Low hCG during pregnancy: rules for taking tests, deciphering the results, clinical norms and pathologies, effects on the fetus and consultations of gynecologists

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Throughout pregnancy, a woman has to take a variety of tests and examinations many times. The initial test is blood for human chorionic gonadotropin. With it, it is determined whether there is a pregnancy. If you view the results in dynamics, you can note some pathologies and abnormalities in the development of the fetus. The results of such an analysis guide the doctor and outline the tactics of pregnancy management. In this article, we will pay attention to low hCG during pregnancy. What does this mean, how to take an analysis in general and what are the norms? Can there be low hCG during a normal pregnancy, or is this clear evidence of abnormalities?

HCG in brief

Chorionic gonadotropin refers to a specifica hormone that in the body of a he althy person, regardless of gender and age, ranges from 0 to 5. If a person is diagnosed with a tumor, the level of the hormone will exceed the norm.

From the moment of pregnancy, the indicator will constantly increase and change depending on the term. From the moment the fertilized cell attaches to the wall of the uterus, the development of the placenta begins, which contributes to an increase in the level of the hormone in the blood. HCG has two units, alpha and beta. The first is not unique, it is similar to thyroid-stimulating hormone. The second is special, it is inherent only to the hCG hormone. It is her quantitative indicator that is reflected in the results of a blood test, and it is she who affects the appearance of the second strip in a pregnancy test.

An increase in the level of hCG in a woman, as noted earlier, may be evidence of pregnancy. But even in this case, their own indicative norms have been established, the excess of which indicates the threat of various diseases. This is diabetes mellitus, a tumor and more. Low hCG during pregnancy also speaks of deviations that endanger the life of not only the child, but also the mother. Let's define the types of hormone tests.

Varieties of hCG tests

In medicine, there are two main types of tests - this is total hCG and the detection of free beta-hCG.

1. General analysis for hCG is used in the first days of pregnancy, when it is necessary to confirm the act of fertilization and implantation. If the period of bearing a child proceeds normally and there are no pathologies, then the level of the hormone increases daily2 times before the 11th week. After this point, the concentration gradually decreases, but not sharply. Also, a general analysis is done as part of prenatal triple or quadruple tests, which identify the risk group and determine in the 2nd trimester what threats there are for the baby and the expectant mother. It just determines whether there is a high or low hCG during pregnancy. What pathologies can be predicted, how to clarify them?
2. Assay for free beta-hCG. This type of analysis is used in the detection and study of various kinds of formations. For example, testicular cancer, hydatidiform drift and others. During pregnancy, it is also done as part of screening in the first and second trimesters. Indicators can diagnose Down syndrome, Edwards in a child. If the test result is positive, then the woman is at risk, but this is not one hundred percent sure that she has diseases. Some more research needs to be done. As a general rule, women take such an analysis at the 8-12th, 16-20th weeks of pregnancy. There are special indications - age over thirty-five years, the presence of Down's syndrome in relatives, positive test results, passed earlier.

The most common test for hCG is a blood test, it is it that most clearly and accurately reflects the concentration of the hormone in the body. It is also possible to give urine for a hormone, this method is used in home pregnancy diagnostics (test with two strips). When registering, a woman also gives urine for the concentration of the hormone, but you need to remember that such material will showlow hCG during pregnancy. After all, the element passes from the blood into the urine slowly, a blood test in which the hormone is formed and transferred will be much more accurate.

When to get tested for hCG

Hormone blood tests for women are given under the following conditions:

• need for accurate diagnosis of pregnancy;
• prolonged delay in menstruation caused by ovarian dysfunction, stress, poisoning, infectious diseases and other abnormalities;
• suspicion of the appearance and development of tumors, as well as observation of a woman after an illness of this kind (neoplasms).

