The most important signs that help detect pregnancy are hCG hormone levels. But during the early pregnancy stages, most women wonder about their hCG levels. Usually, hCG levels in a normal pregnancy exist at 1,200 mIU/ml. This level doubles every 48-72 hours, increasing by up to 60% every two days.
So, most women are confused about how these hCG levels can be recognized during early pregnancy. Most of the time, pregnancy test results and pregnancy symptoms will depend on how high or low the hCG levels are. The higher the hCG levels, the higher the symptoms of pregnancy.
Usually, pregnancy can be detected by missed periods, implantation bleeding, positive pregnancy test, or other typical signs of pregnancy. The pregnancy hormone hCG has a wide range of normal levels during early pregnancy. hCG hormone is nothing but “Human Chorionic Gonadotropin” produced by the placenta after the implantation, which usually happens one week after fertilization and ovulation. Then the hCG levels will continue to increase until 10-12 weeks, when they stabilize or decrease.
Here are the hCG levels in a normal pregnant woman:
- hCG levels greater than 25 mIU/ml can be considered “pregnant.”
- hCG levels between 5-25 mIU/ml need a follow-up checkup to know whether you are pregnant or not.
- During early pregnancy, hCG levels are below 1,200 mIU/ml, double for every 48-72 hours. Usually, those levels will increase by at least 60% every two days.
- If the hCG levels are between 1,200 and 6,000 mIU/ml during your early pregnancy, it will take 72-96 hours to double.
- hCG levels above 6,000 mIU/ml can take more than four days to get double.
- The hCG levels decrease if you enter 9 or 10 weeks of your pregnancy.
Frankly speaking, there is no single normal level of hCG hormone during the early pregnancy, and with the progression of your pregnancy, these levels will vary greatly. Most women will also have low hCG levels, which means you have miscalculated your conception date, you may have an ectopic pregnancy, or you are at the risk of miscarriage. But don’t worry, even women with low hCG levels can have a healthy pregnancy.hCG levels less than five mIU/ml can be considered “not pregnant.”
