First of all, imagine the hero of our story. HCG - human chorionic gonadotropin. However, more often it is still called the "pregnancy hormone". From here it becomes clear what hCG shows in the analysis results. First of all, this hormone will be responsible for the regulation of hormonal functions in the female body during the gestation period. But not everything is so simple with him, because the analysis for hCG is assigned not only to women, but also to men. What it helps to determine how to decipher its results to a layman, we, among other important information, will present to the reader further.
What is it?
Human chorionic gonadotropin is a hormone that will be produced by syncytiotrophoblast (an element of a fertilized egg). So what does hCG show? First of all, pregnancy. After implantation to the uterine wall, this hormone begins to stimulate the development of the placenta.
But it is also important to know that it is produced in cancerous tumors. What does the analysis of hCG in men and women not planning pregnancy show? The fact of the presence of cancer. At the same time, the question remains open for modern science: is hCG a cause or a consequence of a cancerous tumor? Therefore, in some countries, over-the-counter sales of dietary and homeopathic remedies that contain chorionic gonadotropin are prohibited today.
HCG will consist of alpha and beta elements. The former are identical in structure to thyroid-stimulating, luteinizing hormones. But beta particles are unique to hCG. Therefore, their indicators will be decisive in the analysis.
What day does HCG pregnancy show ? Beta units can be detected already on the 6-8th day after the fact of egg fertilization. They are determined both in the composition of urine and in the composition of blood. But a week after the birth, human chorionic gonadotropin is no longer detected in a healthy woman.
What are the functions of the hormone?
Like any other component of our body, hCG performs certain functions:
- In the first weeks of gestation, the hormone helps preserve the corpus luteum, promotes the production of estrogen and progesterone.
- In relation to the fetus, it stimulates the activity of its adrenal glands and gonads.
- Prepares maternal immunity for the adoption of the child.
- Stimulates the work of Leydig cells. It is they who produce testosterone in the male fetus.
Two types of hCG analysis
First of all, a blood test allows you to record hormone levels. However, in pharmacies there are free sale test strips that allow you to determine the likelihood of pregnancy by a urine sample.
We will analyze the key difference between them. When will pregnancy show blood on hCG? Already 1-2 days after fertilization of the egg.
And after how many hCG shows pregnancy when using test strips? At home, you can find out the result only after a week. This is due to the fact that hCG is concentrated much more slowly in urine than in blood.
Two types of blood test
What shows hCG, we are introducing you. A blood sample for this hormone can be of two types:
- Determination of total human chorionic gonadotropin.
- Finding free hCG beta.
Each of these analyzes will pursue its own goals - we will analyze them in detail below.
Analysis for total hCG
If a woman is interested on what day HCG shows pregnancy, then she passes a general analysis for this hormone. Hence, his main task is to determine the fact of fertilization of the egg in the early stages. Once again, we recall that this is possible for 1-2 days, when the test strip is not able to show any result.
Further (in the absence of pathology) the hormone content will double in its volume every two days. Therefore, after a week or two it is already able to determine a less sensitive test strip. The maximum of chorionic gonadotropin in a woman’s blood is reached at 10-11 weeks of gestation.
The analysis for general hCG is prescribed not only for early determination of pregnancy. It is prescribed in the second trimester of pregnancy in the prenatal screening complex. Another name for the study is the third or fourth test.
HCG Free Beta Test: What Is It?
What does hCG show in this case? This analysis will be indicative in the diagnosis of testicular (oncological diseases of the testicles) and trophoblastic (choriocarcinoma, suction cystic) tumors.
But such an analysis will also be assigned to women expecting a baby. If the first hCG test shows which day the pregnancy is, then this test has different tasks. He estimates the risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome or Edwards Syndrome. It is usually prescribed to a woman in the first and second trimester.
If the result of the analysis is positive, then this is not a 100% chance that the baby will be born precisely with chromosomal abnormalities. However, this is the reason for putting a woman at risk. The probability of having a baby with Edwards or Down syndrome increases in the following cases:
- Mother's age is over 35 years.
- Parents have a history of Down syndrome or other genetic diseases.
- Parents, immediate relatives are diagnosed with congenital malformations.
- One of the parents was exposed to radiation.
Future mothers are primarily interested in what day hCG shows pregnancy. But experts also advise a woman to take tests for beta-hCG. This is best done twice - at 8-13 and 15-20 weeks of gestation.
What does deviation from the norm mean?
