HCG analysis: results. HCG( human chorionic gonadotropin) during pregnancy: transcript

When the egg is fertilized and attached, a special hormone, hCG, begins to be produced. By the presence of a woman in the urine or blood of a human chorionic gonadotropin, one can learn about pregnancy.

General information about the hormone

hCG in the body of a woman begins to develop from the moment of conception, but at first its concentration is so insignificant that it can not be detected. At the time of fertilization the egg begins to form a shell. It is her cells that can produce this hormone.

It can be identified by conducting a laboratory blood test. Also, you can learn about the fertilization of an egg and attachment of an embryo using an ordinary home pregnancy test. The study of blood can not only diagnose pregnancy, but also to understand whether it is normal. But for this it is necessary to know what HCG results at what time should be.

Assign this analysis for the purpose of early pregnancy diagnosis. After all, compared to the usual home tests, this method is considered more informative. Also, this study will help determine the condition of the placental function. It allows to reveal violations in the uterus-fetus system.

Interpretation of

Assays In the blood, chorionic gonadotropin can be detected within 7-10 days after fertilization has occurred. At the onset of pregnancy at this time, the concentration of this hormone exceeds the established negative norms of 0-5 units.

But it's better to give blood after the delay. After all, the concentration of hCG begins to increase significantly only after implantation. In most women, this occurs on day 7 after fertilization. But there are cases when a fetal egg is implanted into the uterine wall 2-3 days later. If at this time to pass the analysis for hCG, then it will be negative.

Therefore, gynecologists are advised to wait for the expected date of the monthly and only after that go to the laboratory. So you can get the most reliable results.

If the estimated date of monthly hCG is negative, and critical days do not occur, then you can retake the analysis in 3-5 days. Perhaps the ovulation was delayed, and the egg was impregnated a few days after the expected date.

The results of HCG allow you to know the duration of pregnancy. If you pass this analysis in dynamics with a certain periodicity, you can understand whether the baby is developing normally in the womb. This is determined by the dynamics of growth of the concentration of this hormone. Normally, he should double every 2-3 days. But there is no sense to follow it until 9 weeks, after this period its concentration may begin to decline.

Definition of pregnancy

Having given blood for analysis, women often can not wait for the result. HCG is negative if its concentration is within 0-5 units. On the onset of pregnancy indicators above 25 units are indicated.

But it happens that a woman receives a response in which it is indicated that the concentration of hCG varies between 5 and 25 units. This is the so-called gray zone. It is impossible to unequivocally say on such an analysis that a pregnancy has come. After all, such indicators may indicate that fertilization has occurred recently, and the amount of the hormone has not yet had time to increase to the required level.

In addition, such hCG results may indicate that the egg was fertilized, but could not attach itself to the uterine wall. In this case, you must wait for menstruation. If it does not start, it makes sense to retake this analysis. It is important to look at the dynamics of indicators. After all, such a result may indicate an ectopic implantation of the fetal egg.

If the hCG hormone is present in an amount of more than 25 units, then the egg is most likely already attached. At a period of up to 2 weeks, counting from the date of conception, the level of chorionic gonadotropin should be in the range of 25-156 mU / ml. Its concentration increases rapidly enough.

To check if the pregnancy period matches the test results, the HCG table will help.

Estimated time from conception / last menstruation	Hormone concentration, mU / ml
1-2 / 3-4	25-156
2-3 / 4-5	100-4 870
3-4 / 5-6	1 111-31 500
4-5 / 6-7	2 500-82 400
5-6 / 7-8	23 000-151 000
6-7 / 8-9	27 300-230 000
7-11 / 9-13	21 000-291 000
11-16 / 13-18	6 100-103 000
16-21 / 18-23	4 720-80 000
21-39 / 23-41	2700-78 100

If the deadline set in the laboratory on the basis of the results of the tests does not match what you have, it is worthwhile consulting with a gynecologist and going to an ultrasound.

Possible causes of an increase in the concentration of the hormone

In some cases, women get results that do not match their intended duration of pregnancy. The concentration of the hormone can be either greater than the established rate, or less than it.

