Why can hCG rise slowly in early pregnancy, what to do?

Slow increase or decrease in hCG levels in the early stages

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) usually doubles every 48-72 hours in the early stages of pregnancy until levels exceed 6000 mIU/ml. An increase of more than 60% after 48 hours is considered normal, but less than 53% is considered abnormal. Although slower growth in itself does not indicate pregnancy loss, it is difficult to say about a decrease in hCG levels. 1

The concentration of this hormone in the blood is usually measured at intervals of 48-72 hours (2-3 days) to determine the development of pregnancy in the earliest stages. Typically, these tests are performed at a time when ultrasound cannot yet determine the viability of the fetus. 1

There is no single “normal” hCG level in early pregnancy. What is important is the speed of its growth, and that it does not fall below the permissible norm. Learn more about this and the normal ranges for HCG levels by week.

A slow rate of increase or decrease in hCG levels during the first 8-10 weeks of pregnancy indicates the death of the trophoblast (cells of the outer layer of the embryo) and may indicate an ectopic or non-viable intrauterine pregnancy. 2

HCG rises slowly

Oh, they told me the same thing, my hCG grew very slowly. A typo, the first hCG was 42. And during the pregnancy it was 244 at the same time. Today there are 24 in total(((((less than 2 times((((((growing but not very confidently.

So, author, do not panic ahead of time. 3 weeks of pregnancy are always poorly visible on ultrasound. Perhaps they will still find it for you. HCG was very low already at 6 obstetrics, and the embryo was not the right size at 1 week.

Early pregnancy hCG rises slowly

Half of the girls had missed abortions. Why early? I'm 5 days late.

Oh, what a cruel thing! What checks and deadlines are there in week 4 (. )! What a cleanse! The obstetric period is conditional - plus or minus a couple of weeks from the real one (logically simple).

Now only one result has been saved - in the 4th week it was 191 with reference values ​​of 75-2600.

slow increase in hCG in the early stages, threat of ST?

Girls, especially those who have already given birth, please share your experience! Now, if the ultrasound shows such a problem. then you will weep. Everything will be fine, you can’t waste your nerves like this.

This all happened to me a long time ago - 10 years ago, I went to a family planning center when I became pregnant - I had a phobia that it would be ectopic, but the ultrasound reassured me that everything was fine.

Yes, not enough. What prompted you to run and take tests every week? The doctor at the Kulakova center said: relax and come back in a week. Exactly a week later, the embryo was found and the hCG increased. And you probably still have a delay of a day or two.

When I was in the hospital, a girl was lying in the room with me after a pipe burst, and that’s the situation she had. I hope everything worked out for the author. Svetlana, how did it all end?

Ultrasound two days before the last one, no one saw him) According to ultrasound, on the day the hCG of the PY in the uterus dropped, the size was delayed by a week. They don't see an embryo on an ultrasound.

HCG during frozen pregnancy (joint topic)

The doctor said on Sunday during an ultrasound, if there is nothing, then it’s time for cleaning. I can’t think of anything else. Tell me, who had a similar story, is there a chance? Is it worth taking HCG tomorrow? Everything hurt terribly. I lived in hell for 3 weeks. I knew that I was pregnant, but that things would not end well.

What did you have? And how did it end? In short, the day before yesterday I was 14. Can I prescribe duphaston for myself? Everything was quick and easy with my son. They put it in and immediately saw it on the ultrasound. There were nerves. constant tone, threats

When I complained to the doctor that my stomach hurts and hurts like M, I prescribed a tone for myself. She laughed and said that this is not tone, it’s typical to talk about tone after 12 weeks. With my first child, I felt the tone throughout my pregnancy and lay with him for preservation, so I know these feelings well

IN WHO'S EARLY TIME HCG WAS BELOW NORMAL OR GROWED SLOWLY? WHAT ENDED?

On day X the hCG was 3.2. You see, everything is fine with you))) However, now you can’t quit hormones before the 12th week under any circumstances.

Everything will be fine now. G, he says so calmly, well, you’re drinking duphaston (how did he know. That is, it’s like it’s in the order of things. ). I don’t know what to do: continue getting tested, take progesterone and go for an ultrasound, or stop running around to doctors and tests, and rest for a couple of weeks, because everything is in God’s hands.

No one knows exactly when you were fertilized. When was ovulation in the cycle, when did they have sex, when did they meet there and from which of the sexes? The period in the first months cannot be determined accurately and is very arbitrary. You won’t see a normal heartbeat for another 3 weeks. What should I watch? Embryo growth in mm? (The error of the ultrasound machine seems to be up to cm).

