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HCG- what is it?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in Pregnacy
Also known as: Pregnancy test, Qualitatitve hCG, Quantitative hCG, Beta hCG
When a woman misses her period, one of the first things she considers may be, "Am I pregnant?"
One of the easiest and fastest ways to find out is an over-the-counter pregnancy test. But how do they really work?
Most over the counter pregnancy tests measures the amount of hCG (the human chorionic gonadotropin) in the urine, which is a hormone produced by the placenta confirming pregnancy. These tests do not measure an exact amount of the hormone, rather than if the amount is over a normal-non pregnant level. More hCG is released in the pregnancy of multiples (more than 1 baby) than in a pregnancy of only a single baby.
hCG can be detected in maternal plasma or urine by 8 to 9 days after ovulation. But hCG can also be present even if you do not have a viable pregnancy, such as certain tumors, especially those that come from an egg or sperm, molar pregnancies, or even some ovarion cysts. Certain drugs such as diuretics and promethazine (an antihistamine) may also cause false-negative urine results. Other drugs such as anti-convulsants, anti-parkinson drugs, hypnotics, and tranquilizers may cause false-positive results as well as drugs which include certain hormones in them.
Tests performed too early in the pregnancy may give false-negative results, while blood or protein in the urine may cause false-positive results. Urine hCG tests may give a false negative result in very dilute urine. Patients should not drink large amounts of fluid before collecting a urine sample for a pregnancy test.
For best results, read the package to see which drugs the test may give a false negative on.
HCG helps to maintain your pregnancy and even affects the development of your baby (fetus). HCG Levels increase quickly in the first 14 to 16 weeks following your last menstrual period, peak around the 14th week following your last menstrual cycle, and then decreases slowly.
After delivery, hCG levels are no longer detectable in your bloodstream.
Guideline to hCG levels during pregnancy:
hCG levels in weeks from LMP (gestational age)* :
REFERENCES
Also known as: Pregnancy test, Qualitatitve hCG, Quantitative hCG, Beta hCG
When a woman misses her period, one of the first things she considers may be, "Am I pregnant?"One of the easiest and fastest ways to find out is an over-the-counter pregnancy test. But how do they really work?
Most over the counter pregnancy tests measures the amount of hCG (the human chorionic gonadotropin) in the urine, which is a hormone produced by the placenta confirming pregnancy. These tests do not measure an exact amount of the hormone, rather than if the amount is over a normal-non pregnant level. More hCG is released in the pregnancy of multiples (more than 1 baby) than in a pregnancy of only a single baby.
hCG can be detected in maternal plasma or urine by 8 to 9 days after ovulation. But hCG can also be present even if you do not have a viable pregnancy, such as certain tumors, especially those that come from an egg or sperm, molar pregnancies, or even some ovarion cysts. Certain drugs such as diuretics and promethazine (an antihistamine) may also cause false-negative urine results. Other drugs such as anti-convulsants, anti-parkinson drugs, hypnotics, and tranquilizers may cause false-positive results as well as drugs which include certain hormones in them.
Tests performed too early in the pregnancy may give false-negative results, while blood or protein in the urine may cause false-positive results. Urine hCG tests may give a false negative result in very dilute urine. Patients should not drink large amounts of fluid before collecting a urine sample for a pregnancy test.
For best results, read the package to see which drugs the test may give a false negative on.
HCG helps to maintain your pregnancy and even affects the development of your baby (fetus). HCG Levels increase quickly in the first 14 to 16 weeks following your last menstrual period, peak around the 14th week following your last menstrual cycle, and then decreases slowly.
After delivery, hCG levels are no longer detectable in your bloodstream.
Guideline to hCG levels during pregnancy:
hCG levels in weeks from LMP (gestational age)* :
- 3 weeks LMP: 5 - 50 mIU/ml
- 4 weeks LMP: 5 - 426 mIU/ml
- 5 weeks LMP: 18 - 7,340 mIU/ml
- 6 weeks LMP: 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml
- 7 - 8 weeks LMP: 7, 650 - 229,000 mIU/ml
- 9 - 12 weeks LMP: 25,700 - 288,000 mIU/ml
- 13 - 16 weeks LMP: 13,300 - 254,000 mIU/ml
- 17 - 24 weeks LMP: 4,060 - 165,400 mIU/ml
- 25 - 40 weeks LMP: 3,640 - 117,000 mIU/ml
- Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml
- Postmenopausal: <9.5 mIU/ml
REFERENCES
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Medical Management of Tubal Pregnancy. Practice Bulletin Number 3, December 1998. Washington, D.C. ACOG, 1998
- http://www.labtestsonline.org
- http://www.hcglab.com/
JynMeyer |
Latest page update: made by JynMeyer
, May 5 2007, 6:35 PM EDT
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