Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or hCG is also called the pregnancy hormone. It is the hormone that blood and urine pregnancy tests look for. This hormone starts being produced by a rudimentary placenta when the fertilized egg implants into the uterus. Implantation occurs about six to twelve days after conception. To get a positive reading on a pregnancy test, your body must be producing hCG.
The tricky thing about predicting hCG levels is that you may be pregnant, but if implantation has not happened, hCG is not produced. In addition, home pregnancy tests may not be able to measure hCG levels in your urine until hCG has a chance to build up in your body. This can take a couple of days to a week. This is why some 'early' pregnancy tests have a high false negative rate.
The blood test you can get in your care provider's office is more sensitive than home urine pregnancy tests. In addition, blood tests can give you a number; they can tell you how much hCG you have in your bloodstream. Home pregnancy tests can only tell you whether or not you're pregnant.
There are many things you may want to know about hCG levels. The following may answer some of your questions.
- What does the number on hCG blood tests mean? Many people are confused by the numbers a blood test can give you when measuring hCG levels. Basically, the numbers tell you whether or not you're pregnant.
- An hCG level of 5 mIU/ml or less means you are not pregnant.
- An hCG level of between 5 mIU/ml and 25 mIU/ml means you may be pregnant. Your care provider will use the term 'equivocal'. This level requires a retest in a few days.
- If your hCG level is over 25 mIU/ml, you are pregnant! Your hCG level will continue to rise until the tenth or eleventh week of pregnancy when it will level out.
- Why measure hCG levels? In an ultrasound, a viable, beating heartbeat cannot be seen until around week six. So if there are any questions about a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy, an hCG test may be used to see if the pregnancy is still viable.
- What about an ectopic pregnancy? One big indication of an ectopic pregnancy is hCG levels increasing more slowly than normal. An ectopic pregnancy is a severe pregnancy complication. It occurs when the fertilized egg implants into another organ, other than the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy may be called tubal pregnancy if the fertilized egg implants into the fallopian tubes. Symptoms include spotting and cramping. An ectopic pregnancy can be a life-threatening complication.
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