Symptoms of rising hCG levels can include fatigue, nausea/vomiting (aka morning sickness), dizziness or light-headedness, breast tenderness, and feeling emotionally sensitive.
In the first 2 weeks, women may experience light spotting, breast soreness, mood swings, nausea, or bloating. These symptoms are due to an increase in an important hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
This unpleasant part of pregnancy is thought to be linked to the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen. Both hormones rise rapidly in early pregnancy, and women with higher hCG levels (like moms of multiples) often have more severe morning sickness.
As with low levels, high levels of hCG do not necessarily indicate a problem with a pregnancy. Some women simply have higher levels. If a woman has high hCG levels, it could point to twins or triplets, though only a scan can confirm this. Sometimes, above-average levels of hCG indicate a higher chance of Down syndrome.
The hCG hormone level in the blood doubles every 48-72 hours. If the hCG level doubles well, this indicates that the cells of the embryo are dividing well, suggesting that the pregnancy is progressing normally and is healthy.
As measured at 16 days after conception, those with hCG levels in the 75th percentile or higher had a miscarriage rate of 8%, compared to a miscarriage rate of 16.7% among those whose hCG levels were in the 25th percentile or lower. Falling levels of hCG may also mean a miscarriage is very likely.
While knowing hCG levels may be helpful, it is not an absolute indicator that a person will experience pregnancy loss. The risk of pregnancy loss is greatest in the first trimester, which coincides with rising hCG levels.
Pregnancy nausea is most likely to occur during the first trimester when hCG levels are highest and rising rapidly. It usually starts around the sixth week of pregnancy and subsides by the 16th (source).
Circulating levels of the placental glycoprotein hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are higher in women carrying female v. male fetuses; yet, the significance of this difference with respect to maternal factors, environmental exposures and neonatal outcomes is unknown.
In early pregnancy, hCG levels typically double about every two to three days. Levels generally peak at around 8 to 14 weeks after conception. After that they decline somewhat, and usually plateau during the second and third trimester.
Use your first morning pee if you can. This is the time of day when your HCG levels will be the most concentrated and easily detected. If you do it at another time of day, try to make sure your pee has been in your bladder for at least three hours.
RESULTS: The median free β-human chorionic gonadotropin and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A levels in cases of Down syndrome was 2.09 (95% confidence interval 1.69 to 2.62) and 0.405 multiples of the median (95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.67), respectively.
Studies have shown hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, the hormone responsible for the second line appearing on a home pregnancy test) is higher for female fetuses compared with males, and remains higher throughout pregnancy.
In addition, nausea and vomiting are often worse in pregnant women with conditions associated with elevated hCG levels such as molar pregnancies, multiple gestations, and Down's syndrome [13].
"Not everyone experiences morning sickness, just like not everyone gets motion sickness." If you don't experience morning sickness, your body just might be better able to handle the rapid rise in levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estrogen, and other hormones that come during the first trimester.
Low hCG levels between 25 and 50 IU/L are associated with a low probability of ongoing pregnancy (<35%), whereas levels of >500 IU/L predict a >95% chance of ongoing pregnancy.
Range of hCG levels and what they can mean
The range for singletons is 5 – 397 and for twins it is 48 – 683.
Light spotting or bleeding can also be a sign of a possible loss of the pregnancy. This is called a threatened miscarriage. At this point, the doctor or midwife may not be able to tell if your vaginal bleeding is normal or is a sign of a miscarriage.
High hCG levels may mean that the baby has Down syndrome. This condition is a chromosome problem. It causes learning problems and some physical changes.
) High maternal serum chorionic gonadotropin level in Down's syndrome pregnancies is caused by elevation of both subunits messenger ribonucleic acid level in trophoblasts.
If your hCG levels aren't exactly doubling but are still increasing, that's a good sign. Because of these natural variations, hCG patterns alone cannot determine whether or not your pregnancy is viable. Hormone testing should always be followed up by an ultrasound before a diagnosis is made.