Online hCG calculator: interpretation of beta-hCG analysis

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is synthesized by chorionic tissue after attachment to the walls of the uterus. In gynecological practice, hCG analysis is actively used to establish the fact of conception, early detection of the risk of threatened miscarriage and non-developing pregnancy. The method is also used as part of a comprehensive diagnosis of pregnancy pathologies, as well as defects in the child.

What is hCG

HCG is formed during pregnancy and is responsible for the function of the corpus luteum and a constant increase in the amount of progesterone. The latter, in turn, supports pregnancy, prevents miscarriage, and is classified as a gonadotropin.

The hormone includes the presence of alpha and beta units. Beta has a unique structure. But alpha repeats the composition of some sex hormones. Therefore, experts pay attention specifically to beta indicators. The home diagnostic method using simple tests is based on the detection of beta hCG. But this method is less reliable than conducting laboratory diagnostics for the same substance.

When to take hCG

Testing human chorionic gonadotropin concentrations is a complex test. For the results to be reliable, established rules must be followed.

Blood is drawn from a vein on an empty stomach. Twenty-four hours before the study, the patient is advised to exclude fried foods, fatty foods, and alcoholic beverages are prohibited. If at the time of donating blood the patient is being treated with hormonal medications, she must inform the doctor. HCG levels are monitored over time. It is advisable to perform the study in one laboratory at a certain time of day.

HCG analysis is the optimal indicator of proper pregnancy.

What is HCG used for?

Thanks to human chorionic gonadotropin, the corpus luteum remains functional until the placenta begins to produce hormonal substances on its own. Normally, the corpus luteum exists only for 14 days in each menstrual cycle. During the period of bearing a child, it does not dissolve precisely due to the release of hCG.

Functions of this hormone:

• providing conditions for proper implantation of the embryo and the formation of the chorionic membrane;
• gradual adaptation of a woman to bearing a fetus;
• maintaining a calm state of the immune system, which perceives the fetus as a foreign body;
• maintaining the functionality of the placenta and the high quality of its nutrition;
• increase in the number of chorionic villi.

Blood test for early pregnancy - why it is needed and how to donate blood correctly - MEDSI

Table of contents

• Reasons for conducting the study
• HCG changes during pregnancy
• Reasons for deviations from the norm of the hCG hormone
• Reasons for increasing hCG levels
• Preparation for the procedure
• How is blood sampling performed?
• Advantages of carrying out the procedure at MEDSI

A blood test for pregnancy is a procedure that is necessary to identify existing pathologies.
It also allows you to determine the presence of pregnancy itself, since it detects the presence in a woman’s blood of a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In a situation where conception has not occurred, this substance is not produced in the patient’s body, since its appearance is associated with the formation of chorion. This is the tissue that appears between the endometrium and the zygote after a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus.

Reasons for conducting the study

A blood test can show the presence of pregnancy as early as the sixth day after successful conception. Whereas a standard pregnancy test in some cases can give incorrect results. Therefore, tests during pregnancy are prescribed to determine conditions such as:

• Establishing the actual fact of conception
• Assessment of hormonal levels for disruptions
• Tracking pathological types of pregnancy:
• Frozen - in this case, at a certain stage the embryo stops its development
• Ectopic - in this situation, the zygote is not attached to the wall of the uterus, but in the fallopian tube

A blood test also shows the presence of infections, other types of dysfunction of the body and diseases such as:

• Cytomegalovirus
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Herpes
• Chlamydia
• Hepatitis
• Ureaplasmosis
• HIV
• Mycoplasmosis
• Syphilis
• Leptospirosis
• Chlamydia

Any of these diseases poses a danger not only to the woman’s body, but also to her unborn child. Therefore, if there are abnormalities in the blood test results, the doctor refers the patient for additional examination.

HCG changes during pregnancy

After the physical onset of conception, the level of hCG in the female body begins to rise, and every two to three days its concentration almost doubles. It reaches its highest level at 8–11 weeks, and then it begins to gradually decrease.

