Beta hCG (Chorionic Gonadotropin) is a hormone produced mainly during pregnancy and controls its development. Disturbances in beta hCG secretion lead to a number of complications and indicate abnormalities in the course of pregnancy. Beta hCG is also a neoplastic marker, i.e. it indicates the presence of certain tumors, both in women and men. What are the standards for beta hCG testing and how to read the results?
Beta hCG , or the beta subtype of chorionic gonadotropin, is a hormone produced mainly during pregnancy and responsible for the proper development of the fetus.
In the first trimester of pregnancy, the concentration of the hormone in the blood plasma doubles on average every 48-72 hours.
The highest level of beta hCG is observed around 11-13. week of pregnancy.
In the following weeks, there is a decrease in its production, but the relatively high level remains until the end of pregnancy. A proper increase in the beta hCG hormone means that the pregnancy is developing properly.
Beta hCG is also found in the body of women struggling with trophoblast diseases.
Testing the beta hCG level also detects fetal chromosomal abnormalities.
In addition, beta hCG is involved in the formation and growth of a number of tumors of various origins.
Beta hCG - indications for the test
Beta hCG testing is performed to confirm or exclude pregnancy.
This hormone can be detected by a blood test or by a pregnancy test. It should be noted that there is no point in doing a pregnancy test before the expected period, and it is definitely not worth reaching for it two or three days after having unprotected intercourse, because then the result is not reliable.
When is the hCG beta test first?
Ideally right after your expected period. It should be noted, however, that the blood test is a much more sensitive method than the urine platelet test - its sensitivity already 7 days after fertilization is nearly 100%.
Additionally, a beta hCG test is performed to assess if your pregnancy is developing normally.
The beta hCG test to confirm pregnancy is best done just after the expected period.
Beta hCG concentration testing is ordered to diagnose trophoblast diseases (molar, invasive moles, cancerchorionic villus, malignant chorionic epithelioma), differentiation of benign (synonymous, invasive moles) and malignant trophoblast neoplasms (chorionic carcinoma, malignant chorionic epithelioma).
Beta hCG is a cancer marker, a substance found in the blood of many cancer sufferers.
The presence of beta hCG is detected not only in trophoblast neoplasms, but also in patients with tumors of the uterus, intestine, bladder, lung, testes and ovarian tumors.
Beta hCG may be ordered to detect fetal chromosomal abnormalities, Down syndrome (trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18), Patau (trisomy 13) and morphological abnormalities of the fetal central nervous system.
Worth knowingBeta hCG - standards
Less than 5 mIU / ml.
Beta hCG - pregnancy norms(depending on the gestational age from the first day of the last menstruation)
- 3. week - 5 - 50 mIU / ml
- 4. week - 5 - 426 mIU / ml
- 5. week - 18 - 7,340 mIU / ml
- 6. week - 1,080 - 56,500 mIU / ml
- 7. - 8th week - 7,650 - 229,000 mIU / ml
- 9. - 12th week - 25,700 - 288,000 mIU / ml
- 13. - 16th week - 13,300 - 254,000 mIU / ml
- 17. - 24th week - 4,060 - 165,400 mIU / ml
- 25. - 40th week - 3,640 - 117,000 mIU / ml
Beta hCG - results. How to read them?
Low beta hCG(less than 5 mIU / ml) means that the woman is not pregnant. Above 5 mIU / ml means pregnancy.
The price of the beta hCG test is approximately PLN 30.
In turn, a low level of beta hCG in a pregnant woman may indicate a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. It can also be an indicator of failure of the in vitro fertilization procedure. The low level of the hormone in the second trimester may also be associated with trisomy of the 18th chromosome (Edwards' syndrome).
On the other hand,high levels of beta hCGin pregnancy may indicate that the child has a chromosome 21 trisomy (Down syndrome). It can mean a molar, trophoblast growths and neoplasms.
In turn, in both women and men, an increased level of beta hCG may indicate cancer.