I am 4 weeks pregnant and the fertilized egg has not been found yet. HCG growth: 11/22. -125.6 11/24. -174.3 11/26. -207.9 Today they suspected an ectopic, I recommend going to the hospital. Girls. My estimated period is 4-5 weeks.

How accurate is the hCG level in determining a normal pregnancy?

The level of this hormone in the blood is a sufficient indicator to determine the viability of the fetus only until it exceeds 6000 mIU and / or until 6-7 weeks of pregnancy. Later, it is necessary to undergo an additional ultrasound examination to determine the presence of the child’s heartbeat. After which there is no need to check the progress of pregnancy using an hCG test, as the famous American professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences, obstetrician-gynecologist Amos Grunebaum says. 1

One Canadian study from 2007 also found that once hCG levels exceed 5000 mIU (or 5–6 weeks of pregnancy), this value should not be relied upon as a reliable determinant of pregnancy viability and causes of first trimester bleeding 3 .

Simply put, after 5-7 weeks of pregnancy, ultrasound becomes the best tool for getting information about how the pregnancy is progressing, and it is much more accurate than hCG numbers.

Reasons for a false positive result

The appearance of two stripes in certain situations is possible even in the absence of pregnancy. This is called a false positive response.

During pregnancy, the female body produces a special hormone called hCG - human chorionic gonadotropin. By the concentration of the hormone, you can determine pregnancy and its duration.

Each test is based on the principle of an active reaction: a special reagent reacts with the hCG hormone and colors the second line on the test strip. A sharp increase in hormone levels is observed in the first weeks of pregnancy and indicates the development of the protective membrane of the fetus - the placenta. One hundred percent accuracy of the test is possible after only 7 days of delay, since the amount of the hormone increases every day.

Of course, as in any other testing situation, there is a small risk of getting incorrect results. If the tests are ambiguous, it is recommended to take the hCG test again in the same laboratory at intervals of several days (48-72 hours). During pregnancy, the result will be 1.5 - 2 times higher than in the first case. If there is no pregnancy, then its indicators will remain or increase.

The most common reasons for false-negative results, when hCG is not detected during pregnancy, include:

• Poor quality blood sampling.
• Untimely (too early) test.
• A woman has late ovulation or implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus.
• Ectopic pregnancy.

False-positive hCG results, when the indicator rises and the woman is not pregnant, are extremely rare. HCG may increase if women suffer from serious diseases (breast, ovarian, stomach, and other manifestations of oncology).

If a woman sees any changes in the level of hCG, she should immediately consult an obstetrician-gynecologist to clarify this situation and receive recommendations.

HCG levels are not affected by taking contraceptives or any other drugs except those that contain this hormone and are prescribed in the process of infertility treatment.

For up to 6 weeks, pregnancy is diagnosed only by the level of hCG; if it does not increase or decreases, it can be assumed that the pregnancy was interrupted (miscarriage) or froze. Ultrasound can provide similar findings much later.

If a miscarriage occurs, hCG in the blood remains elevated for several days. Then it gradually decreases and reaches the “pre-pregnancy” level after 4-6 weeks.

We would like to thank gynecologist Kristina Povarova for her assistance in preparing this article.

Slow hCG rise

Unlike a drop in hCG levels (when the new test result is less than the previous one), a slow increase does not indicate a problem so clearly.

The doctor compares changes in hCG values ​​with established expected curves, which can help him determine how the pregnancy is progressing and whether additional action is needed. But there are many limitations to assessing the growth rate of this hormone, and this indicator itself should never be used to draw conclusions - symptoms or signs of pregnancy should also be taken into account.

Reasons for slow increase

A slow increase in hCG levels may be due to:

• normal pregnancy;
• ectopic pregnancy;
• miscarriage or threat thereof.

Only a doctor can determine which of these is more likely in each particular case. 1

Pregnancy hCG rises slowly

User no.: 123 469

Hello, Dear Girls#33;

I read the forum rules and before asking my question, I read all the topics related to it, but I did not find an answer. Therefore, with your permission, I will ask in a separate topic.

Date of conception 3.12.11

On December 7, 2011, slight spotting began, I thought it was my period, after 7 days it did not end, but continued to smear, I waited another three days and went to the residential complex, from where I was safely taken to the hospital.

