Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a vital hormone that plays a key role throughout pregnancy. This hormone helps to thicken the uterine lining favoring the baby’s growth and tells the body to stop menstruation. It also stimulates the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone to maintain pregnancy.
So, overall HCG production indicates a new beginning of successful pregnancy. But, when can you expect it? Will the body start producing it post-embryo transfer or after trying to conceive? Let’s know about them, here.
When Does hCG Begin to Rise After Implantation?
HCG levels start increasing around the range of 6 to 12 days after implantation. This level doubles every 48 hours and continues throughout the pregnancy journey.
That’s why hCG is popularly known as the pregnancy hormone. Here is a timeframe of hCG levels during the initial stages of pregnancy.
Timeframe of hCG Increase
The pregnancy hormone is found in both urine and blood. Doctors can detect pregnancy through blood tests around 11 days post-conception, as hCG is found in blood during this period.
HCG starts doubling every three days from the first eight to ten weeks of pregnancy.
| Week | hCG levels |
|---|---|
|
8 weeks |
31,366 - 149,094 mIU/mL |
|
9 weeks |
59,109 - 135,901 mIU/mL |
|
10 weeks |
44,186 - 170,409 mIU/mL |
Factors That Can Affect hCG Levels
From the above table, you can identify how the hCG levels increase according to weeks of pregnancy. However, many factors can influence the Human chorionic gonadotropin levels that might impact pregnancy results.
They are,
- Fertility medications and hCG trigger shorts.
- Recent pregnancy loss or miscarriages, because it takes 60 days for hCG levels to get back to normal.
- HCG levels can rise because of some unrelated factors to pregnancy, including cancers, tumors of the ovary, etc.
How is hCG Detected in Early Pregnancy?
Two different methods are available to detect hCG levels in the early gestation period. Detecting this hormone level also confirms your pregnancy.
Home Pregnancy Tests and hCG Levels
Some home pregnancy kits claim that they can detect the hCG levels from 25mIU per ml. In that case, home pregnancy kits may fail to give accurate results.
For example, during the very first week of pregnancy, hCG levels could be lower. As a result, home pregnancy kits show that you’re not pregnant even though you’re.
So, you’ve two options, choosing the best home pregnancy kit to detect sensitive hCG levels or considering blood tests.
Blood Tests for hCG
Visiting a clinic and taking blood tests is the best way to confirm your pregnancy. Whether it is a very early stage, such as two weeks after embryo transfer, blood tests can give accurate results.
It’s because home pregnancy kits detect hCG levels in your urine, while blood tests identify the amount of hCG in your blood. So, detect and monitor pregnancy through blood tests and get exact results.
Normal hCG Levels After Implantation
Normal Human chorionic gonadotropin levels after implantation range from 5 to 50 mIU per ML. This measure starts doubling every 48 hours after successful implantation.
HCG Levels by Week of Pregnancy
Here is a table that gives you a detailed view of the hCG levels by different weeks of pregnancy.
| Week | hCG levels |
|---|---|
|
3 weeks
|
5 - 72 mIU/mL |
|
4 weeks
|
10 - 708 mIU/mL
|
|
5 weeks
|
217 - 8,245 mIU/mL |
|
6 weeks
|
152 - 32,177 mIU/mL |
|
7 weeks
|
4,059 - 153,767 mIU/mL |
|
8 weeks
|
31,366 - 149,094 mIU/mL
|
|
9 weeks
|
59,109 - 135,901 mIU/mL
|
|
10 weeks
|
44,186 - 170,409 mIU/mL |
|
12 weeks
|
27,107 - 201,165 mIU/mL |
|
14 weeks
|
24,302 - 93,646 mIU/mL
|
|
15 weeks
|
12,540 - 69,747 mIU/mL |
|
16 weeks
|
8,904 - 55,332 mIU/mL |
|
17 weeks
|
8,240 - 51,793 mIU/mL
|
|
18 weeks
|
9,649 - 55,271 mIU/mL |
|
24 - 40 weeks
|
3,640 - 117,000 mIU/mL
|
|
Non-pregnant women
|
55 - 200ng/ml |
What should you do if your hCG levels are low or high?
Human chorionic gonadotropin hCG is a pregnancy hormone produced by the placenta. In general, hCG can be higher and lower due to various reasons that can be beneficial and drawback to your health. Let’s see what low and high hCG levels indicate.
Low hCG Levels
A declining hCG level refers to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and miscalculation of the last menstrual period. It also indicates a blighted ovum (egg implants in the uterus lining and doesn’t develop into an embryo).
Unfortunately, you can’t increase the hCG secretions in your body. Still, focusing on lifestyle habits and a balanced diet can improve your overall wellness along with your reproductive health.
High hCG Levels
High levels of hCG indicate that you’re pregnant with multiple babies and molar pregnancy (incorrect fertilization leading to noncancerous tumor). This condition also refers to abnormal growth in the uterus.
If you also witness high HCG levels, then consult your fertility expert they will guide you on the right path.
The Bottom Line
Hope you got an idea about hCG production after successful implantation. Consulting a healthcare provider for personalized guidance is the most important thing. They can monitor the hCG levels after implantation and provide essential information about early pregnancy health. Even though you do take a pregnancy test through a home kit, besides the results, it’s better to reconfirm once again with your doctor.
FAQs
After implantation, hCG levels can be as low as 5mUI/ML. During the first month of pregnancy, the hCG levels could range from 10 to 700mUI/ML.
No, you can’t detect accurate hCG levels in your body right after implantation. The hCG levels can be identified after 12 to 15 days after successful embryo transfer.
Yes, hCG levels rise faster after implantation. It doubles every 48 hours after the implantation process and continues during the first 6 to 7 weeks of pregnancy. It is essential for making the womb a perfect environment for your little ones.
There are two possibilities if the hCG levels don’t rise after a few weeks of embryo transfer. It can be a signal for problems like ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage.
No, implantation without an increase in hCG levels is not possible. This pregnancy hormone level can be low during the initial stages of gestation, but gradually it will start increasing. It’s because hCG helps thicken women’s uterine lining and supports embryo growth.
Blood tests are quite effective than urine tests because blood tests can detect very small amounts of hCG accurately. The amount of hCG levels in your body determines whether you’re pregnant or not. So, ladies can easily find out about pregnancy at their early stages with blood tests.
