The Pregnancy Hormone
HcG is also known as the pregnancy hormone. It is the presence of this hormone in your blood/Urine sample which determines if you are pregnant. Over the counter pregnancy test kits determine the presence of this hormone in your urine sample to provide you the result.
What is HcG?
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta during pregnancy. HCG is found in your urine or blood around 10 to 11 days after conception (when a sperm fertilizes an egg). HcG levels increase steadily (doubling every 3 days) and are at their highest at the end of the first trimester and then decline as the pregnancy progresses further.
How is human chorionic gonadotropin produced?
When the fertilized egg travels through your fallopian tube post conception, it goes and attaches itself on the uterine wall and starts growing. Placenta is one of the first things that is formed. The placenta then produces HcG hormone which is released in your blood and urine.
What does human chorionic gonadotropin do?
The HcG hormone triggers the body into production of more estrogen and progesterone. These hormones collectively help thicken the Uterine lining and prevent menstruation.The correct balance of these three hormones sustains and supports the pregnancy.
What do various levels indicate?
Low and high levels of HcG might indicate different things.
Low levels of HcG might indicate:
- Miscarriage
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Blighted Ovum
- Miscalculation of last menstrual cycle
High levels of HcG might indicate:
- Molar Pregnancy
- Carrying more than one child (twins/triplets/quadruplets etc)
- Abnormal growth in the uterus
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG’s) claim to fame is the role played by it in at-home pregnancy tests.HCG is produced by the placenta when you fall pregnant, and hence there is an increased amount of production every three days in your first trimester as the placenta keeps developing. HCG levels provide insights into your pregnancy and may alert your ob/gyn to potential issues. However, if your pregnancy is going well, chances are you won’t ever know what your hCG levels are. Contact your healthcare provider if you have questions about your hCG levels or what they mean.
Information source- Cleveland clinic