I didn’t know that I was pregnant, I was sure that it was my period and not ending because I was too tired, etc. Moreover, the discharge was not abundant, but as if it was about to end.

The hospital decided to save it and prescribed progesterone and papaverine.

After 3 days, the bleeding stopped completely. I feel good, nothing hurt and nothing hurts.

12/23/11 - passed the hCG test - result 955

12/26/11 -hCG - 1355

12.29.11 -hCG - 1655

I'm very worried, why is the dynamics so slow? I am very afraid that this could harm the child, that incorrect, too slow development is occurring.

This is clearly not a ST, but why then is everything so slow#33;?

Girls, please help me with advice#33; I am now in the hospital under the supervision of doctors, but they don’t really tell me anything, only that I have to wait.

Maybe someone has had similar cases7 Please help.

Posts: 1,568

User no: 84 099

Quote(Alysska11 #064; 12/30, 5#58;28)

Hello, Dear Girls#33;

I read the forum rules and before asking my question, I read all the topics related to it, but I did not find an answer. Therefore, with your permission, I will ask in a separate topic.

Date of conception 3.12.11

On December 7, 2011, slight spotting began, I thought it was my period, after 7 days it did not end, but continued to smear, I waited another three days and went to the residential complex, from where I was safely taken to the hospital.

I didn’t know that I was pregnant, I was sure that it was my period and not ending because I was too tired, etc. Moreover, the discharge was not abundant, but as if it was about to end.

The hospital decided to save it and prescribed progesterone and papaverine.

After 3 days, the bleeding stopped completely. I feel good, nothing hurt and nothing hurts.

12/23/11 - passed the hCG test - result 955

12/26/11 -hCG - 1355

12.29.11 -hCG - 1655

I'm very worried, why is the dynamics so slow? I am very afraid that this could harm the child, that incorrect, too slow development is occurring.

This is clearly not a ST, but why then is everything so slow#33;?

Girls, please help me with advice#33; I am now in the hospital under the supervision of doctors, but they don’t really tell me anything, only that I have to wait.

Maybe someone has had similar cases7 Please help.

Hi#33; The most important thing is to calm down #33;

And this happened to me, the first hCG was (I don’t remember the exact numbers and I can’t find the piece of paper) 650, the second, after 4 days 900 in total, although it should have at least doubled, or even tripled#33;

Now our little booger is 33 weeks old, at 32 weeks she weighed 1950g. He loves to pick under the ribs and play with the liver and stomach. and stretch out the arms and legs

Don't worry, everything will be fine, the main thing is FAITH#33;#33;#33;#33;

Decrease in hCG levels

If there is not growth, but a tendency to decrease in the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in early pregnancy, it becomes clear that the embryo is not able to develop normally. In this case, intervention or surveillance options may be considered. If the hCG level drops by less than 35-50% within 48 hours (see table below), this may indicate the presence of a trophoblast (the outer layer of the embryo - editor's note) or the development of an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, examination and intervention are necessary for a final diagnosis.

Expected minimum percentage decrease in hCG in case of non-viable pregnancy: 7

Is it possible to get incorrect results?

The possibility of obtaining incorrect results when testing blood for human chorionic gonadotropin is not excluded. Such conclusions are called false positive or false negative.

The first case, in which there is no pregnancy, but the result is positive, is very rare.

An incorrect negative result (the test does not confirm the presence of pregnancy) is possible if the rules are violated when donating blood, if the gestational age is incorrectly determined, with late ovulation and in exceptional circumstances - ectopic pregnancy.

If you suspect an erroneous result in both cases, the gynecologist recommends taking the tests again.

In addition, the content of gonadotropin in the blood is affected by drugs used to treat infertility and containing this hormone (Choragon, Pregnil). Before taking tests, it is necessary to warn laboratory workers about taking such drugs. Other drugs do not affect the level of hCG in the blood.

What is hCG, what is the role of this hormone in the female body?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by chorion tissue immediately after implantation of the embryo into the uterine cavity (approximately 12 days after conception). When there is no pregnancy, the level of this hormone is close to zero. After conception occurs, it increases to tens of thousands of units, reaching a limit by the 10th week, and then decreases slightly.

The role of hCG in the early stages of pregnancy is very high. It supports the work of the corpus luteum - a temporary endocrine gland that produces progesterone, increases the number of chorionic villi, and provides their nutrition. With its increase, gradual adaptation to pregnancy occurs, hormonal levels and important body functions undergo restructuring.