The first test can be taken on the 6th day of the expected delay, but the result will be more accurate on the 11th–12th day. Therefore, doctors recommend undergoing blood tests two to three times (every two days each).

Monitoring the level of hCG allows you to monitor the dynamics of pregnancy development, the appearance of pathologies, etc.:

• During an ectopic pregnancy, the hormone level practically does not increase
• If the development of the embryo has stopped, then the level of hCG drops from the moment of its death

Usually the analysis result is compared with a special table. In the first or second weeks, the concentration of hCG can range from 25 to 700 units, at its peak it can reach 18,000–240,000 units, and at the end of pregnancy – 2,179–60,000 units.

After establishing the fact of conception, the doctor refers the patient to other blood tests:

• General
• Biochemical
• For clotting
• For hepatitis and HIV
• For the presence of TORCH infections
• For genetic pathologies
• For Rh factor and blood group (if they have not been determined previously)
• The content of hormones produced by the thyroid gland
• For antiphospholipid syndrome
• For STDs

Reasons for deviations from the norm of the hCG hormone

Normally, after pregnancy, the level of human chorionic gonadotropin should gradually increase. If it decreases, the doctor may suggest the presence of problems such as:

• In the early stages:
• Fetal death
• The likelihood of spontaneous abortion
• Absence of embryo in fertilized egg

• Placental abruption

In some cases, low hCG levels may be associated with incorrectly calculated gestational age. Therefore, to determine the exact cause of low hormone levels, early pregnancy tests are usually performed, as well as several types of other tests.

Reasons for increasing hCG levels

In the results of blood tests, the level of hCG may be seriously higher than normal for the following reasons:

• Presence of toxicosis
• Formation of more than one fetus
• The appearance of a hydatidiform mole
• Presence of genetic problems
• Complication due to diabetes mellitus

The level of human chorionic gonadotropin can be increased not only due to pregnancy, but also due to certain abnormalities:

• Extremely high hCG levels due to hormonal medications
• The presence of a malignant neoplasm in various organs (kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, uterus, lungs, etc.)
• Preservation of unstable hormonal levels as a result of an abortion

In rare cases, in the presence of serious hormonal imbalances, elevated levels of hCG may also be found in men.

Preparation for the procedure

Before taking tests for pregnant women for the amount of hCG, the following preparation is required:

• Fasting for 7–8 hours before the procedure
• Limiting any liquid intake several hours before the examination

It is also necessary to warn your doctor about taking medications.

Statistics show that the highest concentration of hCG in the blood is observed in the first half of the day, so the doctor usually prescribes such a test in the morning.

If the recommendations are not followed, the study may show an unreliable result, so additional procedures will have to be performed.

How is blood sampling performed?

Blood tests for pregnant women are taken from a vein in the area located on the inside of the arm at the elbow. The procedure goes as follows:

• The patient sits on a couch or chair and exposes her left or right arm
• A medic applies a tourniquet above the elbow
• After this, the woman clenches her palm into a fist several times
• The doctor lubricates the area of ​​the future puncture with a disinfectant
• Then he inserts a needle into the vein and fills the syringe (about 10 ml of blood is needed for the study)
• After this, the tourniquet is removed, and a cotton swab is applied to the puncture area, which the patient must press with her hand bent at the elbow (this helps stop the release of fluid from the wound)

After these manipulations, the blood in a test tube is sent to the laboratory for testing. The results of the analysis can be transferred directly to the attending physician or given to the patient. A woman can independently compare the indicated indicators with the values ​​​​in the tables, but it is recommended to entrust this process to professionals.

Advantages of carrying out the procedure at MEDSI

• The clinics employ highly qualified doctors who not only develop comprehensive examination and treatment programs, but also help to properly prepare for childbirth if pregnancy occurs
• Special consultation mechanisms have been created for future parents
• The clinics have their own laboratory for receiving and checking tests, which allows you to get accurate results in the shortest possible time
• For examinations and therapy, modern devices from leading manufacturers from countries such as Japan, USA, Germany, etc. are used.
• Original drugs are used (not generics)

To make an appointment, you must call 8 (495) 7-800-500 or contact one of the many registries located in Moscow, the region and regions of the Russian Federation.

