Every pregnant woman must undergo regular health check-ups and tests to monitor the baby's growth and the mother's health. The hCG test is an important medical test that detects the levels of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in blood or urine. It is a important test that helps your doctor determine how your pregnancy progresses. hCG levels during pregnancy vary throughout every stage. A clear understanding of the hCG test and its importance is necessary for every pregnant woman. Here is a clear overview of hCG tests during pregnancy.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a pregnancy hormone produced by the placenta. This hormone rises during the early week of pregnancy. During conception, the fertilised embryo implants in the uterus, triggering the formation of the placenta. The placenta releases hCG into your blood and urine. The hCG pregnancy test helps track your pregnancy. Both low and high levels of pregnancy are a signal of abnormal health conditions. There are two types of hCG tests, namely qualitative and quantitative.
Qualitative test: The test detects the presence of hCG in blood or urine. It is a clear indicator to know if a woman is pregnant or not.
Quantitative Test: This test helps in measuring the hCG level in blood or urine. It is usually done in cases where pregnancy well being or the location of pregnancy has to be monitored.
A blood sample is collected using a needle in the arm to test hCG. A urine sample can also be used for an hCG test. You may not need any special preparation for the test.
There are standard hCG values that help you detect pregnancy and track the growth of the fetus. An hCG level below 5mIU/mL indicates an absence of pregnancy. An hCG level between 6-24 mIU/mL is a grey area. You may need to retest aglin a few days to look for higher levels of hCG for confirmed pregnancy.
For an accurate hCG test, a urine test can be done on the day of the missed period. It is best to test with the early morning urine sample as hCG is concentrated in the morning urine. if the test test is negative you may repeat it after a few days or a week. You may also go for the blood hCG test when you notice pregnancy symptoms. Detecting hCG in your blood is more accurate than in urine.
There is a chance of a false negative with the hCG test. This may be due to certain factors, including the intake of more water before the urine test, the use of more or less urine for the test, and the performance of the test. There is also a chance of false positive i.e. abnormal hCG levels with no pregnancy due to pregnancy loss, use of fertility drugs or molar pregnancy. Medicines containing hCG can affect the hCG test results.
Low hCG level may be due to the following reasons.
● Ectopic pregnancy
● Miscarriage
● Miscalculation of the conception date
● Blighted ovum
● Pregnancy loss
● The fetus is not growing as expected
You may have high hCG levels for many reasons. It may be due to the following reasons.
● You’re pregnant with multiple babies
● Miscalculation of last menstrual period
● Molar pregnancy or Geatataial troßhoblashc dlieal
● Tumors in the ovary and testicle
hCG levels are tested once or twice during pregnancy. The hCG levels are usually tested in the first trimester. Your doctor may recommend repeating the hCG test when the hCG levels in the initial days are very low or when an ectopic pregnancy is respected.
Yes, the hCG hormone is related to the fertility of men and women. hCG hormone is usually prescribed to treat fertility issues for males and females. It is used along with ART treatment. It is said that hCG hormones stimulate the ovaries and increase the chance of successful implantation of the fertilised egg. F
A hCG pregnancy test is important to confirm pregnancy and make sure the pregnancy is healthy. It is a reliable pregnancy test to know how your pregnancy progresses. hCG hormone plays a crucial role in pregnancy. Usually, low and high levels of hCG levels is a sign of an issue in your pregnancy. So, it is a must to get your hCG tested during pregnancy based on your doctor’s advice. You must also be aware of the factors that affect the results of the hCG test.
hCG levels in the blood or urine are a clear indicator of pregnancy, as human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone produced during pregnancy.
If a high hCG level is detected, then it may be due to carrying twins, abnormal growth in the uterus, molar pregnancy or gestational trophoblastic disease.
A blood test is a reliable way to measure hCG levels during pregnancy. A quantitative test helps measure the hCG levels in blood, i.e., the amount of hCG in the blood. A urine or blood test can help measure the hCG levels during pregnancy.
The normal hCG levels during early pregnancy are listed below
5 weeks -18-7340 (mIU/mL)
6 weeks-1080-56500 (mIU/mL)
7-8 weeks-7650-229000 (mIU/mL)
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