Possible risks when the HCG level is high

hCG is a hormone secreted in the early stages of pregnancy, which plays an important role in nourishing and protecting the fetus. Monitoring hCG levels can help assess pregnancy health. What is high hCG and under what circumstances are high concerns of many women.

hCG (short for Human Chorinoic Gonadotropin) is a hormone of a glycoprotein nature, produced by placental cells in early pregnancy. Tests can detect hCG hormone in blood about 11 days after pregnancy, after 12-14 days can detect hCG hormone in urine.
During early pregnancy, in most women, hCG levels double every 48 to 72 hours until hCG reaches its peak in pregnancy at about 8-10 weeks. After this period, hCG will gradually decrease until delivery. The hormone hCG plays an important role in protecting and nourishing pregnancy. Testing hCG hormone levels helps detect early pregnancy and monitor the development of the pregnancy.
The concentration of hCG will change according to gestational age as follows:
3 weeks pregnant: 5-50 mUI/ml. 4 weeks pregnant: 5-426 mUI/ml. 5 weeks pregnant: 18-7,340 mUI/ml. 6 weeks pregnant: 1,080-56,500 mUI/ml. 7-8 weeks pregnant: 7,650-229,000 mUI/ml. 9-12 weeks pregnant: 25,700-288,000 mUI/ml. 13-16 weeks pregnant: 13,300-254,000 mUI/ml. Pregnancy 25-40 weeks: 3,640-117,000 mUI/ml. 4 to 6 weeks after delivery, hCG levels will return to the pre-pregnancy level of < 5 mUI/ml.

A high hCG is when the blood hCG level is higher than the normal range. To identify cases of high hCG, doctors will order multiple hCG tests 2-3 days apart instead of relying on a single result. Because hCG levels vary widely among pregnant women, there are women who have elevated hCG levels but have a completely normal pregnancy. Sometimes high hCG is just due to incorrect gestational age, however, in many cases high hCG is indicative of diseases and abnormalities in pregnancy.

3.1. Calculation of gestational age is not accurate Gestational age is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period, if you do not remember clearly or the menstrual cycle is irregular, it is easy to calculate the gestational age incorrectly. The hCG test result is high because it is possible that the actual gestational age is higher than the expected gestational age.
3.2. Multiple pregnancy A multiple pregnancy is a condition in which multiple fetuses develop together in the mother's uterus. Women carrying multiples will have more severe pregnancy symptoms, sore and enlarged breasts, faster weight gain, and increased hCG levels that are about 30-50% higher than women with a regular singleton pregnancy. However, the hCG test alone is not enough to diagnose multiple pregnancy, the doctor must order many tests and other methods of exploration, especially ultrasound.
3.3. Ovarian pregnancy (or ovum pregnancy) is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal growth of the trophoblastic layer in the placenta, forming fluid-filled sacs that stick together like bunches of grapes. Ovarian pregnancy is usually a benign tumor and is not a true fetus, but there are also many cases of malignancy, causing many dangerous complications to health. During pregnancy, the hCG concentration is often very high, possibly above 30,000 mUI/ml.
Testing of hCG levels is also indicated to monitor the response to treatment after ovulatory treatment. Patients may have to have hCG tests periodically for two years from the start of treatment to make sure they are stable and have no complications.
3.4. Down syndrome Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder in the process of cell division leading to an extra chromosome number 21. The risk factor for Down's disease is an elderly woman or a parent carrying a mutated gene. When the fetus has Down syndrome, the mother's blood hCG level increases while the blood AFP level decreases.

When hCG levels are high, the doctor will do a clinical examination and order more tests and exploration methods to determine the specific condition of the patient. The risks that can be encountered when hCG is high are all dangerous, which can affect the health of the mother and the health of the fetus if not detected, consulted and treated promptly.
Vinmec International General Hospital offers a Package Maternity Care Program for pregnant women right from the first months of pregnancy with a full range of antenatal care visits, periodical 3D and 4D ultrasounds and routine tests to ensure that the mother is healthy and the fetus is developing comprehensively. Pregnant women will be consulted and checked for health under the close supervision of experienced and specialized obstetricians, helping mothers gain more knowledge to protect their health during pregnancy as well as minimize complications affecting mother and child.