Do not delay treatment, consult a doctor now:

• Analysis during pregnancy
• Gynecologist appointment
• Planning and management of pregnancy
• Reproductive health

Objectives of the study

A blood test for hCG is one of the methods for identifying disorders during gestation and confirming that conception has taken place. The study is accessible and highly informative. The level of hCG can increase not only during fetal development, but also against the background of active growth of a tumor, including a malignant one.

Indications for diagnosis

HCG is prescribed if the following indications exist:

• early confirmation of pregnancy when ultrasound is uninformative;
• delayed menstruation of unknown etiology;
• detection of neoplasms;
• suspicion of pregnancy pathology.

Decoding the result

The normal level of gonadotropin in the blood in patients of different groups has different, purely individual values. You can try to decipher the results of the study yourself, but it is better to have a qualified specialist do this.

Normal hCG test results for a healthy man are considered to be a blood level of no more than 2.5 mU of the hormone per 1 ml. For non-pregnant women, these values ​​will be slightly higher - up to 5 mU per 1 ml.

For pregnant women, the data from such a study will constantly change. The following are normal hCG results by week of pregnancy:

• week 1 – indicators vary from 20 to 150 mU per ml;
• weeks 2 and 3 – increase in hormone levels 100-4870 mU per ml;
• week 4 – data reaches 2500-82000 mU per ml;
• week 5 – gonadotropin level is 151,000 mU per ml;
• week 6 - analysis shows about 230,000 mU per ml;
• week 7-10 – the indicator ranges from 21,000 to 291,000 mU per ml;
• week 16 - by this time of fetal development, hCG ranges from 6150 to 103,000 mU per ml;
• week 20 – values ​​drop to 4730-80000 mU per ml;
• weeks 21-39 – the norm is from 2700 to 78000 mU per ml.

Normal hCG test results may vary from laboratory to laboratory. Therefore, specialists from the same research center in which the analysis was carried out must decipher its data.

Why is hCG elevated?

In non-pregnant women, hCG is negative or not more than 5 mU/ml. With a slight increase in the hormone to 10-150 mU/ml, pregnancy can be suspected (the first 2-3 weeks).

But there are other reasons for an increase in hCG levels that are not related to pregnancy:

• tumor diseases;
• hydatidiform mole;
• chorionic carcinoma.

If hCG is elevated, this indicates an incorrect determination of the gestation period or the development of several fetuses at once. Also, a high level of the hormone often indicates the progression of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus.

Beta-hCG levels at different stages of pregnancy

Why is hCG low?

Starting from week 11, hCG gradually decreases, which is a natural process. The unborn child's need for this hormone is highest in the first 2-3 months. But with the threat of miscarriage or placental abruption, human chorionic gonadotropin rapidly decreases in the early stages. False-negative results are possible in case of ectopic pregnancy and the study is carried out before 2-3 weeks of pregnancy.

Low levels of human chorionic gonadotropin during pregnancy may indicate the presence of serious disorders:

• fixation of the embryo outside the uterine cavity, which slows down the production of hCG;
• non-developing pregnancy;
• various disorders in fetal development;
• risk of miscarriage;
• placental insufficiency.

Experts make the final diagnosis based on several studies and the results of other diagnostic procedures, including ultrasound.

Concentration of chorionic gonadotropin at later stages

HCG for fetal abnormalities

HCG is one of the stages of prenatal screening and is also used to identify possible fetal abnormalities. Research makes it possible to assess the risks of various defects and chromosomal abnormalities in the unborn child.

In the first trimester, specialists study 2 biological markers (hCG and PAPP-A) together with ultrasound data. In the second trimester, testing includes hCG, estradiol, and alpha-fetoprotein levels. The data obtained is also compared with the results of ultrasound.

