The level of the hormone human Chorionic Gandotropin, more commonly known as hCG is
the hormone whos levels are usually what is tested for during a pregnancy test which you have done by your doctor.
A high level of hCG indicates a positive pregnancy. In some cases the increased hCG level can be detected in your blood as early as 8 days after conception, but in most cases it is usually around 11 days.
During the course of your pregnancy your hCG levels will increase and decrease, with the levels doubling on average every 30-31 hours until they peak, usually around the 9th and 10th weeks of your pregnancy.
The level of hCG then decreases slightly until the 16th week where it remains fairly constant until birth.
Pregnancy hCG Levels
from conception
from LMP
(mIU/ML or IU/L)
7 days
3 weeks
0 to 5
14 days
28 days
3 to 426
21 days
35 days
18 to 7,340
28 days
42 days
1080 to 56,500
35 - 42 days
49 - 56 days
7,650 to 229,000
43 - 64 days
57 - 78 days
25,700 to 288,000
57 - 78 days
79 - 100 days
13,300 to 253,000
17 - 24 weeks
2nd trimester
4060 to 65,400
25 wks to term
3rd trimester
3640 to 117,000
After several days postpartum
< 5
What does hCG do?
It's role is to prevent the disintegration of the corpus luteum, secretes estrogen and progesterone. The production of hCG plays a critical part in your pregnancy.
What do low hCG Levels mean?
Should your healthcare provider determine that your hCG levels may be low, then this may mean that your conception date was miscalculated; that you may have an ectopic pregnancy or that you may be in danger of having a miscarriage. However, it is also possible to have a perfectly healthy pregnancy with low levels.
What do high hCG levels mean?
As with a low level, a high level may also indicate that your conception date was calculated incorrectly. It may also mean that you have a multiple pregnancy (twins) or even that you may have a Molar Pregnancy.
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The level of the hormone human Chorionic Gandotropin, more commonly known as hCG is
the hormone whos levels are usually what is tested for during a pregnancy test which you have done by your doctor.
A high level of hCG indicates a positive pregnancy. In some cases the increased hCG level can be detected in your blood as early as 8 days after conception, but in most cases it is usually around 11 days.
