HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin. It is also called the 'pregnancy hormone'. It is secreted by the placenta and is measured by pregnancy tests. HCG promotes the maintenance of the corpus luteum and causes it to secrete the hormone progesterone. Progesterone enriches the uterus with a thick lining of blood vessels and capillaries so that it can sustain the growing fetus. Due to its highly negative charge HCG may also repel the immune cells of the mother, protecting the fetus during the first trimester.
There is a large variation in a 'normal' HCG level for any given time in pregnancy. Once the fetal heart rate is seen, most doctors will monitor the fetal heart rate rather than drawing HCG. Some normal pregnancies will have quite low levels of HCG - and deliver perfect babies. There is a wide variation of normal HCG levels. An HCG that does not double every two to three days does not necessarily indicate a problem. However, if the level doesn't increase enough, the pregnancy will fail. This happens for example with a tubal pregnancy.
After implantation of the embryo, the level of HCG increases daily. Within the first 2-4 weeks after fertilization, HCG usually doubles every 48-72 hours. HCG levels peak at about 8-10 weeks of pregnancy and then decline, remaining at lower levels for the rest of the pregnancy.
HCG levels double approximately every 48 hours during early normal pregnancy. It reaches a peak at about 10 week of gestation. At which time the average HCG levels in samples is around 60,000 mIu/ml. At the two week stage the general consensus is that your HCG level should be around 40-300 mlu/ml.
There is a large variation in a 'normal' HCG level for any given time in pregnancy. Once the fetal heart rate is seen, most doctors will monitor the fetal heart rate rather than drawing HCG. Some normal pregnancies will have quite low levels of HCG - and deliver perfect babies. There is a wide variation of normal HCG levels. An HCG that does not double every two to three days does not necessarily indicate a problem. However, if the level doesn't increase enough, the pregnancy will fail. This happens for example with a tubal pregnancy.
After implantation of the embryo, the level of HCG increases daily. Within the first 2-4 weeks after fertilization, HCG usually doubles every 48-72 hours. HCG levels peak at about 8-10 weeks of pregnancy and then decline, remaining at lower levels for the rest of the pregnancy.
HCG levels double approximately every 48 hours during early normal pregnancy. It reaches a peak at about 10 week of gestation. At which time the average HCG levels in samples is around 60,000 mIu/ml. At the two week stage the general consensus is that your HCG level should be around 40-300 mlu/ml.
