HCG Levels in Pregnancy: What Every Mom Should Know
Introduction
You see the faint pink line, and suddenly everything feels different. Exciting. Scary. Real. One moment ago, it was just a test. Now, it’s the start of something big.
As you begin to process it all, you’ll probably hear a lot about something called hCG levels in pregnancy—the hormone that confirms pregnancy. It’s what that line is picking up. But hCG does more than just show up on a test. It’s your body’s early signal that things are in motion, quietly helping your pregnancy grow in the background.
Here’s what you need to know about hCG, and why it matters in these first few weeks.
What is HCG and Why is it Important During Pregnancy?
Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. It plays a crucial role in early pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester. It supports the production of progesterone, which helps prepare the uterine lining for implantation and influences the development of the early embryo.
Often called the pregnancy hormone, hCG is detectable in blood or urine around ten to eleven days after conception. And, pregnancy tests (both blood tests and at-home kits) look for this hormone to confirm that a baby is on the way. While hCG production starts early, the levels are initially very low. After implantation, hCG levels generally peak, about doubling every 2 to 3 days in the early weeks of pregnancy. This rapid rise of hCG hormone levels in pregnancy continues between 8 and 11 weeks, and then it gradually begins to decline for the rest of the pregnancy.
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Week-by-Week HCG Level Chart: What’s Normal?
Normal hCG range in pregnancy fluctuates significantly, depending on the gestational week. Generally, hCG levels are low in early weeks of pregnancy, rise rapidly, and then gradually decline. Please refer to the table below to understand the hCG levels in pregnancy.
| Weeks Since Last Menstrual Period | Approximate hCG Range in Pregnancy |
| 3 Weeks | 5 – 50 mIU/mL |
| 4 Weeks | 5 – 426 mIU/mL |
| 5 Weeks | 19 – 7,340 mIU/mL |
| 6 Weeks | 1,080 – 56,500 mIU/mL |
| 7-8 Weeks | 7,650 – 229,000 mIU/mL |
| 9-12 Weeks | 25,700 – 288,000 mIU/mL |
| 13-16 Weeks | 3,300 – 253,000 mIU/mL |
| 17-24 Weeks (Second Trimester) | 4,060 – 165,400 mIU/mL |
| 25 to Term (Third Trimester) | 3,640 – 117,000 mIU/mL |
Normal HCG Levels by Week: A Detailed Overview
Normal hCG levels in pregnancy significantly vary during the first trimester. At 2 weeks of pregnancy, hCG levels are typically low, as the fertilised egg is at the beginning stage of implanting in the uterine lining. However, they start increasing after implantation. hCG levels usually double every 2-3 days in the first few weeks and rise rapidly around 8-11 weeks of gestation. After peaking, this rate gradually drops as the pregnancy progresses.
Let’s understand the normal hCG hormone levels in pregnancy by week during the 1st trimester.
✅ 3 weeks pregnant hCG levels: 5-50 mIU/mL
✅ 4 weeks pregnant hCG levels: 5-426 mIU/mL
✅ 5 weeks pregnant hCG levels: 19-7,340 mIU/mL
✅ 6 weeks pregnant hCG levels: 1,080-56,500 mIU/mL
✅ 7-8 weeks pregnant hCG levels: 7,650-229,000 mIU/mL
✅ 9-12 weeks pregnant hCG levels: 25,700-288,000 mIU/mL
Low HCG Levels: Causes, Symptoms, and What to Do
Low hCG levels during early pregnancy can indicate various issues, such as miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, but not always a definite sign of a problem. If hCG levels in pregnancy are lower than expected or not increasing rapidly, then consulting with a healthcare provider is essential for further evaluation, including an ultrasound and repeat blood tests.
Causes of Low HCG Levels:
Let’s understand the causes of low hCG levels:
✅ Miscarriage: Often referred to as a spontaneous abortion, a miscarriage occurs when the fetus dies before 20 weeks of gestation.
✅ Ectopic Pregnancy: An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the embryo implants outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube. This can be a serious condition, as the fallopian tube cannot support the growing embryo, and a rupture can lead to major internal bleeding and life-threatening complications. hCG levels are often low in an ectopic pregnancy.
✅ Miscalculation of Conception Date: The hCG levels indicate low when the date of conception is miscalculated. Miscalculations can occur if a woman has irregular periods or is unsure of her last menstrual period (LMP).
✅ Blighted Ovum: In this case, the embryo doesn’t develop properly, so the placenta doesn’t produce much hCG, leading to low or slow-rise levels.
