The Main Test for Expectant Mothers: How To Decipher hCG

28. Oktober 2025

3 Min. Lesezeit

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The first mandatory analysis that a woman takes when she gets pregnant is to determine the level of hCG. What is this hormone? What are its parameters, and what levels should cause concern?

Wichtigste Erkenntnisse

The first mandatory analysis that a woman takes when she gets pregnant is to determine the level of hCG.
Why do you need hCG diagnostics?
Pregnant women

Für wen das ist

Für alle, die Schwangerschaft über schwangerschaft, Hormone erkunden.

Warum es wichtig ist

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Artikelautor

Dr. Helena

Geburtshelfer-Gynäkologe

Why do you need hCG diagnostics?

To determine the onset of pregnancy, a woman takes a blood test for total hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). It helps monitor the course of pregnancy, diagnosing the level of beta-hCG. It is produced by the outer shell of the embryo and is normally determined in the blood of a woman 6–8 days after fertilization and in the urine 1–2 days later. The standard indicators of this hormone are as follows:

Pregnant women

Short term—10–50 IU/ml
4 weeks—40–6000 IU/ml
7—11 weeks—6,000–180,000 IU/ml (maximum)
26—43 weeks—1 800–59 000 IU/ml.

Men and non-pregnant women

0—5 mU/ml

Indicators in the range of 5–25 IU / ml don’t specify whether or not there is a pregnancy, so several days after the first diagnosis it is necessary to undergo a second diagnosis. If the pregnancy is proceeding normally, then the hCG indicator doubles every two days, and its maximum concentration is reached by 10–11 weeks, then gradually decreases.

How is it checked?

A blood test is taken to determine total hCG. No special preparation for the analysis is required. Beta-hCG is taken in the morning on an empty stomach—the last meal should be eaten at least 8–10 hours before. It is recommended to give up fatty and fried foods the day before, as well as limit physical activity.

Are you an exception?

The hCG rate is different for each category of patients. Therefore, you should not panic if your situation is different—just make sure you contact a specialist. Here are just a few reasons.

Beta-hCG levels rise above normal in the following cases:

Multiple pregnancies
Incorrectly set time of conception
Pregnancy, proceeding with complications in the form of edema, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, seizures, severe toxicosis
Diabetes mellitus in the mother
Abnormal development of the fetus

Low beta-hCG levels can be diagnosed if:

Incorrectly established period of pregnancy
Undeveloped or frozen pregnancy
Delays in fetal development
Chronic placental insufficiency
Threats of termination of pregnancy
Ectopic pregnancy (tubal, etc.)

Separately, ectopic pregnancy and artificial termination should also be mentioned. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, there is no chance of keeping the baby and there are great risks to the woman's life. If an ultrasound scan shows the absence of a fetal egg in the uterus, and at the same time the mother has beta-hCG, you should react immediately.

If an artificial termination of pregnancy was carried out, and the diagnostic result shows a high level of beta-hCG, it is necessary to retake the analysis. A repeated confirmed result means that either the manipulation was not performed completely, or there is a tumor of the trophoblastic tissue.

Can the results be unreliable?

The result of the analysis for hCG may be incorrect; for example, if it is carried out after an abortion or if an error occurred while setting the time of conception. Also, taking medications that contain this hormone—such as drugs for infertility and for stimulating ovulation—can affect the level of hCG.

Hormonal imbalances and some types of tumors can also lead to a false-positive result.

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