First of all, an increased level of hCG indicates the gestational age - the latter is determined by its concentration in the blood. But an increase in the content of chorionic gonadotropin can also speak of abnormalities in the development of the fetus, diabetes mellitus, and cancer. HCG also shows an ectopic pregnancy. Only a specialist can determine it by comparing the hormone content at different periods of pregnancy.
What does the increased level of this hormone in the blood in men mean? This indicates the development of a cancerous tumor in the body. First of all, testicular seminoma and teratoma are suspected.
Lower rates also indicate any pathology. Only a doctor can accurately determine it, since these figures are individual for each patient.
Who needs to be tested?
We know that hCG will indicate the gestational age. However, donating blood for such a study is also worthwhile in a number of other cases:
- To men. For early diagnosis of testicular cancer. The level of human chorionic gonadotropin must always be known, controlled. In a healthy man, it should not exceed 5 mU / ml.
- To women. The analysis must be passed with any long delay of menstruation, which can be a consequence not only of pregnancy, but also of strong emotional stress, ovarian dysfunction, intoxication of the body, and various infectious diseases. In addition, a study is needed to rule out suspicion of a thrombotic tumor. Periodically, it is worthwhile to undergo those patients who had a history of such a disease.
- Waiting for a baby. When will hCG show pregnancy? Already on the 2nd day of fertilization of the egg (if you donate a blood sample). An analysis is also necessary for the dynamic observation of a specialist over the course of gestation, perinatal diagnosis (in particular, the identification of the danger of having a baby with Edwards or Down syndrome). The study also allows you to establish an ectopic pregnancy in time.
- Women who have had an abortion. Whether it’s taking a special drug or medical curettage, an analysis is recommended by specialists. It will help determine the fact that the fetal egg is not completely removed - the indicators in this case will be higher than normal. To exclude a false positive response, it is recommended to take an analysis 1-2 days after the abortion.
How to prepare for blood sampling?
A test for hCG requires a venous blood sample, both for general analysis and for analysis of the content of beta elements. The rules for preparing for it are standard:
- Analysis is given in the morning and always on an empty stomach. From the last snack - at least 8-12 hours.
- Be sure to inform the specialist before taking a blood sample about the medications that you are taking. As a rule, only funds containing hormones in their composition contribute to fixing the false level of human chorionic gonadotropin. In particular, they can be taken by a woman to stimulate ovulation (with diagnosed infertility). Other drugs, according to experts, do not affect the results.
Knowing when hCG will show pregnancy, it is better to take the material for laboratory analysis on the 4th-5th day of your absence of menstruation. For clarification, it is worth repeating it in 2-3 days. The next blood test for hCG is carried out already in the 2nd trimester - to identify pathogenic abnormalities in the fetus.
Analysis results
How is donated material tested for human chorionic gonadotropin? The laboratory uses an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for blood serum.
HCG shows pregnancy 2 days after fertilization of the egg. And after how long does the subject provide analysis results? As a rule, it depends on the particular clinic, laboratory where the blood test is performed. Somewhere express tests are available - the results on them are ready after 1-2 hours. Somewhere you have to wait a day - if blood samples are sent from the clinic for analysis to a laboratory that is located in another part of the city or in another region in general.
In many clinics, the result does not need to come in person - all the information on the study is sent to the phone, patient’s email. Somewhere, he can open a personal account on the official website of the medical institution. The analysis results will come to his profile on this portal. As a rule, information is confidential and hidden from unauthorized persons.
Deciphering the result
If you are curious when an hCG test shows pregnancy, then you are likely to rush to decipher the results of the study yourself, without waiting for a doctor's consultation. It is possible to do it yourself, but do not dwell on self-diagnosis. You should definitely contact the doctor with the results - only he can read them correctly, provide reliable information about your condition.
The standard unit of measurement for chorionic gonadotropin is honey / ml. But some laboratories also use a different metric system - they measure the hormone in units / liter. Normal indicators at each clinic can also be exclusively their own. Therefore, it is recommended to donate blood for analysis repeatedly in the same laboratory so as not to confuse either yourself or your doctor.
Normal values
Let's start with the normal level of chorionic gonadotropin in the blood of people who are not expecting a baby. These indicators need to be known in order to exclude the likelihood of a tumor process in the body.
Separately, the normal level for representatives of two sexes is given:
- Normal values for a healthy man are up to 2.5 mU / ml.
- Normal values for a healthy non-pregnant woman are an interval of 0-5 mU / ml.
