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The human chorionic gonadotropin levels in your blood will rise for the first two weeks. HCG is a hormone produced by the developing embryo after conception. It appears in your blood when you are pregnant. Your OB-GYN will measure it routinely between 6 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. What happens if the HCG level is not increasing or decreasing? If it stays the same, that is good news.
How can HCG Levels be Measured?
HCG levels are usually measured in international units (IU). The normal range for HCG is 9 to 24 IUs per milliliter of blood. An early pregnancy has a lower level than a later one because the amount of HCG released by the embryo is less as it grows. This means that the level of HCG will be higher if conception occurs at an earlier stage of your cycle.
A positive pregnancy test alone can’t tell you how far along you are, but it’s a good sign that you’re pregnant if your HCG levels are over 25 IUs per milliliter of blood. It can take up to 12 days for HCG levels to double, but most women will have a positive result within five days. The HCG levels can be measured in blood, urine, or saliva.
Blood testing is the most accurate way to measure HCG levels. This test can be done at any time during pregnancy and can be used to confirm a pregnancy.
- Urine tests are less accurate than blood tests but can still give you an idea of your HCG levels. The results of urine tests may vary depending on the time of day you take the test, how much fluid you’ve consumed, and other factors.
- Urine tests are best used for screening purposes (to see if you might have an early miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy) rather than for measuring your HCG levels specifically.
- Saliva tests are not as accurate as blood or urine tests because they only measure lower amounts of HCG in your body.
Lack of Symptoms with Raised HCG Levels
HCG is the hormone produced by the developing embryo and placenta, and it can be detected in the blood or urine of pregnant women as early as 6 weeks after conception. In many cases, a woman’s HCG levels will double approximately every 48 hours during the first trimester and every 72 hours during the second and third trimesters.
A woman experiencing early pregnancy symptoms may have slightly higher HCG levels than those who do not.
However, there are no symptoms in most cases until 4 to 5 weeks after conception. The most common symptoms experienced by women during their first trimester include:
- Implantation bleeding – Light spotting that usually occurs six to 12 days after conception.
- Nausea – Often accompanied by vomiting or indigestion.
- Fatigue or exhaustion – Feelings of being tired for no apparent reason.
- Morning sickness – Nausea and vomiting that occurs primarily in the morning (but sometimes throughout the day).
- Missed period – A missed period is one of the earliest signs that a woman has become pregnant.
- Light spotting or brownish discharge – This is another sign that implantation has occurred.
Six Weeks Post-Conception
Six weeks post-conception, the HCG levels are usually between 6 and 15 mIU/ml. However, it is crucial to note that this range may vary from individual to individual. So, if your HCG level is higher or lower than mentioned above, it does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your pregnancy.
The HCG levels increase as the embryo grows and forms into a fetus. The presence of HCG hormone during pregnancy helps maintain the pregnancy and protect it from any kind of danger.
The HCG level will double every two days until it reaches the peak level, usually between 8 and 10 weeks. After that, it starts to decline, reaching zero at 12 weeks. The time it takes for your HCG levels to double varies widely, depending on the lab that performs the test.
For example, if you have an HCG level of 2 mIU/ml and it doubles every 48 hours, then on day 6, you would have four mIU/ml; on day 10, you would have eight mIU/ml; on day 14, you would have 16 mIU/ml; and on day 18 you would have 32 mIU/ml (see chart below).
This may seem like a lot of variation between tests, but remember that we are talking about very low numbers here (1 IU = 1 International Unit = 1 microgram), so small differences make big differences!
How to Track Your HCG Levels
HCG is the hormone produced in early pregnancy. The level of HCG can be tested at your doctor’s office or a lab with a simple blood test. Some healthcare providers will test for HCG levels three times during the first trimester and once during the second trimester.
If you are tracking your HCG progress, it will be easier if you have the following information:
- The day of your last menstrual period (LMP).
- The number of weeks since ovulation occurred (this is calculated by subtracting 40 from the LMP).
- The number of weeks since your first positive pregnancy test.
Takeaway
Ultimately, HCG levels during pregnancy may vary from woman to woman but will generally increase throughout. Some women may achieve optimal levels with diet alone, but for many, HCG injections are the only way to naturally increase their HCG levels to ensure they reach a healthy supply.
Here at Cura4U, we offer a broad range of healthcare products and online consultations, including online lab tests, which can be used to monitor health and wellness. One of the most common lab tests is the HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Test.
With this test, you can determine HCG levels during pregnancy to ensure your baby is developing properly. The HCG test works by measuring the levels of this hormone in your urine over several days. At Cura4U, we also offer many other labs, so if you’re curious about your HCG levels at six weeks, then why not visit our website for full details on this specific test?
