If you are newly pregnant you may have heard the term "HCG Levels" thrown around by your doctor or the nurses but what do they mean by HCG and why is it's level significant to pregnancy? HCG is an abbreviation for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and it is a glycoprotein hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland. Although this hormone is predominantly found in pregnant women it is actually found in both men and women. In the early stages of pregnancy it is actually the embryo itself that produces this hormone but in later stages of pregnancy it is actually part of the placenta that produces HCG.
HCG is used by the body to produce progesterone which is another hormone that actually lines the uterus with extra capillaries and blood cells. These extra capillaries and blood cells help provide a safe environment for the new embryo! HCG also protects the baby from the mother's own immune system which, during the first trimester of the pregnancy, may try to reject the fetus as it can recognize the baby's cells as foreign to the body.
Well, now we know what HCG is but how do it's levels impact a pregnancy? During the early stages of your pregnancy your HCG levels should be doubling every few days, this means you can measure your HCG levels to determine if everything is coming along well with your pregnancy. If your levels start declining or if they aren't doubling every few days it could mean there is a complication and it may be worth having an ultrasound and other tests just to confirm things are on track.
HCG levels are a great way to keep track of the changes going on within your body during your pregnancy. It may surprise you to know that it is actually HCG levels that are detected in home pregnancy tests! There are no standard levels of HCG as every woman is different however the progression during pregnancy should be the same for everyone where by your levels should double every two to three days. After 2 to 3 months your HCG levels will plateau, don't be alarmed if your HCG levels even decline just before this plateau, this is quite normal.
Whilst abnormally high levels of HCG may suggest you are having twins, triplets or even more kids, HCG levels are not actually a definitive way to indicate any problems with your pregnancy, they are only a guide and a way to follow your pregnancy's progression. Have fun keeping track of your progress but be sure that you follow up with other tests with your doctor to ensure nothing is missed!
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