If you obtained a result of an analysis of hCG in which the level of chorionic gonadotropin is higher than it should be, then this may indicate:

- multiple pregnancy;

- development of diabetes mellitus in a future mother;

- incorrectly established term of pregnancy;

- possible pathologies of development, for example, about Down syndrome or multiple vices.

In addition, the level of hCG can be increased when developing toxicosis for early or gestosis in late pregnancy. The intake of synthetic gestagens also affects its concentration.

There are cases in which the level of gonadotropin increases without pregnancy. Its growth is stimulated by:

- tumor diseases in the digestive tract;

- neoplasms in the testicles;

- tumors in the uterus, lungs, kidneys;

- taking drugs hCG.

Also, the hCG value can be large with bubble skidding. This is a situation in which the embryo does not develop, and the villus of the chorion begins to grow actively. It can be transformed into a malignant tumor. Therefore, it is important to remove it in time.

Having received the first positive results of the analysis, it is important to monitor the intensity with which the concentration of the hormone increases. The HCG table provides an opportunity to check whether the calculated duration of pregnancy corresponds to the one that was determined in the laboratory. And the dynamics of growth determine the uterine location and viability of the embryo.

Causes of a decrease in the level of hCG

It is not uncommon for the concentration of the pregnancy hormone to be reduced. The most secure is the situation in which the discrepancy of the timing may be caused by an error in the calculations. This is often the case in women with irregular cycles. After all, the date of ovulation in them is difficult to determine. Deviations of 5-7 days will already be very noticeable. Confirm that with pregnancy is all right, will help the dynamics of hCG.If the concentration of the hormone doubles every 2-3 days, then there is no cause for concern.

In the early stages, a decrease in the level of hCG can be caused by:

- the threat of abortion( at the detachment of the placenta, the hormone level may decrease by 50%);

- abnormal implantation of the embryo( it can attach to the fallopian tubes, cervix, ovaries or even in the abdominal cavity);

- a frozen pregnancy, in which the fetal death of the embryo occurs.

In the second or third trimester, the concentration of the hormone may also decrease. In this case, blood is not taken in order to determine the timing. HCG can tell about placental insufficiency. If the amount of the hormone is reduced, it can talk about blood flow disorders between the fetus and the mother. But to diagnose one result of the analysis is wrong.

Also, the concentration of the hormone will be less when the fetus is killed prematurely. To confirm the diagnosis it is necessary to conduct ultrasound. When the pregnancy is overdetermined, the concentration of the chorionic gonadotropin also decreases. This is due to the fact that the functions of the chorion gradually fade.

Preparation for analysis of

Although hCG positive may be several days before the expected date of menstruation, gynecologists recommend waiting for the delay. At this time, it is already possible to understand exactly by the result whether fertilization has occurred.

For diagnostics, the technician takes venous blood. Therefore it is important to go on an empty stomach for this study. Blood sampling takes place in the morning. On the eve of the evening, you must refrain from eating fatty foods. It should also be avoided and intense physical activity.

Before the test, it is necessary to warn the doctor about taking various medications. Some of them can not influence the results of the tests.

If a woman is stimulated to ovulate and pricked a synthetic hCG hormone, then it's better to wait for blood donation. After all, the body will need time to fully withdraw. In this situation, it is advisable to wait a few days after the delay and take the test at least twice in 1-2 days. This will allow to track the dynamics of hCG growth by weeks and confirm that the pregnancy has come.

Deviation from the norm: is it worth it to panic

? Not always a woman receives a result that corresponds to her term of pregnancy. In this case, she must immediately go to the gynecologist, even if she has not yet managed to register. In every situation it is necessary to understand individually. Elevated levels of hCG may indicate both a multiple pregnancy, an incorrectly fixed term, and various problems. The doctor should prescribe additional studies to check whether everything is normal with the woman. But first of all it is necessary to conduct an ultrasound.

With reduced hormone concentration without consulting a doctor also can not do. The doctor will help to clarify the period of pregnancy and check whether it corresponds to the indicators identified in the laboratory. If you consider that the level of hCG decreases with improper implantation of the fetal egg, with the threat of miscarriage or a stiff pregnancy, it becomes clear why the expert appoints additional examinations: it is better to be safe.