Adaptation to pregnancy under the influence of hCG consists of an increase in the production of hormones from the adrenal cortex. They suppress the immune response towards the fetus on the part of the mother’s body, because for it the fetus is to some extent foreign. The production of hCG depends on how successfully the implantation process is going. If the fertilized egg is healthy, it produces the required amount of gonadotropin and gestation proceeds normally.

Abortion

HCG levels in non-pregnant women may be elevated after an abortion or miscarriage. This is due to the fact that the hormone produced by the fetal membrane remains in the patient’s blood after termination of pregnancy. It takes a while for his numbers to return to normal.

After an abortion, hCG levels return to normal very slowly. Artificial termination of pregnancy is a great stress for the body. In the first 5-7 days, the concentration of the hormone may even increase. Then the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin begin to gradually decrease. The hCG level is completely normalized only 5-6 weeks after the abortion.

There are cases when, a week after artificial termination of pregnancy, the concentration of the hormone continues to increase. This is a pretty alarming sign. It may indicate that chorion particles remain in the uterine cavity. In this case, the patient needs to undergo endometrial curettage.

If there is an early miscarriage, the hCG concentration remains elevated for a week. Then the hormone level is completely normalized. If spontaneous abortion occurs in the second or third trimester, the recovery period takes about 1 month.

Diagnostic tests to determine hCG levels

2-3 days after implantation, an increase in hCG is observed in the blood; after 3-5 days, the hormone begins to be released along with the urine. If there are indirect signs of pregnancy (delayed cycles, breast swelling, changes in taste habits), it is recommended to perform a rapid test. The probability of his error is 5%.

A blood test for hCG will provide more accurate information. Biomaterial can be donated upon a doctor’s referral or independently at a paid clinic. To do this, blood is taken from a vein on an empty stomach in the morning. The answer will be ready on the same day or the next day. Based on the results of the analysis, the fact of conception is judged.

Regressive pregnancy

If the increase in hCG levels corresponds to the schedule, but then suddenly the increase in the indicator stops, this indicates a regressing pregnancy. With such results, there is a high probability of fading and fetal death. Indicators may indicate a high risk of spontaneous miscarriage.

A properly selected diet is the key to health

The cessation of hormone growth always indicates a pathology of pregnancy. Most often we are talking about the termination of a new life in the early stages of development. However, even after the death of the fetus, false growth of the uterus can be observed. This is due to the fact that the detachment of the fertilized egg did not occur. For some time, signs characteristic of an “interesting situation” may be observed, but gradually they will disappear.

HCG analysis allows you to determine a regressing pregnancy. If in pregnant women, in the absence of deviations, the level of the hormone increases, then during regression it rapidly falls. This should be especially alarming if the initial tests were within normal limits. Express tests can also confirm a frozen pregnancy: the test result will be negative, although previously two stripes were clearly visible.

Other reasons

A low hCG may indicate fetal growth restriction. There is an increase in the hormone in developmental pathologies, but the dynamics do not correspond to the norm. The analysis may show underestimated values ​​in case of genetic insufficiency of the placenta. Low levels of the hormone indicate a violation of the blood supply between the maternal body and the fetus.

We suggest you read: White coating on the tongue of a newborn. Reasons for breastfeeding, artificial, mixed feeding. Photos of what to do, how to clean, what to remove

When the concentration of the hormone level does not meet the norm by the end of the term, the pregnancy is classified as post-term. The decrease in value occurs due to the extinction of chorion functions.

How does the concentration of hCG change during pregnancy?

The interpretation of the test results should be entrusted to the doctor. However, it is important to know that if the reading is less than 5 mU/ml, intrauterine pregnancy is excluded, and the reason for the delay in the cycle is different.

What hCG result is considered normal? The permissible hormone levels by week are shown in the table:

The table indicators are not an absolute dogma; after IVF they are always slightly higher. Each expectant mother has her own optimal limits, so to assess the dynamics of the increase in the hormone, the doctor evaluates the previous and new tests. When reporting from the last day of menstruation to the 4th week of obstetric pregnancy, the level of gonadotropin doubles every two days.

Norms for hCG content and deviations from them

For men, as well as pregnant women, the gonadotropin content ranges from 0 to 5 mU/ml (international units per 1 ml).

