
• This is especially important during the first three months of pregnancy. It's when your body tells you "you're pregnant," stops menstruating, and starts producing other important hormones like progesterone and estrogen.
• hCG levels increase very rapidly early in pregnancy, peak around 10 weeks, and then gradually decline.
• hCG levels can be measured in blood or urine.
• A low hCG level can lead to problems like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. However, a doctor is the only one who can tell for sure.
• Elevated hCG levels can indicate something like twins or a molar pregnancy. High hCG levels in someone who is not pregnant can also be a sign of cancer.
• If you have any questions or concerns about your hCG levels, don't worry about it alone, but definitely talk to your doctor. They are the ones who can best help you.

Remember, hCG is a valuable indicator of your pregnancy and your health. However, if everything is going well, you may not even need to know your hCG levels. So, don't worry unnecessarily. Talk to your doctor about everything.

I hope you found this information useful!

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