First of all, let's introduce the hero of our story. HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin. However, more often it is still called the "hormone of pregnancy." 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 pregnancy. But not everything is so simple with him, because the analysis for hCG is prescribed not only for women, but also for men. That it helps to determine how to decipher its results to a non-specialist, we will present the reader with other important information below.
What is this?
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 beginsstimulate the development of the placenta.
But it is also important to know that it is also produced in cancerous tumors. What does the analysis of hCG in men and women not planning pregnancy show? The fact of having cancer. At the same time, for modern science, the question still remains open: is hCG a cause or a consequence of a cancerous tumor? Therefore, in some countries today the over-the-counter sale of dietary, homeopathic remedies that contain human chorionic gonadotropin is prohibited.
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.
On what day does hCG show pregnancy? Beta units can be detected as early as 6-8 days after the fact of fertilization of the egg. They are determined both in the composition of urine and in the composition of the blood. But already a week after childbirth, human chorionic gonadotropin is no longer found in a he althy woman.
What are the functions of the hormone?
Like any other component of our body, hCG performs certain functions:
- In the first weeks of bearing a child, the hormone helps maintain 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 a child.
- Stimulates the work of Leydig cells. It is they who producetestosterone in the male fetus.
Two types of hCG analysis
First of all, a blood test allows you to fix hormone levels. However, there are test strips available in pharmacies that allow you to determine the likelihood of pregnancy from a urine sample.
Let's look at the key difference between them. When will pregnancy show blood for hCG? Already 1-2 days after the fertilization of the egg.
And after how much 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 in the urine much more slowly than in the blood.
Two types of blood test
What hCG shows, we present to you. Testing a blood sample for this hormone can be of two types:
- Determination of total human chorionic gonadotropin.
- Finding Free Beta HCG.
Each of these analyzes will pursue its own goals - we will analyze them in detail further.
Analysis for total hCG
If a woman is interested on what day hCG shows pregnancy, then she takes a general analysis for this hormone. Hence, its main task is to determine the fact of fertilization of the egg in the early stages. Let us remind you once again that this is already possible for 1-2 days, when the test strip is not able to show any result.
Further (in the absence of pathology) the content of the hormone will double in its volume every two days. Therefore, after a week or two, it is already able to determine lesssensitive test strip. The maximum of chorionic gonadotropin in the blood of a woman is reached at 10-11 weeks of gestation.
An analysis for total hCG is prescribed not only for the early detection 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.
Free beta-hCG test: what is it
What does hCG show in this case? This analysis will be indicative in the diagnosis of testicular (testicular cancer) and trophoblastic (choriocarcinoma, cystic hickey) tumors.
But such an analysis will also be given to women who are expecting a baby. If the first study of hCG shows on which day the pregnancy is, then this sample has other tasks. He assesses the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome or Edwards syndrome. Usually given 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 with chromosomal abnormalities. However, this is a reason for putting a woman at risk. The chance of having a baby with Edwards or Down syndrome increases in the following cases:
- Mother's age over 35.
- Parents have a history of Down syndrome or other genetic diseases.
- Parents, close relatives diagnosed with congenital malformations.
- One of the parents was exposed to radiation.
Expectant mothers are primarily interested in which day HCG shows pregnancy. But experts also advise a woman to be tested for beta-hCG. It is best to do this twice - at 8-13 and 15-20 weeks of gestation.
What does the deviation from the norm indicate?
First of all, an elevated level of hCG shows the duration of pregnancy - the latter is determined by its concentration in the blood. But an increase in the content of chorionic gonadotropin can also indicate abnormalities in the development of the fetus, diabetes mellitus, and a cancerous tumor. HCG also shows an ectopic pregnancy. Only a specialist can determine it by comparing hormone levels at different periods of pregnancy.
What does the increased level of this hormone in the blood of men mean? This indicates the development of a cancerous tumor in the body. First of all, seminoma and testicular teratoma are suspected.
Reduced rates also indicate some kind of pathology. Only a doctor can accurately determine it, since these figures are individual for each patient.
Who needs to get tested?
We know that hCG will show the duration of the pregnancy. However, it is worth donating blood for such a study in a number of other cases:
- For men. For early diagnosis of testicular cancer. The level of human chorionic gonadotropin should always be known and kept under control. In a he althy man, it should not exceed 5 mU/ml.
- Women. The analysis must be taken for any long delay in menstruation, which may be the result of not only pregnancy, but also a strongemotional stress, ovarian dysfunction, body intoxication, various infectious diseases. In addition, the study is necessary to rule out the suspicion of a thrombogenic tumor. Periodically, it is also worth undergoing for those patients who had such a history of the disease.
- Expecting 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 needed for the dynamic monitoring of a specialist over the course of gestation, perinatal diagnosis (in particular, identifying the danger of having a child with Edwards or Down syndrome). The study also allows timely detection of an ectopic pregnancy.
- Women who have undergone an abortion. Whether it is taking a special drug or medical curettage, testing is recommended by specialists. It will help determine the fact that the fetal egg has not been completely removed - the indicators in this case will be higher than normal. To exclude a false positive response, it is recommended to take the test 1-2 days after the abortion.
How to properly prepare for a blood draw?