During the normal course of pregnancy, the gonadotropin content is directly dependent on its duration; from conception to the last weeks of pregnancy it increases from 25 mU/ml to 78,000 mU/ml. During the first trimester, the level of hCG increases several thousand times, then the sharp increase in the number of hormones stops and occurs slowly. Changes in gonadotropin levels are purely individual for each woman; there are no strict limits. During the period of bearing a baby, there is an increase or decrease in the level of hCG.

The content of gonadotropin in the blood increases too quickly in the case of:

• incorrect determination of the period (the period is longer than expected);
• multiple pregnancy;
• hydatidiform mole.

HCG rises too slowly if:

• there was an error in determining the deadline (the deadline is shorter than expected);
• delay in fetal development;
• the fetus develops outside the uterus;
• fetal freezing occurred;
• there is a risk of miscarriage.

Reasons for the slow growth of hCG, its slowdown or decrease in the early stages

Deviations from standard indicators can be considered signs of pathology. It is important for the doctor to understand why this happened and urgently eliminate the anomaly. If hCG slowly grows in the blood of a pregnant woman in the early stages, the physical development of the embryo is likely to be delayed. This happens because the formation of the placenta slows down and the blood flow between the expectant mother and the child is disrupted. The embryo does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which leads to intrauterine hypoxia.

A low hCG level, a sudden drop in its level in the first weeks of gestation, is a serious symptom that may indicate:

• placental insufficiency;
• ectopic implantation;
• fading pregnancy;
• slowing down the physical development of the embryo;
• the threat of failure;
• chromosomal abnormalities;
• rejection of the fertilized egg before the cycle is delayed;
• detachment and non-implantation of an embryo transferred using IVF.

A low increase in gonadotropin may indicate placental insufficiency, fetal hypoxia, and intrauterine death. The rate increases slowly in the later stages, if the pregnancy is post-term, this situation is monitored by doctors.

Ectopic pregnancy after natural fertilization or IVF poses a particular danger to women's health. At first, the woman notices the same signs as during normal conception. However, after a while they are accompanied by pathological symptoms - pain in the lower abdomen, bloody spotting. A blood test in this case does not show an increase in hCG, although a delay in menstruation is observed. It is important to diagnose this condition in time and remove the embryo using laparoscopy. Otherwise, rupture of the fallopian tube (the place where the fertilized egg usually begins to grow), peritonitis, and sepsis are possible.

Indications for determining hCG during pregnancy

HCG determination is especially useful in detecting pregnancy 1-2 weeks after conception, as well as for diagnosing and monitoring tumors.

In an ectopic pregnancy, serum hCG levels are lower than in a normal pregnancy at the same time. Therefore, the analysis makes it possible to distinguish menstrual irregularities from real pregnancy.

A reduced concentration of the hormone is also observed in cases of threatened miscarriage, undeveloped pregnancy, as well as intrauterine fetal death in the early stages.

The combined determination of hCG, free estriol and AFP in the second trimester of pregnancy (the “triple test”) is valuable, along with other maternal clinical data, in assessing the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities at birth.

• Pregnancy marker: early diagnosis of pregnancy, determination of gestational age (especially during IVF);
• Pregnancy monitoring (threatened miscarriage, non-developing pregnancy);
• Diagnosis of ectopic (ectopic) pregnancy;
• Prenatal diagnosis (part of the “triple test” together with AFP and free estriol, and if you add ultrasound data - PRISCA II).

Treatment tactics

In 15% of cases, a slow increase in gonadotropin levels in the early stages is a natural phenomenon observed in the absence of pathology. In any case, having discovered deviations in the increase in the pregnancy hormone, the doctor takes the patient under special control and prescribes additional examinations.

Bearing with an insufficient increase in hCG is complicated, since pregnancy is most often associated with certain pathologies and proceeds poorly. However, it is often possible to preserve and carry a healthy child. Much depends on the reason for the decrease in hCG levels:

• if a drop in hCG is associated with an ectopic pregnancy, emergency surgery is indicated to save the patient’s life (for more details, see the article: hCG levels by week in the early stages of an ectopic pregnancy);
• in case of a frozen pregnancy, a diagnostic curettage is performed, the cause of the pathology is subsequently determined, hormonal correction is carried out and careful preparation for a new pregnancy is carried out;
• when there is a threat of spontaneous abortion, retention in a hospital is indicated, where important therapeutic measures are carried out.

