What is HCG? HCG is human chorionic gonadotropin. When a woman is pregnant, the level of HCG in her body will fluctuate with the pregnancy. At the same time, changes in HCG are also one of the methods to detect whether a woman is pregnant.
HCG testing is a commonly used method for pregnancy detection, with common methods including blood HCG testing and urine HCG testing. A blood HCG test can be performed 8-10 days after sexual intercourse, providing results earlier than regular pregnancy test strips or sticks, allowing couples to prepare in advance.
A blood HCG test requires a blood draw at the hospital. So, what are the normal HCG levels during pregnancy? Let's find out.
Reference table of normal HCG values during pregnancy
The normal value for blood HCG is <10 μg/L. Generally, the normal value for β-HCG in non-pregnant women is <3.1 μg/L. If the test result is higher than 5, it is very likely that you are pregnant. If the value is higher than 10, pregnancy can be basically confirmed.
Furthermore, the stage of pregnancy has a significant impact on blood HCG levels. Generally, in the first three months of pregnancy, HCG levels roughly double every three days. Below, we've compiled reference values for the normal range of HCG (IU/L) at different gestational weeks:
0.2 weeks - 15-50
1 to 2 weeks — 50-500
2 to 3 weeks — 100-5000
3 to 4 weeks — 500-10000
4 to 5 weeks - 1000-50000
5 to 6 weeks - 10,000-100,000
6 to 8 weeks - 15,000-200,000
February to March – 10,000-100,000
HCG is generally used as an indicator for early monitoring of embryonic development. The value reaches its peak around 10 weeks of pregnancy and then gradually declines. Therefore, if a test shows a decrease in HCG level, there is no need to worry too much. You can adjust it appropriately according to the doctor's instructions.
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