Why is HCG Important?

Human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. It thickens the uterine lining to support the growing embryo and stops menstruation. It raises your HCG levels are the highest towards the end of the first trimester and then declines for the rest of your pregnancy. Healthcare providers measure this to confirm a pregnancy and provide details on how the pregnancy is progressing.

What are the Other Functions of HCG?

When the placenta produces HCG, it triggers your body to create more estrogen and progesterone. These hormones help thicken your uterine lining and tell your body to stop. The correct balance of these hormones sustains and supports the pregnancy.

HCG is also used for fertility treatments in men and women. It also helps with the production of testosterone and sperm in people assigned to males at birth. Doctors also recommend this as an aid to help infants who have an undescended testicles. 

When is HCG Produced?

Small amounts of HCG are present in male and females body but they are at high levels in the body of pregnant women. Your hCG levels rise fast and peak around 10 weeks of pregnancy. After that, they fall gradually until childbirth. In rare cases, germ cell tumors or other cancers may cause your body to produce hormones. 

How Soon Can HCG Be Detected in Blood?

Healthcare providers check the hormone levels in the first trimester but usually don’t need to check again. HCG is found in your urine or blood around 10 to 11 days after conception. It can be detected in either blood or urine. However, a blood test is more accurate because it can detect smaller amounts of this hormone. These are the two types of blood tests to detect your HCG levels:

• Qualitative test. It detects if the hormone is present in the blood. It doesn’t specify the amount, just that there is HCG.
• Quantitative test. It measures the number of hormones present in the blood. 

If initial levels are lower than average, your provider will test your hormone levels again in a few days. Assessing the levels is done in series, testing several days apart and comparing levels.

What Does Low HCG Level Mean?

1. Blighted ovum. It is when a fertilized egg implants in the uterine lining but does not grow into an embryo. The gestational sac and placenta will grow, but the sac containing the embryo remains empty. It causes a miscarriage in the first trimester of pregnancy. Symptoms may include minor abdominal cramping and light spotting or bleeding.

2. Miscarriage. It is the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation. Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester of pregnancy. Note that not all low HCG level does not always cause miscarriage. There are still several successful and healthy pregnancies regardless of the low hormone levels. Symptoms are:

• Vaginal spotting 
• Bleeding 
• Pain or cramping in your abdomen 
• Pain in the lower back
• Fluid or tissue passing from your vagina

3. Ectopic pregnancy. It happens when a fertilized egg implants outside of your uterus, most commonly in your fallopian tube. This condition can become life-threatening, especially if your fallopian tube breaks. It can cause severe bleeding, infection, and sometimes, death. Seek immediate help if you experience:

• Vaginal bleeding.
• Pain in your lower abdomen, pelvis, and lower back.
• Dizziness or weakness.

If your fallopian tube ruptures, the pain, and bleeding could be severe enough to cause additional symptoms such as: 

• Fainting.
• Low blood pressure 
• Shoulder pain.
• Rectal pressure or bowel problems.

4. Miscalculation of the last menstruation. A low level can mean your pregnancy date was miscalculated and you’re not as far along as you had thought. This may need further testing to confirm whether you are pregnant or not. Further testing also helps determine other causes of low HCG levels especially if you already have pregnancy symptoms.