Treatment in a hospital involves monitoring hCG levels over time, as well as taking other tests that provide the doctor with additional information about the patient’s health status. Special medications containing gonadotropin taken from the urine of pregnant women (Pregnil, Horagon, Ecostimulin) often help to increase the concentration of the pregnancy hormone. Usually injections of drugs are given in dosages of 1500, 2000, 5000 IU. The dose is selected individually, while the patient’s condition is monitored. If treatment measures are taken in a timely manner, the chances of carrying a baby increase.

What will the hCG be like if the fetus has stopped developing?

A non-developing and frozen pregnancy is accompanied by a sharp drop in hCG. A sign of fetal death may be the absence of natural signs of pregnancy:

• toxicosis stopped abruptly;
• the breast gradually decreases and begins to take its original shape;
• at later stages the baby’s movement cannot be heard;
• Bloody discharge and nagging pain in the lower abdomen may be observed.

In isolated cases, hCG does not fall immediately, or even a slight increase is observed. But an experienced specialist will still note a significant deviation from the norm in hormone growth. This situation is an exception. As a rule, the level of the hormone in the blood will be much lower than normal. To confirm this diagnosis, several tests are performed and an ultrasound is performed.

In this situation, the fertilized egg can leave the uterus on its own. Then the woman does not need additional medical intervention, only psychological support. Also, depending on the period, a natural birth can be induced with the help of medications or an abortion can be performed.

Sad and scary diagnoses should not frighten our readers, since timely examination and love for your health will not allow any of the listed troubles to happen. Pathologies and deviations are presented in the article to explain the principle of action of the hormone and the need for constant monitoring.

Content

1. Reliability of hCG analysis in the early stages
2. What level of hCG should be
3. Low hCG levels
4. HCG fell early in pregnancy
5. Slow growth of hCG in the early stages
6. High hCG in early pregnancy

Determining pregnancy before miscarriage on your own is a difficult task. It is too early to take a pregnancy test, signs such as:

• breast enlargement;
• drowsiness;
• nausea;
• mood changes and changes in taste preferences -

haven't appeared yet. But almost from the first days of conception, a woman can understand that she will soon become a mother - a blood test for hCG will help her with this.

Patterns of changes in hCG levels in pregnant women

From the beginning of embryo implantation until 12 weeks after conception, the hormone content doubles every two days. From 13 weeks to 20, the hCG level drops just as rapidly, and in the final concentration it becomes 2 times less relative to the maximum value. This amount is present in the blood until the birth itself, and after it it gradually decreases.

Doctors perform two tests to determine the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in a woman’s body after conception. Total hCG and beta human chorionic gonadotropin are different fractions that have their direct diagnostic value. In the early stages of pregnancy, general analysis is found in large quantities in the urine, which indicates the development of the fetus. In the second trimester, total hCG is determined in the blood serum; The procedure is included in mandatory prenatal diagnostics. The study is carried out using triple and quarter tests.

The content of free beta-hCG indicates the development of pathology. This analysis indicates the presence of trophoblastic (hydatidiform mole) and ovarian tumors. Also, hCG analysis is used during the first and second trimester to identify risk groups for chromosomal aberrations of the fetus. When determining them, the woman is recommended to terminate the pregnancy, since the condition is dangerous for the fetus and is fraught with disability for the unborn child.

If human chorionic gonadotropin is higher than normal in girls in the absence of pregnancy, adult women during menopause or men, then this indicates the presence of a neoplasm in the body, which produces this hormone.

The accuracy of the test for human β-choriongonadotropin is true, but you need to remember the human factor, so if abnormally high levels are detected, you must re-test. According to statistics, approximately 2% of pregnant women have false positive results.

Individual conditions and their causes

The increase in chorionic gonadotropin during pregnancy is due to many factors. Depending on them, the clinical picture of the condition and the possibility of a favorable outcome will differ.

The growth of the pregnancy hormone is especially intense in the initial stages, so errors in determining the time of fertilization by several days can significantly influence the discrepancy between the level of the substance and the term. A high concentration of hCG also appears after a spontaneous miscarriage or abortive termination of pregnancy.

Genetic abnormalities in a child

Fetal chromosomal diseases are a serious pathology that currently has no cure, so prenatal detection of such diseases is very important. It is hCG that can be used as their marker. The level of this hormone can reveal serious abnormalities in the development of the fetus until the middle of pregnancy. An increase in the concentration of hCG by 2 times is the reason for ordering a full examination of the embryo for the presence of genetic abnormalities. Most often identified:

• Down syndrome;
• Edwards syndrome;
• Patau syndrome;
• Turner syndrome;
• defects in the development of the fetal cardiovascular system;
• abnormalities in the development of the neural tube.