HCG norm by week

* - the obstetric gestational age is indicated (based on the last menstruation).

HCG level in pregnancy pathologies

In early pregnancy, spotting and pain often appear, localized in the abdomen and lower back. It is impossible to determine the presence of an embryo using ultrasound in the first days of the birth of a new life. The hCG test determines the hormone synthesized by the chorionic villi, which confirms the division of fetal cells. In case of complicated pregnancy, increased uterine tone, it is recommended to repeat the study in order to detect pathological changes in time.

With an ectopic or frozen pregnancy, hCG will slowly rise or fall. Therefore, pathology can also be suspected earlier by low levels of the hormone. In the first 2 weeks, hCG will be no more than 100. And then it should double every 2-3 days, with a gradual slowdown in the growth rate starting from 7-8 weeks of pregnancy.

As soon as the period allows the presence of a fetus in the uterine cavity to be established, an additional ultrasound must be performed. Starting from 3-4 weeks, the fertilized egg begins to be visualized.

HCG production during pregnancy

HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, begins to be produced almost from the first days of conception by the embryo. Subsequently, its synthesis is carried out by the chorionic membrane. The hCG level increases from the first days of a missed period. It is a marker of pregnancy and trophoblastic neoplasms.

In non-pregnant healthy women, the level of this hormone in the body is negligible. With successful conception, the content of this gonadotropin in the blood serum and its excretion in the urine increase sharply. HCG - what is it? Human chorionic hormone is a glycoprotein and consists of two subunits - α and β, which are non-covalently linked to each other.

The α-subunit of hCG is identical to that of the molecule of pituitary gonadotropic hormones. It consists of ninety-two amino acids, which are linked by disulfide bridges. The β subunit is specific for hCG. Thanks to this particle, human chorionic gonadotropin differs from other protein compounds in the human body. It contains one hundred and forty-five amino acids.

Pregnancy can be diagnosed using hCG starting from the sixth day after conception. β-hCG appears in urine two days later than in the blood. Human chorionic gonadotropin is necessary to ensure that in the first trimester the corpus luteum of the ovaries synthesizes hormones that support pregnancy - estrogen and progesterone. This happens until the placenta acquires the ability to independently form the necessary hormonal background. In a male fetus, human chorionic gonadotropin stimulates the synthesis of the hormone testosterone by Leydig cells, which is necessary for the formation of the male external genitalia.

After implantation of the embryo, the synthesis of hCG by trophoblast cells begins. It continues there throughout pregnancy. HCG performs different functions at different times. The hCG rate depends on the research methodology and the reagents used. Determination of the concentration of AFP and hCG complement each other.

HCG as part of pregnancy screening

The level of the hormone is determined in venous blood serum. No complex preparation is required for diagnosis. Biomaterial is collected in the morning.

General preparation rules:

• diagnostics are carried out on an empty stomach;
• the woman must inform the gynecologist about all medications used, because the drugs can affect the results of laboratory diagnostics;
• on the eve of donating blood, it is necessary to limit physical activity and eliminate the effect of unfavorable factors;
• other instrumental studies are carried out after diagnosis and determination of the level of pregnancy hormone in the blood.

After collection, the blood is placed in a centrifuge and then separated into fibrinogen and serum. Specialists then determine beta units using immunometric methods. The woman is informed of the result within 24 hours. The hCG level increases in proportion to the number of fetuses.

Interpretation of results

The level of hCG in the blood and the dynamics of its increase after in vitro fertilization allow the reproductologist to come to the following conclusions:

1. the hormone content is significantly lower than normal - gestation has not occurred;
2. borderline hormone level – placental insufficiency or other fetal pathologies;
3. increased hormone levels – multiple pregnancy or endocrine diseases.

An excessive increase in hormone levels in the 2nd trimester indicates genetic abnormalities and abnormal development of the embryo. To confirm the diagnosis, additional laboratory or hardware examination is performed.