HCG Levels By Week – A Newbie’s Guide

What is HCG, and what does it have to do with pregnancy weeks?

“HCG levels by week” refers to how much of the hormone HCG your body has produced by a particular week in your pregnancy. HCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin; it is just much easier to use the abbreviation (and much less intimidating). This is the hormone produced by the cells that eventually make up the placenta. The placenta is the part that latches onto the inside of the uterus and nourishes the baby.

HCG levels increase throughout the early weeks of pregnancy, level off for a while, and then taper off as you get closer to your due date.

These hormones are always found in a female’s body in small amounts. During pregnancy, they increase dramatically. When you take a pregnancy test, it is the HCG levels that are checked.

At home, these tests use the levels found in urine, and can be high enough after about two weeks (from conception) to be detected. If you take a blood test at a doctor’s office, pregnancy can be affirmed as soon as 11 days from conception.

Is this something I should be concerned about, or check often?

For an uncomplicated pregnancy, HCG levels by week are something that most doctors don’t even check except in the first few weeks and maybe towards the end. This is because, while there are guidelines for “normal” HCG levels by week, they cover quite a range.

Every woman (and every pregnancy) produces different amounts of hormones, and it can be hard to determine much by that amount.

What if the doctor says my levels of HCG aren’t normal?

There can be a number of reasons for this, the biggest meaning that your body just naturally produces a level of hormones just outside the “normal” range.

One of the most common reasons a woman can appear to be outside the weekly HCG levlel guidelines is a simple miscalculation. For instance, if a woman is 5 or 6 weeks along, but thinks she is only 4 weeks pregnant, her hormone levels will appear to be too high. The reverse is also true for a woman who is not as far along as she believes. If this turns out not to be the reason, the doctor will probably monitor the HCG levels for a few days, and check for other possible reasons. These could be:

• A multiple pregnancy- A woman expecting twins or triplets will have much higher HCG levels each week than a woman carrying a single baby.
• A possible miscarriage- If a pregnancy is naturally terminated, the hormone levels will quickly begin to drop, returning to a pre-pregnant amount.

Can my medications or affect the amount of hormones I produce?

Usually, no. Many people are under the misguided belief that birth control pills and other medicines can affect their hormones, resulting in a falsely positive pregnancy test. Contraceptive medications, cold medicines and antibiotics, pain relievers, and vitamins cannot change your HCG levels.

Also, during pregnancy, medications you may take won’t affect HCG levels by week either.

Can they tell how far along a pregnancy is by HCG levels?

Because HCG levels by week can vary so greatly between women, it is not an accurate way to determine how many weeks’ pregnant you are. Ultrasounds are much more reliable. Click here for a HCG levels in pregnancy chart.

The only real accurate test during pregnancy that uses HCG levels by week is the initial pregnancy test, and even this one doesn’t rely so much on the actual level, but on the fact that the level is so much higher than in a non-pregnant woman.

What If You’re Worried About Abnormal HCG Levels by Week?

Consider Testing HCG Levels By Week More Frequently

Testing more frequently would allow you to determine if there is a reason for you to be worried. If you are taking part in more tests and you are still not finding your weekly HCG levels to be within the normal expected categories, you may want to talk to your doctor. It is important that you do not overreact and make too much of these numbers.

It is possible that you will give birth to a perfectly healthy child despite the fact that you have low levels. Click here for more pregnancy resources.

Many women that have experienced problems with low levels of this hormone have been able to give birth to children that are perfectly normal and healthy. As such, you may not want to worry yourself too much. It would be best if you speak to your doctor about any concern that you have. This would allow you to address the issue and what it could mean for your future. Only a medical professional can tell you exactly what to make of HCG levels by week in the event they are low.