Human chorionic gonadotropin( hCG) is a type of hormone protein that plays a special role in the female body during pregnancy. The main suppliers of hCG are the cells of the envelope of the human embryo, although this protein is also produced by the pituitary gland, but in a small amount. Thanks to the presence of this protein, pregnancy passes without complications: monthly blocks are blocked, the number of hormones important for the female body increases during this period.
The appearance of hCG in the blood and urine of a woman, increasing its concentration is considered the earliest sign that a woman is preparing to become a mother. Therefore, the analysis of blood and urine allows an answer to this piquant question, although here it needs some clarification: reduced hCG may be in women during menopause, as well as in men.
To exclude the inaccuracy of the analysis, only the concentration of the beta subunit is taken into account( the protein consists of alpha and beta particles, the latter particle is unique).It should also be taken into account that the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the same pregnancy period for two women may be different. This fits perfectly into the medical framework, since in this situation the dynamics of hCG production is important as the period increases. And here there can be certain difficulties, which are primarily due to the fact that the protein level has dropped against the norm.
Pregnancy and low hCG
It is known that in normal pregnancy in 85% of cases, the level of hCG every three days is doubled. Taking into account that the increase in protein concentration in a woman's blood can be detected on the 8th-9th day after ovulation, attention is immediately drawn to the dynamics of hCG growth.
Analysis of hCG
Although the interpretation of protein levels is the responsibility of a gynecologist, future mothers should be aware that they are all right if on the twenty-fourth day after ovulation the mean hCG is 2637 mME / ml. If the indicator at the specified time is within 540 mME / ml, then this is a signal that the protein level is low and the woman's body is not all right.
A slightly different analysis of the level of hCG, if an ultrasound study was installed twins. At a period of 21 days( after ovulation) the normal value is 963 mME / ml. If the indicator is only 631 mME / ml, then this may be a reason for concern about the positive outcome of pregnancy, since this value is understated and requires the adoption of certain emergency measures to remedy the situation.
However, in medical practice, there are cases when at a protein concentration below the established levels, normal fetal development was observed, which was safely completed by the appearance of completely healthy babies.
Causes of
Underestimation of protein during pregnancy can have several causes. First of all, it is observed:
- with threat of miscarriage,
- with ectopic pregnancy,
- with frozen fetus,
- with fetal retention,
- with delay in its development.
In these cases, HCG analysis, being normal in the early days of ovulation, does not reveal the usual dynamics of increase in production of the hormone protein, that is, there is no doubling of its amount for each subsequent three-day period.
A lowered level of hCG indicates that there is a risk of interruption of the process of gestation of the fetus, which may be caused by hormonal abnormalities that have arisen in the body of a woman.
The situation with a depressed hormone protein can arise as a result of a medical error in determining the period, which naturally causes a certain error in the regulatory level of hCG, and it will not meet the required parameters.
In ectopic pregnancy, the protein concentration shows a negative dynamics due to the fact that the fetus is outside the uterus, as a result of which the chorion( placenta) exfoliates and the activity of the hormone-producing protein is reduced.
You should also know that an underestimated protein can be "obtained" by using an ovulation trigger, since there may be a definite dependence on the characteristics and techniques of the analysis. Therefore, do not rush with the test, and perform it preferably not earlier than two weeks from the date of administration of the drug hCG.
Treatment of
When a low hCG is detected in the early stages of pregnancy, a woman is assigned a special examination, the purpose of which is to determine the cause of the low level of the hormone protein. In the course of the examination, the woman herself should be primarily interested, since a decreased hCG even during the normal course of the fetal gestation process indicates the presence of some pathology in the body. Ignore this fact only if the doctor made a mistake in determining the period of pregnancy, but later it was corrected, and the time was adjusted.
Otherwise, to refuse the offer of the doctor to lay down on preservation in any case it is impossible - it is fraught with serious consequences both for the future child, and for the mother. During treatment, the cause of the decreased HCG is determined and eliminated.
Prevention of low-level diagnosis of hCG
To exclude the fact of false diagnosis of a decreased concentration of hCG, one should adhere to certain rules recommended by physicians. Analyzes should be taken in the morning and strictly on an empty stomach. Before that, food is not taken within four to five hours. For the same purpose, the analysis should be carried out until the time of the delay: approximately seven days before the implantation of the oocyte.
Test
Do not trust the test results, despite the fact that this method is the most common among women due to its simplicity and convenience. Of course, there are tests of high sensitivity: they are able to show a positive pregnancy result before the appearance of menstruation. It should be remembered that the most accurate result will be shown by a blood test from a vein. Less effective is the analysis of urine, but still more effective than the option with the test.
Drugs
You should also know that the concentration of hCG is affected by preparations containing a protein-hormone - Pregnil, Horagon. HCG preparations can be characterized by the wise phrase: "A useful medicine is out of place - poison, a useful medicine in too large a dose - poison"
Human chorionic gonadotropin( from the word chorion - embryo) or hCG is a hormone protein responsible for normal fetal bearing. Since the formation of the placenta, it takes on itself the function of producing this hormone. However, the concentration of hCG in different trimesters should be at certain levels. Deviation from them, especially a decrease, indicates the presence of pathology in the body of a woman that threatens her and her future child.
