hCG is a hormone produced early in pregnancy. It helps to nourish and protect the embryo. By checking hCG levels, doctors can assess the health of a pregnancy. Many women want to know what high hCG levels mean and in which cases hCG may become higher than normal.
1. What is hCG?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a glycoprotein hormone made by the placental cells in the early stage of pregnancy. You can usually detect hCG in your blood about 11 days after conception, and in your urine about 12-14 days after conception.
In early pregnancy, for most women, hCG levels double every 48 to 72 hours until they peak around weeks 8-10. After that, hCG levels slowly decrease until birth.
hCG has an important role in protecting and supporting a healthy pregnancy. Measuring hCG levels helps detect early pregnancy and follow its growth.
Typical hCG levels by gestational age are approximately:
- 3 weeks: 5-50 mIU/ml
- 4 weeks: 5-426 mIU/ml
- 5 weeks: 18-7,340 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: 13,300-254,000 mIU/ml
- 25-40 weeks: 3,640-117,000 mIU/ml
After giving birth, around 4-6 weeks later, hCG returns to less than 5 mIU/ml (normal level before pregnancy).
2. What Is Considered “High hCG”?
“High hCG” means your hCG level is above the normal range for your gestational age. Your doctor will usually do several hCG tests 2-3 days apart, not just one test. This is because hCG varies a lot between pregnant women. Some women with high hCG still have completely normal pregnancies. Sometimes, the hCG is high just because the pregnancy is further along than you thought. However, in some cases, high hCG can show certain health problems or abnormalities in your pregnancy.
Trắc nghiệm: Sự thay đổi nồng độ beta HCG thay đổi theo tuổi thai
hCG là một hormon quan trọng được tiết ra khi phụ nữ mang thai. Nồng độ beta hCG được tính theo đơn vị mUI/ml. Hãy cùng theo dõi bài trắc nghiệm sau đây để biết được Nồng độ beta HCG thay đổi theo tuổi thai như thế nào?3. When Does hCG Increase?
3.1. Wrong Gestational Dating
Gestational age is usually counted from the first day of your last period. If you do not remember it clearly or have irregular cycles, you might have calculated the gestational age incorrectly. If the pregnancy is older than you think, your hCG may appear high.
3.2. Multiple Pregnancy (Twins or More)
If you carry twins, triplets, or more, hCG levels may be 30-50% higher than in a single pregnancy. Women with multiple pregnancies often have stronger pregnancy symptoms, such as more breast soreness and faster weight gain. Still, hCG tests alone are not enough to confirm twins; doctors need more tests and an ultrasound.
3.3. Molar Pregnancy
A molar pregnancy (or hydatidiform mole) is a condition where the placenta’s cells grow in an abnormal way, forming fluid-filled sacs that look like a cluster of grapes. A molar pregnancy is usually benign, but sometimes can be malignant and cause serious problems. In these cases, hCG levels can be extremely high, sometimes over 30,000 mIU/ml.
Your doctor may check hCG levels for a long time after treating a molar pregnancy to be sure your health is stable and no complications return.
3.4. Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Risk is higher for older mothers or if parents have certain genetic factors. In pregnancies with Down syndrome, hCG is usually higher than normal, while AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) is lower.
4. What Should You Do if Your hCG Is High?
If your hCG is high, the doctor will do a clinical exam and order more tests or other examinations to find the exact reason. Conditions linked to high hCG can be serious and affect both the mother and the baby if not found and treated early.
Vinmec International Hospital offers a complete maternity care program from the early months of pregnancy. The program includes regular check-ups, 3D and 4D ultrasounds, and routine tests to ensure the mother’s health and the baby’s proper development. Experienced obstetricians will guide and watch over your health, helping you prevent complications and protect both you and your child.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