At the beginning of pregnancy, a woman takes an analysis in dynamics to determine low hCG during pregnancy in the early stages or, conversely, increased? As a result, many diseases and deviations are diagnosed and prevented. Throughout pregnancy, even a he althy woman regularly takes tests. This is called in the complex prenatal screening, which is carried out in the 1st and 2nd trimester.

Rules for passing the analysis

Now let's move on to how to take an analysis for hCG. We will consider a blood test, as it is the most informative and relevant. Let's define the basic rules of change.

1. Regardless of whether it is a general or free analysis, blood must be taken from a vein. It is venous blood that will show the most accurate result.
2. 10 hours before donating blood, you need to refuse food, that is, take an analysis on an empty stomach. If during the deliveryIf the woman is taking any medication, she should tell the expert about it in order to rule out errors in the results.
3. To calculate the gestational age, you should take the first analysis on the 4-5th day after the delay of menstruation. After 2-3 days, you can retake it and see the results in dynamics. Already here it will be seen whether the level of hCG is low in the early stages of pregnancy or there are no abnormalities, and the pregnancy is proceeding normally.
4. After medical curettage or abortion, a blood test for hCG is also taken. It is advisable to do this a couple of days after the operation. If the remnants of the fetal egg are preserved in the woman's body, then the level of hCG will be higher than normal.

If you pass the tests correctly, you can safely wait for the results. Deciphering them is the exclusive competence of the doctor. We give only the standards of indicators, even a he althy woman may have deviations from them in one direction or another. Low hCG during pregnancy in the early stages may not actually be such, be sure to consult a specialist, you cannot be based only on the data that is offered. This is due not only to the individual characteristics of the woman's body, but also to the fact that each laboratory sets its own standards and makes tests in its own way, which affects the results. Therefore, it is better to request a consultation in the clinic where the tests were taken.

Transcript of results

The level of hCG is individual, self-decoding is indicative and you cannot rely on it 100%. If you find that you have a low level of hCG in early pregnancy, contact your doctor and consult with him. So, consider the norms of indicators that are set as standards.

1. First week of pregnancy - 20 to 150 IU per ml.
2. 2-3 weeks are characterized by a range from 100 to 4870 units.
3. 4th week of pregnancy - 1110 - 31500 units.
4. 5th week - from 2560 to 82300 units.
5. At the 6th week of pregnancy, the level ranges from 23100 to 151000 units;
6. 7th week - from 27300 to 233000 units.
7. From the 8th to the 11th week, the indicators can be from 20900 to 291000 units. This is the highest level of the hormone.
8. 12-16 weeks show a gradual decrease in concentration, it can reach 6150 - 103000 mU per ml.
9. From the 17th to the 21st weeks, the indicators decrease even more - to 4720 - 80100.
10. On the 22nd - 39th weeks - from 2700 to 78100.

Recall that there is no need to rush to diagnose yourself with hCG below normal during pregnancy. It is necessary to consult with the doctor and ask him all the questions of interest. In addition, any deviation is accompanied by a complex of symptoms, and not just blood results.

Causes of low hCG in early pregnancy

In medicine, there are several key phenomena that can lead to a significantly reduced level of the hormone in the blood. These primarily include:

1. Threatened self-abortion.
2. Fetal freeze.
3. Ectopic pregnancy.
4. Pathologies in the development of the fetus.

If a low level is observed by the end of the child's gestation period, then this indicates overpregnancy. In this case, it is better to turn to medications that can cause labor.

The main thing is not to jump to conclusions. First of all, you need to consult a doctor, undergo additional studies, clarify the cause of the decrease in the level of the hormone. In most cases, an ultrasound is prescribed to analyze the condition of the child and mother. Sometimes the causes of low hCG during pregnancy are incorrect calculation of the gestational age, untimely conduct of the study, as well as errors in the work of experts.