First of all, these women are sent to ultrasound. Depending on its results, it is determined whether something threatens the future mother and her baby. If the fetal egg in the uterus is not found, but the hCG exceeds 1000 units, they say about the ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the fetal egg must be removed urgently.

In case of a threatening spontaneous abortion, prescribe preserving therapy. Often, a woman should be in hospital under the supervision of doctors until the condition improves.

If the hCG level does not significantly coincide with that which should be at such a time, and the ultrasound does not visualize the palpitation, this indicates that, perhaps, the embryo stopped developing. The further tactics of actions depend on the term. If after a delay no more than 1-2 weeks have passed, the analysis must be retaken in dynamics. Perhaps, ovulation occurred later, and the estimated duration of pregnancy does not correspond to the real one.

Repeated retake of

assays. What is HCG, we figured out. The study of its level can be carried out 2-3 days in the first weeks of pregnancy. If it doubles, then there is no cause for concern. And what if the indicators increase very slowly? In this situation it is better to consult a doctor. Only a specialist can find out the reason that led to the fact that the concentration of the hormone does not increase in proportion to the time.

Most often, a bad dynamics is noted with an ectopic pregnancy. The concentration of the hormone may increase, but there is no question of doubling it every 2-3 days. Shells of the embryo produce hCG, but not as actively as it does with normal implantation of the egg. As a rule, with ectopic pregnancy the level of hCG can increase 2 times per week.

Dynamics can also worsen when a miscarriage threatens. In this case, it is important that the woman has adequate adequate maintenance therapy on time. In most cases, pregnant women are prescribed progesterone preparations( Dufaston, Utrozhestan) and recommend strict bed rest. Also, doctors prescribe antispasmodics and mild sedatives.

With a stale pregnancy, hCG will not grow. If you take tests with a certain periodicity, you can see that his level falls. The less was the period of pregnancy at the time when the embryo stopped developing, the faster the indicators will decrease. But in all cases it is desirable to conduct the research in the same laboratory.

Conducting express diagnostics

To determine whether it was possible to become pregnant, it is possible and at home. To do this, use special tests that react to the presence of a hormone in the urine. Some manufacturers produce devices that allow you to know the approximate dates. HCG in urine increases in the same way as in blood. But such tests are expensive.

Even with the help of such a home diagnosis it is possible to determine exactly whether the fertilization of the egg has occurred. About how the pregnancy develops, you can judge by the intensity of the color of the strip on the test. If on the first day of the delay it can be weak and barely noticeable, then in a week's time the color will be the same as for the control band.

But if it does not get brighter, then it's an occasion to give blood to determine the level of the hormone. After 6 weeks( counting from the last menstruation) it will be possible to see an embryo and a heartbeat on the ultrasound. Lack of dynamics may indicate a frozen pregnancy or an ectopic implantation of the fetal egg. But it is impossible to make such conclusions without ultrasound diagnosis and hCG testing for weeks. It is also worth noting that sensitivity and concentration of dye may vary in different tests.

Features of the interpretation of the results of

Despite the fact that when you receive the form with the analysis, a woman can see both her indicators and the hormone norm for each term, they should not be interpreted independently.

For any abnormalities it is important to assess the general condition of the pregnant woman. Additional diagnostic methods become mandatory. In any case, you will need ultrasound. Only with such a study can you see a fetal egg and an embryo if they are in the uterus. With the help of ultrasound, ectopic pregnancy is also determined. It will be indicated by the absence of a fetal egg in the uterus and the accumulation of free fluid beyond its limits.

Having received too low HCG results, do not despair at once. It is important to look at the dynamics and see the growth of indicators. Before donating blood, it is necessary to clarify the expected duration of pregnancy. If this is not done, then the laboratories may indicate not exact results, but simply write that the concentration of the hormone is greater than a certain index( for example, more than 1000).In fact in this case the laboratory assistant simply determines, whether there is a pregnancy. If you specify a pregnancy week, the exact figures will already be calculated in the study to check if the expected time frames correspond to those that were determined in the laboratory.

In addition, a woman should know the signs that may indicate problems. These include pulling pains in the lower abdomen and back, smearing brown or spotting, a noticeable deterioration in well-being.