Will hCG levels decrease after rising to a certain level?

Jan 05, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lv Aiming
Introduction
HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, typically reaches its peak level between 8 to 10 weeks of gestation, after which it rapidly declines. Clinically, HCG is commonly used for pregnancy diagnosis, as an adjunct in diagnosing ectopic pregnancy, in the diagnosis and monitoring of gestational trophoblastic diseases, and as a supplementary tool in diagnosing precocious puberty and certain tumors.

HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, typically reaches its peak level between the 8th and 10th weeks of pregnancy, after which it rapidly declines. Clinically, HCG is used for pregnancy diagnosis, as an auxiliary tool in diagnosing ectopic pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic diseases, monitoring disease progression, and assisting in the diagnosis of precocious puberty and certain tumors.

In a normal pregnancy, HCG levels rise rapidly during early gestation, usually doubling every 48 hours. If HCG levels fail to continue rising, this may indicate embryonic arrest, spontaneous abortion, or ectopic pregnancy. It is possible for HCG levels to double appropriately while progesterone levels decline. This occurs because progesterone is secreted in a pulsatile and fluctuating manner during early pregnancy. Therefore, progesterone levels do not continuously rise or remain constant and may sometimes decrease.

Whether HCG levels will rise again after declining depends on the underlying condition. In cases of threatened miscarriage during pregnancy, if fetal preservation treatment is administered and successful, HCG levels will gradually increase, peaking at 8–10 weeks, and then begin to decline around 12 weeks of gestation. However, in women with ectopic pregnancy undergoing conservative management, HCG levels typically decline progressively and generally do not rise again after decreasing. The extent of HCG decline helps determine the success of conservative treatment. Nevertheless, if abdominal pain develops, emergency surgery due to ruptured ectopic pregnancy may still be required.

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