The first pregnancy screening at 12-13 weeks is very important and responsible. During its course, the presence of a genetic pathology is determined, which is sometimes incompatible with life.

HCG analysis in early pregnancy is a reliable sign of pregnancy

An indicator called “human chorionic gonadotropin” (hCG) indicates that the cells of a man and a woman have united, forming an embryo that is attached to the wall of the uterus.

HCG is a hormone produced by chorionic villi. Its production depends on how successful the implantation is. If the fertilized egg is healthy, it produces a sufficient amount of hCG. The hormone consists of alpha and beta subunits. It is the beta-hCG subunit that makes it possible to determine the presence of pregnancy, its fullness, and the place of attachment of the embryo (in the uterine cavity or outside it). Dynamics are important for interpreting the results.

A woman can take an hCG test in the early stages of pregnancy herself, without a referral from a gynecologist. To do this, she needs to come to the laboratory in the morning on an empty stomach and donate blood from a vein. The results of the blood test will show the presence or absence of pregnancy.

How long the analysis takes depends on the equipment of the selected laboratory. Usually the answer is ready on the same day, sometimes the next day.

Having received the final figures, you need to correctly decipher them. Negative result – values ​​less than 5 units. In this case, you should relax and wait for your period. A woman cannot somehow increase or change hCG in any way - this hormone is a marker of pregnancy. Early diagnosis allows not only to establish the fact of pregnancy, but also to recognize whether it is developing correctly.

HCG - “pregnancy hormone”

In the broad sense of the word, “pregnancy hormones” today refer to several specific substances found in the blood of pregnant women - not only hCG, but often progesterone. To be fair, we note that pregnancy is impossible without a definite and consistent change in the level of many groups of hormones, but all of them can only indirectly indicate an interesting situation.

Progesterone is a hormone that actually supports pregnancy, preventing fetal rejection throughout the entire gestation period. However, an increase in its level normally occurs outside of pregnancy - in every second phase of the cycle. It is impossible to judge the presence of pregnancy by the level of this hormone.

A true hormonal indicator that confirms pregnancy by 98–99% is the increase and dynamic development of the level of the “specific hormone” of pregnancy - hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).

An increased level of the hCG hormone is the only accurate sign of pregnancy in the early stages (1-2 weeks late or earlier); it is the reaction to hCG that is the basis of pregnancy tests

Outside of pregnancy, a woman’s level of this hormone can be very low - up to 5 mU/ml (it is produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands).

But why still not 100%? A few percent of false positive results are quite reasonable:

• Some malignant tumors are capable of producing this hormone;
• An increased level of the hormone also accompanies some abnormal variants of the development of the conception process: hydatidiform mole (in the uterus, instead of an embryo, a formation consisting of many bubbles develops), ectopic pregnancy (the fertilized egg is not fixed in the uterus), frozen pregnancy (the embryo has stopped developing, the fertilized egg turns out to be empty), miscarriage (the fertilized egg has detached and leaves the uterus) - in all these cases, further development of pregnancy is impossible, in some it threatens the health and even life of the woman;
• for some time after termination of pregnancy, the increased level of hCG in the woman’s body remains (the substance is eliminated gradually, it all depends on its initial level (the length of the terminated pregnancy) and the characteristics of the woman’s body);
• in the process of artificial stimulation of ovulation (including during IVF), medications containing hCG are often used. Residues of the drug may give a false positive result in the analysis.

Nevertheless, it is quite possible to distinguish a false-positive result from a true one - you just need to study the dynamics of changes in the level of the hormone: in most cases, a normally developing gestation will be indicated by an increase in hCG that is subject to a certain sequence. The rule is simple - during pregnancy, the hCG value in the blood doubles every other day, in other words, it grows exponentially. However, you should not be upset because the results differ by several units, and even tens and hundreds (with high hCG values) - the development of each embryo is individual, and hCG norms are very vague. Negative dynamics of the hormone level or the fact that its level will not change will definitely indicate problems.