Ectopic pregnancy

When receiving test results, the first cause of low hormone levels is an ectopic pregnancy. It lies in the fact that the fertilized egg is attached not to the wall of the uterus, as it should be, but to the ovary or tube. Therefore, at a certain stage, the process of cell development stops and a rupture occurs. This is fatal for a woman. For diagnosis, an additional study is prescribed - for example, an ultrasound scan. There is also no dynamics in the analyzes - a constantly low hCG is recorded during pregnancy in the early stages. With a he althy development of the embryo, the hormone increases daily by 2 times, in the presence of pathology, an increase of 2 times occurs within a week. Because of this, the pregnancy test shows a barely noticeable second line.

Fetal fading and miscarriage

This phenomenon is otherwise called regressive pregnancy. With her, in the first days and weeks of bearing a child, the level of the hormone is constantly increasing, everything goes in accordance with the established norms. At a certain point, the indicator abruptly stops and growth stops. This indicates the fading of the fetus or the rejection of the fertilized cell by the woman's body, which leads to a miscarriage.

The cessation of the dynamic growth of indicators in most cases indicates the presence of pathology. If hCG suddenly stops increasing or starts to fall, this indicates the termination of the life of the embryo. At home, you can also check this phenomenon - by conducting a pregnancy test. The result will be negative, although previously the test showed two lines.

Developmental pathologies

In this case, the growth of the hormone will be observed, but it will not be as bright and fast as in a he althy pregnancy. With genetic insufficiency of the placenta, a reduced level of hCG. In addition, a low level of the hormone shows a violation of blood circulation between mother and child. Pay attention - no need to panic, jump to conclusions and wonder what to do with low hCG during pregnancy? The doctor always evaluates all the signs in a complex, prescribes additional tests, studies, thanks to which you can accurately determine the presence of diseases and pathologies.

HCG levels and IVF

The success of the protocol is displayed in the results of the woman's blood for hCG. This is the firstanalysis that a woman takes after the procedure. As a general rule, it is handed over on the fourteenth day from the date of cell transfer. An increase in the level of the hormone indicates the onset of pregnancy, everything happens the same way as with natural conception.

In the case of IVF, low hCG during pregnancy indicates an ectopic pregnancy. Of course, the risks are minimized, but still the possibility remains. Even though the cells are injected into a woman's uterus, before they are implanted, they can move, which means there is a possibility of attaching to the ovaries. The diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy requires urgent treatment and urgent action.

Maintaining a Pregnancy with Low Hormone Levels

A good pregnancy with low hCG is possible, it all depends on the degree of deviation from the norm, as well as on the reason why this happened. Carrying a child in this case can be complicated, but still possible. But there are cases when surgical intervention and the removal of a fertilized cell from a woman's body are vital - ectopic pregnancy and fetal fading. Otherwise, it could cost the patient's life.

When the causes of low hCG are other factors that do not pose a serious danger to a woman's life, the doctor builds an individual pregnancy plan. The hormone level is analyzed in the hospital mode, doctors use a variety of measures aimed at stabilizing the situation. There is a wide range of drugs that increasehormone levels to the required mark. In this case, a successful pregnancy and low hCG are compatible concepts that do not pose a threat to the life and he alth of the expectant mother. This is especially important in the case of using the IVF procedure. If, after the treatment and therapy, the hCG level returned to normal and no longer decreases, then the chances of bearing a he althy child have increased significantly and there is no longer a threat.

Expert Opinion

When receiving blood results with a low hCG level, a woman needs to go for a consultation with a gynecologist. Many doctors, having found no abnormalities in the course of additional studies and in the absence of symptoms, refer for a consultation with a geneticist.

Most geneticists and gynecologists say that it is possible to maintain a pregnancy and carry a he althy baby with low hCG, you just need to choose the tactics of pregnancy management. A set of analyzes is also given monthly, with the help of which genetic mutations and pathologies in the development of the child are excluded. In more detail it is necessary to study the placenta and its work, functionality. In most cases, a low level of the hormone indicates deviations in her work. The main thing is not to worry, to be objective in assessing your well-being, to adequately assess the state of he alth.