HCG testing requires a venous blood sample for both general analysis and beta-element analysis. The rules for preparing for it are standard:
- The analysis is taken in the morning and always on an empty stomach. From the last snack - at least 8-12 hours.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you are taking before taking a blood sample. As a rule, fixing a false level of the chorionichuman gonadotropin is promoted only by agents containing hormones. 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 4-5th 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 the submitted material tested for the content of human chorionic gonadotropin? The laboratory uses the method of enzyme immunoassay of blood serum.
hCG shows pregnancy 2 days after fertilization of the egg. How long does it take for the patient to receive the test results? As a rule, it depends on the specific clinic, laboratory where the blood test is performed. Express tests are available somewhere - the results are ready after 1-2 hours. Somewhere you have to wait a day - if blood samples from the clinic are sent for analysis to a laboratory located in another part of the city or even in a different region.
In many clinics, you do not need to come personally for the result - all information on the study is sent to the patient's phone, e-mail. Somewhere he can open a personal account on the official website of the medical institution. Results will come to his profile on this portalanalysis. As a rule, information is confidential and hidden from unauthorized persons.
Deciphering the result
If you are wondering when the hCG test will show pregnancy, then you are probably in a hurry to decipher the results of the study yourself, without waiting for the doctor's consultation. It is possible to do this on your own, but you should not stop at self-diagnosis. You should definitely contact the doctor with the results - only he will be able to read them correctly, provide reliable information about your condition.
The standard unit of measure for human chorionic gonadotropin is honey/ml. But some laboratories also use a different metric system - they measure the hormone in U / l. Normal indicators for each clinic can also be exclusively their own. Therefore, it is recommended to donate blood for analysis again in the same laboratory, so as not to confuse either yourself or your doctor.
Normal values
Let's start with the normal level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood of people who are not expecting a child. These indicators need to be known in order to exclude the possibility of developing a tumor process in the body.
Separately given the normal level for both sexes:
- Normal indicators for a he althy man - an interval of up to 2.5 mU / ml.
- Normal values for a he althy non-pregnant woman - range 0-5 mU/ml.
HCG levels and gestational age
How long will hCG show pregnancy? After 1-2 days. However, as we have already said, forFor accuracy of the result, a blood sample should be taken on the 4th-5th day of the absence of menstruation.
As for pregnant women, for them normal levels of human chorionic gonadotropin change literally every week or two. Therefore, by the content of the hormone in the blood, one can judge the period of gestation.
We know when the blood on hCG will show pregnancy. Here are the values \u200b\u200bthat will help you determine its period (in mU / ml):
- First week of gestation - normal levels 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 - top continues to rise. It is already reaching 230,000.
- 7-10 week. Here the indicators will be the highest. Depending on the individual characteristics of the expectant mother, this interval is 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 6150-103000.
- 20th week - indicators will vary between 4800-80000.
- 21-39 week. At the final stage of bearing a child, the normal levels of hCG in the mother's blood are 2700-78000.
Note that we have introduced the reader only to the average values by which experts revealgestational age. Each laboratory can have its own table with indicators that laboratory assistants, doctors use to read the results of the study.
What do the increased numbers mean?
If a man or woman who is not planning a pregnancy has a higher than normal level of hCG, what can this indicate? 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 likely:
- 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 the analysis was taken by a woman, then there is a possibility that during the abortion the fetal egg was not completely removed. Additional ultrasound is required. In individual cases, even after a high-quality and fully performed abortion, a woman’s high level of the hormone in the blood can persist for another 4-5 days.
Which HCG indicates pregnancy? Analysis for total human chorionic gonadotropin. What do his overestimated indicators indicate in a pregnant woman? Multiple answers:
- Expectant mother has multiple pregnancy.
- Develops diabetes.
- Early gestosis or toxicosis is noted.
- Prolonged pregnancy.
- A woman takes a drug with synthetic gestagens. itartificially produced hormones that replenish the body's level of progesterone (the main female hormone).
- If the expectant mother was tested for beta-hCG, then increased levels may indicate the risk of developing genetic abnormalities in the fetus.
What do the low numbers mean?
If the level of hCG in a male patient or a non-pregnant girl, a woman is below normal, then this is a reason for an urgent visit to a specialist. Only a doctor can determine the reasons for this situation.
In the case when the level of human chorionic gonadotropin is reduced in the future mother (by more than 50% of the norm), then the probable reasons for this fact are as follows:
- Ectopic or frozen pregnancy.
- Placental insufficiency.
- Risk of miscarriage
- True baby overbearing.
- Intrauterine fetal death, which was recorded in late pregnancy.
If you passed a general analysis for hCG for early detection of pregnancy and received a result of 5-25 mU / ml, then this is a reason for re-passing the study. Only a new analysis after at least 2 days can refute or confirm pregnancy.
How accurate is 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. A false answer may be the result of an error both by the medical staff andthe most examined. The most likely reasons for the incorrect result - the woman forgot to report, hid from the specialist the fact of taking hormonal drugs prescribed to her to stimulate ovulation.
There are also rarer 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 also cases of false negative results in the presence of pregnancy. The reasons for this: fetal implantation, ovulation occurred later than usual. Or the woman develops an ectopic pregnancy.
Thus, the analysis for hCG makes it possible not only to diagnose pregnancy at the earliest possible date, but also to identify the tumor process in men and non-pregnant women, other serious diseases in time, to determine the risk of developing Down syndrome, Edwards in the fetus. To date, such a study is considered the most accurate.
