Possible risks when the HCG level is low

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Man - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. The doctor has more than 10 years of experience in diagnosing, consulting and treating in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

HCG is an important hormone secreted during pregnancy. Monitoring hCG levels will provide a lot of useful information about the state of the pregnancy. What's wrong with low hCG hormone levels and the possible risks associated with low hCG levels are issues that concern many pregnant women.

1.1 What is hCG hormone? hCG is a hormone secreted in the very early stages of pregnancy, shortly after the fertilized egg has implanted in the lining of the uterus. hCG is produced by the placenta, plays an important role in helping the body produce progestogen, helping to prevent menstruation, protecting the lining of the uterus and thereby protecting pregnancy. hCG also helps to stimulate the sex hormones to shape the sex of the fetus and make the mother's immune response to the fetus.
Because hCG hormone only appears when a woman is pregnant and appears early in pregnancy, it helps detect pregnancy early. Pregnancy tests help detect the presence of hCG hormone in the urine at low concentrations, so they are often accurate. However, only a blood test provides an accurate reading of the body's hCG levels.
1.2 The concentration of hCG in pregnancy The concentration of hCG varies greatly among pregnant women, so the concentration of hCG does not have a specific indicator but rather a range of values ​​with a large difference. The table below provides data for hCG levels by week of gestation (hCG levels are measured in mUI/ml and gestational age is calculated starting from the first day of the last menstrual period):

hCG levels usually increase continuously from the beginning of pregnancy, normally hCG levels double after about 2 to 3 days, hCG levels peak around 10-12 weeks of pregnancy, then levels hCG levels tend to stabilize and decrease. Because hCG hormone is the cause of pregnancy symptoms such as sensitivity, nausea, dizziness, ... in the first trimester, pregnant women often have more morning sickness than in the later stages.

If a woman's hCG levels are below normal, her doctor will order a series of hCG level tests every two to three days to compare the results. A single test result is not enough to draw conclusions. Sometimes, low hCG levels are not a cause for concern, as hCG can increase after 2-3 days. Because hCG levels vary from person to person, it doesn't matter if hCG is low or high, but mainly if hCG increases and decreases with each stage of pregnancy, many women have low hCG levels but still have a perfectly healthy fetus. strong.
However, in many cases low hCG level is indicative of some risk such as:
2.1 Gestational age miscalculated Gestational age is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period. If a woman has irregular menstrual cycles or can't remember the exact date of her period, it's easy to miscalculate. If the gestational age is calculated incorrectly, it is possible that the hCG test results will be low compared to the calculation of the mother's gestational age.
2.2 Miscarriage Sometimes low hCG levels are a sign that a woman has miscarried or will miscarry. Miscarriage usually occurs before the 20th week of pregnancy. Because hCG is secreted from the placenta, when the fetus does not develop a placenta, the concentration of hCG will decrease. After 4-6 weeks of miscarriage, the mother's hCG level will return to the normal pre-pregnancy level of <5mUI/ml. Common signs of miscarriage are: vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain or dull pain in the lower abdomen, fever, chills, fatigue, sweating, loss of pregnancy signs, ...
2.3 Regressive pregnancy Ovulation failure is a condition in which the fertilized egg attaches to the uterus but does not continue to develop into an embryo. As the gestational sac develops, the hCG hormone may be released but the levels do not increase because the embryo is not developing. Damaged eggs often occur very early and women may not know they are pregnant, the symptoms are similar to a normal menstrual cycle, the amount of menstrual bleeding may increase slightly.
2.4 Ectopic pregnancy An ectopic pregnancy is when the fetus does not implant in the uterus but is located in external locations such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix,... This is a fertility condition. jeopardizes the mother's life. When there is an ectopic pregnancy, the hCG level is usually lower than normal. Signs of an ectopic pregnancy are missed periods, abnormal vaginal bleeding, prolonged, dull abdominal pain, increasing degree of abdominal pain,... To diagnose ectopic pregnancy, in addition to measuring hCG levels , the doctor will conduct an abdominal ultrasound or transvaginal transvaginal ultrasound to locate the gestational sac.

Low hCG levels cannot be treated, although in some cases low hCG is not a cause for concern.
If the cause of low hCG is a miscarriage, treatment is needed to remove any remaining fetal tissue. It is possible to let the fetal tissue excrete itself, use drugs to push the pregnancy or have to use suction curettage. Depending on the specific case, the doctor will choose the appropriate treatment method.
In the case of ectopic pregnancy, if the pregnancy mass is small and has not broken, the patient will be prescribed drugs to dissolve the pregnancy, if the pregnancy is large, laparoscopic surgery or surgery will be indicated. open art.
Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the hospitals that not only ensures professional quality with a team of leading medical doctors, modern equipment and technology, but also stands out for its examination and consultation services. comprehensive and professional medical consultation and treatment; civilized, polite, safe and sterile medical examination and treatment space. Customers when choosing to perform tests here can be completely assured of the accuracy of test results.

Article reference source: Heathline.com