✅ Slow-rising HCG: While hCG levels often double every 2-3 days during the first trimester, some normal pregnancies can have a slower rate of increase. However, this doesn’t indicate a major concern, as about 15% of healthy pregnancies may show a slower rate.
Symptoms of Low HCG Levels:
Here are some common symptoms of low hCG levels in pregnancy:
✅ Vaginal Bleeding
✅ Abdominal Pain
✅ Cessation of Pregnancy Symptoms
✅ Passing Tissue or Clots
✅ Lower Back Pain and Pelvic Pain
What to Do:
✅ Seek Medical Help: If you are concerned about low hCG hormone levels in pregnancy, then consult your healthcare provider immediately.
✅ Repeat HCG Tests: In order to monitor your hCG levels, if they are rising as expected, your doctor may suggest repeating blood tests.
✅ Ultrasound Exam: If you have concerns about low hCG levels in pregnancy, then an ultrasound can be helpful to determine the location of the pregnancy and visualise the development of the baby.
✅ Medications: In some cases, certain medications may be used to treat the underlying cause of low hCG levels.
High HCG Levels: What It Could Mean
High hCG levels during pregnancy can indicate some different conditions, including multiple pregnancy (like twins or triplets), a molar pregnancy (a rare condition where abnormal tissue grows instead of a viable embryo), or gestational trophoblastic disease. Outside of pregnancy, high hCG levels can be associated with certain types of cancer, particularly choriocarcinoma and germ cell tumours, or other health conditions.
How to Test HCG Levels: Blood Tests vs Home Kits
There are two main forms of hCG pregnancy tests – urine and blood tests. Let’s understand these tests in detail:
✅ Urine Test: This is the most popular kind of pregnancy test, which can be bought over-the-counter (OTC) at most pharmacies. These tests find the presence of hCG in a woman’s urine. When used appropriately, urine tests generally have a high accuracy rate, ranging between 97% and 99%.
✅ Blood Test: A blood test is another form of hCG pregnancy test that can be performed in a lab or doctor’s office. This test detects hCG levels in pregnancy earlier than urine tests, sometimes about 7-10 days after conception. Blood tests are more sensitive, providing a high level of accuracy in early pregnancy. They have two varieties – quantitative and qualitative.
✅ Quantitative Blood Test: A quantitative blood test measures the exact amount of hCG hormone in the blood, with an accuracy rate of approximately 99%. It can detect the presence or absence of hCG in the blood at 5 mIU/mL. The test helps track pregnancy progress or monitor hCG levels for potential complications.
✅ Qualitative Blood Test: A qualitative blood test detects the presence or absence of hCG in a woman’s blood, simply indicating pregnancy. However, this test is less sensitive than a quantitative test. A qualitative test is generally used for quick confirmation of pregnancy, offering a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ result without measuring precise hormone levels.
Final Words
Understanding hCG levels in pregnancy is essential for accurate diagnosis and monitoring of maternal and fetal health, particularly in the early stages. hCG levels are a reliable indicator of pregnancy, and their variations can reveal important information about the pregnancy’s progress. Generally, low and high levels of hCG are signs of an issue in your pregnancy. Therefore, it is a must to get your hCG tested during pregnancy based on your doctor’s advice. While some may experience high or fast-rising hCG hormone levels in pregnancies, leading to complications, others may have low or slow-rising levels without issues but show a healthy pregnancy.
A positive hCG level in pregnancy is 25 mIU/mL or higher. If an hCG level is less than 5 mIU/mL, then it is generally considered a negative pregnancy. hCG levels between 5 and 25 mIU/mL are considered inconclusive and usually require a follow-up test to confirm pregnancy.
In general, an hCG level above 25 mIU/mL in a blood test is considered a positive pregnancy. However, hCG levels vary throughout pregnancy, with the most substantial increase during the first trimester. For instance, 4 weeks pregnant hCG levels can range from 5-426 mIU/mL, while 6 weeks pregnant hCG levels can vary from 1,080 – 56,500 mIU/mL.
During the first week of pregnancy, hCG levels are too low to be detected by home pregnancy kits or blood tests, as the fertilised egg is just beginning the process of implantation and the placenta, which produces hCG, is not yet developed completely.
Unfortunately, there is no way to increase hCG levels during pregnancy, as it is a hormone produced by the body, and its levels naturally vary. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, adequate hydration, and managing stress, can promote overall well-being during pregnancy, however, it won’t directly affect hCG levels.
