What does hcg levels mean

These ranges are just guidelines, as every pregnancy is different. Remember: Whether you have high or low levels of the hormone is not the key indicator of a healthy pregnancy.

This is because many factors can influence total hCG levels, including maternal smoking, body mass index BMI , ethnicity, parity the number of times a woman has given birth , and hyperemesis gravidarum severe morning sickness. Doctors instead look to see if hCG levels double every 48 to 72 hours from whatever level they started at. They look for this in the initial weeks of pregnancy, as it's normal for hCG levels to peak around 8 to 11 weeks' gestation, then decrease, and level off thereafter.

If your hCG levels are low, it is likely that another test will be performed in a few days to confirm if levels are increasing or not. If your beta-hCG levels are lower than expected and remain low in repeated testing , this may indicate:. If one of these issues is suspected, your practitioner will do other tests, typically a transvaginal ultrasound , to determine the status of your pregnancy. Reasons your beta-hCG levels may be higher than expected include:.

If you see your hCG results on a lab report before you have the opportunity to speak about them with your doctor, try not to jump to your own conclusions. While informative, a beta-hCG test is just one way that doctors gather information about—and determine the status of—a pregnancy. Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Mount Sinai. HCG blood test-quantitative. Int J Mol Sci. Eur J Epidemiol. Mott Children's Hospital. Michigan Medicine.

Human chorionic gonadotrophin HCG. October 8, Differences in serum human chorionic gonadotropin gise in early pregnancy by race and value at presentation. Obstet Gynecol. J Assist Reprod Genet. This makes it easier to calculate your due date. If you have a D and C dilation and curettage procedure as part of your miscarriage, your doctor may recommend waiting two or three cycles before trying to get pregnant again.

This is because a D and C can thin the uterine lining, and a thicker lining is better in pregnancy. The lining will build back up over a few months. Early miscarriage can be a painful emotional and physical experience.

If you suspect you may be having a miscarriage, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can order tests, including the hCG blood test, to provide you with further information. In fact, most people do. Also know that there are many organizations that provide support for those who have experienced pregnancy loss.

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The Department of Justice sued Texas on Sept. Here is a list of reliable sources for funding, medical advice, and legal help for people seeking to get an abortion in Texas after the new contested…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. HCG levels in pregnancy. HCG levels in miscarriage. Do low levels necessarily mean miscarriage? Do dropping levels necessarily mean miscarriage?

Does a very slow rise necessarily mean miscarriage? 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 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 study found that low hCG was associated with decreased fetal growth and lower birth weight. Find out more about low hCG levels. 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. 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. High hCG levels may also indicate preeclampsia, a pregnancy-linked condition that involves swelling and a sudden rise in blood pressure.

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