Normal indices and the level of hCG before the delay of the monthly, indicating a pregnancy

The most common, accurate and reliable analysis for early detection of pregnancy is a test for chorionic gonadotropin or hCG.This substance is produced by a fertilized egg and serves as a marker for the further development of the chorion and placenta of the embryo. HCG before the delay of the monthly allows you to determine whether there was a conception or not( starting from about 8 to 12 days, counting from the time of fertilization).The study is conducted in two versions - laboratory, by donating blood for analysis, or by a popular express test, which can be purchased at any pharmacy and made at home.

What is HCG and when it is best to take

Chorionic gonadotropin is produced in the normal state of the body, both in womenand in men. However, its concentration in the blood does not exceed the figure of 5 million units per milliliter. In the process of conception, when the sperm and egg cells exchange genes and the formation of a zygote, a number of biologically active substances begin to be produced that trigger the cascade of reactions of embryo development.

After the embryo "adheres" to the uterine wall( this process is called implantation), in its part, which contacts the endometrium, develops a chorion, the precursor of the placenta. With the help of the chorion, the embryo receives nutrition from the blood of the mother. This formation is precisely the synthesis of the chorionic gonadotropin. With the development of the chorion and its transformation into the placenta, the concentration of this hormone is steadily increasing, and if at the 2nd week of pregnancy it is 50 IU per milliliter, by the end of the second month these figures reach 60 000 IU / ml. That is why the level of hCG before the delay of the monthly will allow a high probability to determine pregnancy in the early term.

In addition, the level of chorionic gonadotropin can be increased in some exceptional cases. First, if the patient has one of the types of hormone-producing tumors, for example, ovarian cancer, breast cancer or a number of other malignant tumors. Secondly, the level of hCG above the norm can be after the abortion and remain for a long time.

If has not yet been delayed, the hCG test will help determine the pregnancy, starting from about the 2nd week after conception. Nominally positive test can be from 8 to 10 days after unprotected intercourse, however in practice it is possible to confidently talk about a reliable level of chorionic gonadotropin in urine from 2 to 3 weeks of pregnancy. It depends on a number of factors, including the sensitivity of the test strip, the individual characteristics of the woman, the level of hormones and so on.

Pregnancy rates

Concentration of chorionic gonadotropin in blood and urine - the parameter is quite individual, and can vary depending on several factors. But on average, its level begins to increase from the 2nd to the 10th - 11th week of pregnancy, and then gradually decreases. If you consider the level of hCG in the blood from the beginning of the last menstruation, then the concentration change will look something like this:

Laboratory tests

The analysis for the level of chorionic gonadotropin concentration in the blood is done in two ways - in special laboratory conditions and an express test for the content of hCG in urine. The first option is usually done if a woman lies in a hospital with the threat of abortion and we need to track the dynamics of placenta formation. Also, the level of chorionic gonadotropin in the blood is laboratory determined for differential diagnosis with malignant tumors.

In addition, if a woman donates blood for hGH before the delay of the monthly in the laboratory, you can more accurately find out the duration of pregnancy. After all, it is often determined incorrectly based on the calculation of the menstrual cycle, the date of ovulation and comparison with the timing of sexual intercourse.

The laboratory analysis for chorionic gonadotropin determines the duration of pregnancy with an accuracy of 2 to 4 days.

To make the test data more accurate, it is necessary: ​​

• to pass the analysis in the morning, not to eat beforehand;
• if you have to donate blood during the day, it is advisable not to take food 4 to 6 hours before visiting the laboratory;
• for a day to refuse to visit the gym, not to perform heavy physical activities;
• if a girl is taking hormonal contraceptives or any other drugs that may affect the results of the analysis, she should inform the doctor about it.

We recommend reading the article about the signs of pregnancy before the delay of menstruation. From it you will learn about the first symptoms of the occurred conception, the need to contact a gynecologist for confirmation of pregnancy.

Home test

At home, the analysis for chorionic gonadotropin is different in that the level of the hormone is determined in the urine using a specially developed indicator strip. The test has gained wide popularity, is sold in every pharmacy and is affordable. In this regard, almost every woman ever encountered him.

Conducting rapid analysis for hgch in urine is quite simple. According to the instructions, it is necessary to collect the morning urine in a special container and lower the sensitive strip in it for 5 minutes, after which to evaluate the result. Such an express test will not show the woman the period of pregnancy and the exact concentration of the hormone, but its plus is the simplicity and absence of the need to go to a laboratory or medical hospital.

A common situation in which a woman has had a delay in menstruation, the hCG test is negative and there are no other signs of pregnancy. Here again it is necessary to turn to the optimal recommended timing of the test.

For maximum reliable data, you should not only correctly analyze, but:

• inspect the integrity of the packaging, check the expiration date of the rapid tests;
• does not buy the cheapest for early pregnancy determination, because they have low sensitivity;
• some tests must be taken in the morning, others - at any time of the day or night, this is usually written right on the package.

Thus, not in all cases it will be possible to determine the pregnancy test at a very early date, but this is more likely an exception than the rule. In most modern tests, the sensitivity of the test strip is such that the answer to the question whether it is possible to pass hGH before the delay of the monthly test and to receive a reliable response is positive. An additional advantage is the simplicity of the test and the ability to hold it at home.