Why are HCG Levels important  

Pregnancy tests generally check a mother’s blood or urine for HCG, Human chorionic gonadotropin. This hormone is secreted by the trophoblast following ovum fertilization and can be detectable as soon as ten days following conception
You shouldn’t have to ask; typically your doctor will run routine tests for HCG levels in order to make sure the fetus is still viable, especially following infertility treatments such as AI or IVF. He may also want to run the tests to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, especially if a woman has had one before, or she is presenting the appropriate symptoms (pain, bleeding, cramps). Additionally, the doctor may decide to run a series of tests to determine HCG Levels if he or she can’t find the fetus on an ultrasound, or if the woman is suffering from vaginal pain or bleeding.
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Answered by jyothi , an ibibo Master, at 3:36 PM on July 25, 2008

well sasha Early in pregnancy, a hormone is produced that tells the body conception has occurred. The presence of this hormone, hCG (or human chorionic gonadotropin), sets into place a chain of events, including the continued ovarian production of the hormone progesterone, which helps to sustain the uterine lining and prevents menstruation from starting.

Normally, hCG production increases exponentially, starting a few days after the embryo implants in the wall of the uterus. It can be measured in the blood as early as a few days before your period is due and can often be detected in urine with a regular home pregnancy test by the time you miss a period.

HCG can be tested qualitatively, where the result just says positive or negative (similar to a urine pregnancy test); or quantitatively, where the actual blood concentration of hCG is measured. In the early first trimester, quantitative blood levels of hCG often are used to see if the pregnancy is progressing normally and to estimate the age of the embryo in order to know what to expect to see on ultrasound.

When is quantitative hCG testing necessary?
If your urine pregnancy test is positive and the situation is low risk, there is usually no reason to check a quantitative hCG. However, if there are risk factors for miscarriage or tubal (or ectopic) pregnancy, serum hCG values can sometimes be helpful.

Using hCG levels to assess ultrasound findings
Once the hCG value is known, it can indicate whether the pregnancy is far enough along to be visible in the uterus. For example, an intrauterine pregnancy will be seen on transvaginal sonogram by the time hCG levels reach, on average, 2,000. If the hCG value is more than 2,000 and the pregnancy isn't visible on transvaginal scan, it's likely that the pregnancy is located outside the uterus, in the fallopian tube.

Since these values depend somewhat on the type of hCG test used and the sensitivity of the ultrasound equipment, your ultrasound unit will have its own specific standardized cutoff levels.

Ultrasound also can help to assess the location and viability of the embryo if there are complications or potential problems early in pregnancy. When ultrasound doesn't detect the pregnancy in the uterus, it doesn't always mean that there's an ectopic pregnancy. It could be that the pregnancy is too small to see because the embryo is still too young, or that there has been a miscarriage
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Answered by Sanjay , an ibibo Guru, at 5:07 PM on July 16, 2008

hi there

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone that is normally produced first by the cells that make up the placenta, then later by the placenta during pregnancy. Its primary function is to support the pregnancy by encouraging the production of progesterone. This supports and promotes the further development of the placenta early in pregnancy. HCG sees a rapid increase early in pregnancy, but tapers off slowly as the placenta can produce enough progesterone to support the pregnancy on its own. The hormone also serves in aiding in the development of gonads in the fetus and the production of androgens by the testes of a male fetus.

Levels of HCG can first be detected approximately 11 days following conception, in a blood test. One to three days later, HCG can be detected with a urine test. Some highly sensitive tests can detect HCG as early as a week following ovulation. Normal home pregnancy tests are not able to detect HCG in the blood until at least 12 to 14 days after ovulation.

A typical pregnancy should have levels of HCG doubling every 48 to 72 hours up to the eighth to 11th week, at which time they start to stabilize and remain constant for the duration of the pregnancy. This occurs in about 85% of pregnancies. When HCG levels become high, they will start to double every 96 hours.


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Answered by Reeta K , an ibibo Master, at 11:39 AM on July 16, 2008

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone that is normally produced first by the cells that make up the placenta, then later by the placenta during pregnancy. Its primary function is to support the pregnancy by encouraging the production of progesterone. This supports and promotes the further development of the placenta early in pregnancy. HCG sees a rapid increase early in pregnancy, but tapers off slowly as the placenta can produce enough progesterone to support the pregnancy on its own. The hormone also serves in aiding in the development of gonads in the fetus and the production of androgens by the testes of a male fetus.

Levels of HCG can first be detected approximately 11 days following conception, in a blood test. One to three days later, HCG can be detected with a urine test. Some highly sensitive tests can detect HCG as early as a week following ovulation. Normal home pregnancy tests are not able to detect HCG in the blood until at least 12 to 14 days after ovulation.

A typical pregnancy should have levels of HCG doubling every 48 to 72 hours up to the eighth to 11th week, at which time they start to stabilize and remain constant for the duration of the pregnancy. This occurs in about 85% of pregnancies. When HCG levels become high, they will start to double every 96 hours.

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http://www.wisegeek.com/wha t-is-hcg.htm

Answered by sanya , an ibibo Master, at 11:27 AM on July 15, 2008

hcg levels indicate whether pregnancy is there or not

Answered by Rajesh Goyl , an ibibo Advisor, at 9:45 AM on July 15, 2008

well sasha kulso HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, also commonly known as the pregnancy hormone is produced by the cells of the implanting egg and can be produced in the absence of an embryo. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is thought to be important in converting the normal corpus luteum into the corpus luteum of pregnancy. The corpus luteum is a hormone-secreting structure that grows on the surface of the ovary after ovulation takes place. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is produced regardless of the site of implantation of the egg in pregnancy. Usually this occurs within the uterus, but may happen outside the uterus, which is called an ectopic pregnancy.

As the embryo grows, the level of hCG rises and, as a general rule, hCG beta numbers should double every 36 to 48 hours. A dramatic decrease in the levels may indicate a miscarriage has occurred or is possible, whereas a level that stays the same or falls well below the normal range may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Beta hCG levels can also be used to identify a multiple pregnancy like twins, triplets, or multiples. In such cases the hCG levels will peak out by the end of the first trimester.

Answered by Debashis , an ibibo Master, at 9:44 AM on July 15, 2008

hCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, also commonly known as the pregnancy hormone is produced by the cells of the implanting egg and can be produced in the absence of an embryo. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is thought to be important in converting the normal corpus luteum into the corpus luteum of pregnancy. The corpus luteum is a hormone-secreting structure that grows on the surface of the ovary after ovulation takes place. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is produced regardless of the site of implantation of the egg in pregnancy. Usually this occurs within the uterus, but may happen outside the uterus, which is called an ectopic pregnancy.

As the embryo grows, the level of hCG rises and, as a general rule, hCG beta numbers should double every 36 to 48 hours. A dramatic decrease in the levels may indicate a miscarriage has occurred or is possible, whereas a level that stays the same or falls well below the normal range may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Beta hCG levels can also be used to identify a multiple pregnancy like twins, triplets, or multiples. In such cases the hCG levels will peak out by the end of the first trimester.

Answered by KHURSHEED , an ibibo Master, at 8:13 AM on July 15, 2008

They are mostly used to determine whether or not a woman is pregnant or if she is on infertility treatment it could also help determine if the treatment is working.

Also check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Human_chorionic_gonadotropin
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Answered by V Bellage , an ibibo Citizen, at 7:59 AM on July 15, 2008