HCG grows very intensively only at the beginning of pregnancy; after passing its “peak” at 8–10 weeks, the hormone level stabilizes

Example. Anna and her husband planned to conceive a child in a cycle that began for the woman on June 1. Anna's cycle lasts 30 days. Towards the end (June 22), wanting to find out about the onset of pregnancy earlier than pharmacy tests could show it, Anna went to the laboratory and took an hCG test. The result was positive - 20 mU/ml. But having had the bitter experience of a frozen pregnancy in the past, Anna did not disclose the result to her husband. A day later (June 24), she again donated blood for hCG. The result pleased her - 44 mU/ml. Pregnancy confirmed. However, to reassure herself, the woman took the test three more times: June 28 - 203 mU/ml; July 2 - 850 mU/ml; July 6 - 3,500 honey/ml. Anna gave birth to a healthy baby on time.

During a multiple pregnancy, the hCG level rises much faster than during a single pregnancy. However, a rapid increase in hCG is only an indirect sign of multiple births.

The mechanism of hCG appearance in the body, the direction of the hormone’s influence on the body

In order to correctly use the available means of determining pregnancy and interpret the results of tests for hCG, it is important for a woman to understand where this hormone comes from in the pregnant body, when it appears there, in what fluids it is determined and how soon after conception testing can be carried out.

Let's start with the fact that this hormone is produced by the fertilized egg itself, which in the first weeks of its existence is very small, and besides, it is still “free floating” - traveling through the fallopian tubes to the uterus . In this regard, in the first 7 days after conception, the pregnancy hormone is not detected in the blood (or is detected at a “non-pregnant” level), and only after the fertilized egg is fixed in the uterus (8–10 days) it begins to enter the mother’s bloodstream in very small batches .

It is the moment of the appearance of hCG in the blood that characterizes the “turning point” period of the menstrual cycle - the transition of the cycle to pregnancy. HCG in the blood gives a signal to the corpus luteum, located in one of the ovaries, not to fade away (as happens before menstruation), to continue working and producing the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for further fixation of the egg in the endometrium (inner lining of the uterus). Menstruation (rejection of the endometrium) does not begin.

A few days after the hormone appears in the blood, it begins to enter the urine. However, the level of concentration in urine lags slightly - by about two days. At the same time, provided that the kidneys are functioning normally, the rules for increasing the concentration are still the same - doubling every two days. It is on the fact of the presence or absence of a certain concentration of the hormone in the urine that the principle of operation of pharmacy pregnancy tests is based.

In the vastness of Internet forums, in threads for “experienced” people planning a pregnancy, there are often judgments about the possibility of determining the well-being of pregnancy by the dynamics of the brightness of the test strip. So, by doing the test every day (or every other day), forum members really see progress - the stripe is becoming brighter. However, doctors strongly reject this technique - the urinary system works differently for everyone, and the lack of dynamics on the test is not always an alarming sign. Pharmacy tests should be used only as a means of determining pregnancy, and not as an indicator of its well-being.

The role of hCG in the pregnant body is not limited to just a signal for the production of progesterone; it also has other functions:

• a decrease in the body’s immune defense (so it will protect the fertilized egg from aggression of the mother’s body);
• stimulation of the production of estrogen - another important group of hormones;
• decreased mental excitability due to changes in hormonal levels created by the adrenal cortex;
• influence on the processes of appearance of sexual characteristics in the fetus.

The diagnostic role of hCG is difficult to overestimate even at later stages than the first weeks, when only the fact of pregnancy is established. Too high or too low levels of the hormone may indirectly indicate certain genetic disorders in the fetus.

The hCG hormone is represented in the body by alpha and beta particles, and only the latter have diagnostic value. Alpha particles, due to their high similarity with other gonadotropins (LH, FSH), can give a false positive result in ovulation testing if pregnancy has already occurred. It’s not for nothing that the Internet is replete with amazed posts from newly pregnant women who state that ovulation tests are also capable of diagnosing pregnancy.

Why is it important to monitor hCG during pregnancy?

Summarizing the above, we list 5 reasons that encourage an informed and responsible woman to monitor the level of hCG if pregnancy is suspected, as well as in its early stages (at later stages, a hCG test will be prescribed by a doctor as part of screening):

1. Confirmation of the fact of pregnancy (both the earliest method - even before tests, and the most accurate).
2. Exclusion of malignant tumors or their early diagnosis when confirmed.
3. The ability to suspect an ectopic pregnancy, a frozen pregnancy, a hydatidiform mole, or to verify the normal course of pregnancy at a specific stage.
4. Possibility to assume multiple pregnancy (experienced fertility doctors use one hCG result after IVF with a high degree of probability to determine the number of surviving embryos).
5. Possibility of suspecting genetic abnormalities of the fetus.