Hormones are responsible for all changes in the body of a woman, therefore it is the doctor’s attention that is directed to determining their level to determine the causes of any ailments. One of the main hormones is hCG, which is produced by the cells of the membrane of the embryo, which is why its level is measured to establish the fact of pregnancy. In the first trimester, this hormone is needed to maintain pregnancy and stimulate the production of other pregnancy hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen. After the placenta is formed from the tissues of the chorion, it will be it that will further be responsible for the production of hormones.
Indications for analysis
Most often, an analysis of hCG is prescribed to diagnose pregnancy, especially in the early stages. It is also necessary to conduct an analysis to exclude the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy, to make sure that the abortion was successful, with a serious threat of miscarriage or missed pregnancy, to diagnose the likelihood of fetal abnormalities.
In addition, an analysis of hCG can be prescribed for men to diagnose a testicular tumor.
When to analyze
A blood test to determine the amount of β-hCG can be done already 8-10 days after fertilization, which makes possible an early determination of pregnancy. Diagnosis can also be made on the basis of the analysis of chronic hepatitis C, which is excreted along with urine, for which home tests for determining pregnancy are used. However, it must be borne in mind that in the urine the amount of the hormone increases more slowly than in the blood, so the analysis will be informative 16-20 days after fertilization.
What is the increased level of hCG?
An analysis of hCG, the decoding of which should be carried out by a doctor, also suggests the presence of many diseases with an excessive increase in the level of the hormone. For example, elevated levels of hCG may indicate any abnormalities in the fetus, Down syndrome, diabetes mellitus, serious toxicosis or gestosis, which can threaten the life of the mother. In the case of multiple pregnancy, the hCG rate increases according to the number of fetuses.
If pregnancy is excluded, an analysis of hCG, the norm of which does not exceed 5 mU / ml, is carried out to diagnose other diseases. In men and women, an increase in hormone levels may be due to tumor processes or chorionic carcinoma. It should be remembered that the analysis of hCG can be increased several days after the abortion, but if it does not decrease over time, then this indicates that the pregnancy was not interrupted and additional cleaning is required.
Low hCG - a hidden threat
As a rule, a low level of hCG may indicate that the pregnancy develops outside the uterus or it has stopped, there are delays in the development of the fetus, a serious threat of miscarriage, and fetal death may also occur (2-3 trimester). Analysis will show the absence of a hormone in the body during an ectopic pregnancy or an attempt to diagnose pregnancy too early.
How to pass an analysis
For analysis, it is necessary to donate blood from a vein, while it is advisable to be on an empty stomach. If the analysis is not given in the morning, then after the last meal should pass at least 5-6 hours. In order for the results to be correctly interpreted, it is necessary to inform your doctor about all the drugs that are taken, especially about hormonal drugs.
Nevertheless, you should not get too attached to the results of one analysis if it turned out to be imperfect. The amount of hormones in the blood depends on many factors that do not carry any hidden threats, so the patient's condition must be assessed in conjunction with clinical trials and an objective medical examination.