HCG level and gestational age
How much hCG will pregnancy show? In 1-2 days. However, as we have already said, for the accuracy of the result, a blood sample should be taken on the 4-5th day of the absence of menstruation.
As for pregnant women, for them normal indicators of the level of human chorionic gonadotropin change literally every week or two. Therefore, the content of the hormone in the blood can be used to judge the gestational age of the fetus.
We know when the blood on hCG will indicate pregnancy. Here are the values that will help you determine its term (in mU / ml):
- The first week of gestation - the normal level will fluctuate between 20-150.
- 2-3 weeks - depending on the individual characteristics of the female body, increases to 150-4800.
- 4th week of gestation - 2500-82000.
- 5th week of pregnancy - the level of hCG in the blood can reach a maximum of 151,000.
- 6th week of gestation - the upper indicator continues to grow. It already reaches 230,000.
- 7-10 week. Here the indicators will be the highest. Depending on the individual characteristics of the expectant mother, this is an interval of 21000-291000.
- 16th week. A woman reaches a period when the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in her blood begins to decline. In this period, on average, it is equal to 6150-103000.
- 20th week - indicators will vary between 4800-80000.
- 21-39 week. At the final stage of bearing a child, normal levels of hCG in the mother’s blood are 2700-78000.
Note that we introduced the reader only to the average values by which specialists identify the gestational age. Each laboratory may have its own table with indicators that laboratory assistants and doctors use to read the results of the study.
What are the increased indicators talking about?
If a man or woman who is not planning a pregnancy has a hCG level higher than normal, what can this be said? Only the attending physician will give you the exact answer. Among the alleged reasons for the increase in hormone levels, the following are considered the most probable:
- Oncological diseases that affected the kidneys, intestines, lungs, reproductive system (uterus in women and testicles in men). As a rule, an additional examination is needed here.
- The patient has recently taken drugs containing hormones.
- If a woman passed the test, then it is likely that during the abortion the fetal egg was not completely removed. Additional ultrasound is required. In individual cases, even after a qualitatively and fully performed abortion, a high level of the hormone in the blood of a woman can persist for another 4-5 days.
What is hCG pregnancy? Analysis for total human chorionic gonadotropin. What does his overestimated indicators mean exactly in a pregnant woman? There are several answers:
- The future mother has a multiple pregnancy.
- Diabetes develops.
- Early gestosis or toxicosis is noted.
- Prolonged pregnancy.
- A woman is taking a drug with synthetic gestagens. These are artificially produced hormones that make up the level of progesterone (the main female hormone) in the body.
- If the expectant mother passed an analysis for beta-hCG, then increased rates may indicate a risk of developing genetic abnormalities in the fetus.
What are the understated indicators talking about?
If the level of hCG in a patient is a man or a non-pregnant girl, a woman is below normal, then this is an occasion for an urgent appeal to a specialist. Only a doctor can determine the causes of this situation.
In the case when the level of human chorionic gonadotropin is reduced in the expectant mother (more than 50% of the norm), then the likely reasons for this fact are as follows:
- Ectopic or frozen pregnancy.
- Placental insufficiency.
- Pregnancy termination risk
- True baby overtaking.
- Intrauterine death of the fetus, which is recorded in late pregnancy.
If you passed a general analysis for hCG for an early determination of pregnancy and got a result of 5-25 mU / ml, then this is a reason for re-passing the study. To refute or confirm pregnancy can only a new analysis after at least 2 days.
What is the accuracy of the study?
To date, a blood test for human chorionic gonadotropin is the most reliable way to determine the early stage of pregnancy. But he cannot guarantee a 100% correct result. The false answer may be the result of a mistake both by the medical staff and the subject himself. The most probable reasons for the incorrect result - the woman forgot to report, hid from the specialist the fact of taking hormonal drugs prescribed for her to stimulate ovulation.
There are more rare causes of a false result. So, in 2% of women, the analysis showed a non-existent pregnancy due to hormonal failure in the body or the development of a cancerous tumor.
There are cases of a false negative result in the presence of pregnancy. The reasons for this: implantation of the fetus, ovulation occurred later than usual. Or a woman develops an ectopic pregnancy.
Thus, an analysis of hCG makes it possible not only to diagnose pregnancy at an early stage, but also to identify the tumor process in men and non-pregnant women in time, other serious diseases, to determine the risk of developing Down syndrome and Edwards in the fetus. To date, such a study is considered the most accurate.